Sandro Zeller back within striking distance of Benjamin Berta

Drexler Formula Cup Mugello (ITA)

The 6th race weekend of the Drexler Formula Cup provided plenty of action on the 5.245 kilometre race track in Tuscany. As expected, this was already evident in the first race on Saturday afternoon. Benjamin Berta (Franz Wöss Racing) had secured the fastest qualifying time with a time of 1:41.055 minutes and was able to push Francesco Galli (G Motorsport) into second place by 0.501 seconds. The second row of the grid was shared by Paolo Brajnik (ASU NV Racing) and Victor Smialek (Franz Wöss Racing), who relegated Sandro Zeller (Jo Zeller Racing) to fifth place.

But as is so often the case, you can't count the Swiss Formula 3 champion out. Zeller got off to a perfect start and made up three places on the outside right-hand lane. While Francesco Galli entered the first corner in the lead, Benjamin Berta recaptured second position. The race then developed into a hard-fought battle for position. Berta now put more and more pressure on Galli and Zeller maintained his lead over Brajnik and Smialek. As the first laps became apparent, Benjamin Berta started a manoeuvre on Galli and got alongside the G Motorsport driver. In doing so, Galli touched the right rear tyre of the Hungarian's Dallara. Berta drove into the pits with a flat tyre and later retired, while Galli rolled into the pits laps later with a hanging front spoiler. Now it was Sandro Zeller's turn. The seven-time Drexler Formula Cup champion controlled the rest of the 14-lap chase.  When Robert Rowe collided with his team-mate Andre Petropoulos (both Team Hoffmann Racing) six minutes before the end of the race, the crash called out the safety car. The race was restarted on the last lap. Zeller completed the restart with routine and won by 4.639 seconds ahead of Victor Smialek and Paolo Brajnik, who had attacked the Canadian until the last few metres. Sandro Zeller was more than satisfied at the finish. ‘After my successful start, I was in the right place. I was lucky to capitalise on the opportunity when the riders in front of me touched. The re-start was also good from my point of view,’ said the Swiss, who was able to make up some ground in the points table.

Pole setter Francesco Galli stalled at the start of the second race. The formula cars behind him went round the Italian, causing contact at the back of the field. Benjamin Berta seized his chance to take the lead, followed by Sandro Zeller and Victor Smialek. This was followed by the first safety car phase, which lasted a good six minutes. At the restart, Benjamin Berta defended the lead ahead of Zeller. He was followed by Viktor Smialek and Stig Larsen. Francesco Galli had dropped back to twelfth place after the botched start and launched one overtaking manoeuvre after another. Just as he seemed to have found his rhythm, the next safety car phase got in his way. Giovanni Giordano had littered the track with engine damage and visible oil loss. The field was neutralised again to clean up the track. Then came the restart, with a good five minutes still to go. Benjamin Berta completed this perfectly. Sandro Zeller came close to the Hungarian again on the last lap, but was unable to make a manoeuvre. Victor Smialek finished third behind Saturday's winner and climbed back onto the podium ahead of Denmark's Stig Larsen. Francesco Galli had put all his eggs in one basket during his race to catch up and improved to sixth place by the finish.

RS.25.08.2024

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