Colnaghi ends Imola post-season testing on top for MP Motorsport

Mattia Colnaghi was in fine form on the final day of the 2025 season, as the MP Motorsport driver completed a 1:31.824 to set the fastest time across the two days of the Imola post-season test.

In the afternoon, it was Brad Benavides that led the way for AIX Racing, nearly four-tenths clear of TRIDENT’s Matteo De Palo.

MORNING

The final day of the 2025 season got off to a quick start with Yevan David setting the early pace for AIX Racing on a 1:34.257.

However, Jin Nakamura and David’s teammate Benavides would set quicker times, before Freddie Slater set the benchmark at 1:32.688, with Théophile Nael 0.186s behind in second.

Tuukka Taponen then went up to P2 with a 1:32.790, just before the Red Flags were waved with both Hitech TGR cars of Michael Shin and Fionn Mclaughlin having stopped in the gravel.

The session resumed a few minutes later, but the Red Flags were back out at the 45 minute mark, with Nael having stopped at Turn 4.

Just as the first hour came to a close, running was back underway and Benavides returned to the top with a 1:32.347, with Ugo Ugochukwu going to P2, 0.145s behind.

Colnaghi led the MP Motorsport charge with a 1:31.824, putting him over three-tenths clear of his teammate Taponen in P2, with Alessandro Giusti in fourth.

Benavides would split the top two however, going to within 0.008s of Colnaghi’s leading time. The Italian’s lead was cut down even further to just 0.002s as the session went into the final hour, with Slater now second for TRIDENT.

There were not many more improvements for the remainder of the final hour, with the morning segment Red Flagged in the closing stages, after Yevan David stopped on track.

This left Colnaghi at the top of the leaderboard, with Slater and Benavides in second and third. Noah Stromsted was fourth as Ugochukwu rounded out the top five.

MP duo Taponen and Giusti followed, with Matteo de Palo in eighth, Nael ninth and James Wharton in P10.

AFTERNOON

Ernesto Rivera kicked off the afternoon strongly, clocking a 1:33.121 to take to the top of the timesheets, with Campos teammate Ugochukwu 0.095s behind in second.

Christian Ho then took over at the top for Rodin Motorsport, his 1:32.782 now the time to beat. However, just as he did that, the Red Flags were waved with Slater in the gravel at Turn 14.

Once running resumed though, Benavides continued to show his good pace with a 1:32.510, eclipsing Ho by 0.272s.

The AIX driver improved on his next flying attempt, a 1:32.201 now the time to beat, with Taponen 0.431s behind in P2.

Race simulations were the focus for the majority of the session which meant that there were not many improvements. However, there was a Red Flag with just over 20 minutes to go with Michael Shin having stopped at Turn 4.

Once the session resumed, Matteo De Palo climbed up to second on the timesheets, still 0.390s off Benavides’ time.

Several drivers were able to make late improvements but none could match Benavides, with De Palo second ahead of Taponen, Stromsted and Ho.

Colnaghi ended the day in sixth ahead of teammate Giusti, with Ernesto Rivera in eighth, Nakamura ninth, while Ugochukwu rounded out the top 10.

This concludes running for the 2025 FIA Formula 3 season, action will resume in 2026 at Round 1 in Melbourne from March 6-8.

2025 FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP – IMOLA POST-SEASON TEST, DAY 2, MORNING SESSION

2025 FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP – IMOLA POST-SEASON TEST, DAY 2, AFTERNOON SESSION