SPRINT RACE: Rivera persistence pays off with maiden F3 victory in Spielberg

Ernesto Rivera earned his first FIA Formula 3 victory in the Spielberg Sprint Race, turning P2 on the grid into a win around the Red Bull Ring.

The Campos Racing and Red Bull Junior Team driver fought hard with reverse grid polesitter James Wharton, eventually clearing the PREMA Racing driver en route to victory.

Pedro Clerot and Jin Nakamura made final lap passes on the Australian to claim a spot on the podium in second and third places for Rodin Motorsport and Hitech respectively.

AS IT HAPPENED

Wharton got a great start to retain the lead on the run to Turn 1, but it was a nightmare scenario for TRIDENT, as Noah Stromsted and Freddie Slater collided, leaving the Briton out of the race.

Clerot had been trying to get by Rivera on the run to Turn 4 before the Safety Car was deployed to neutralise the action.

The race resumed entering Lap 4, with Wharton able to retain his advantage at the head of the pack but with Rivera keeping him honest half a second back in P2.

Nakamura got a great restart and passed Clerot on the run to the first corner.

Lap 5 and Taito Kato was on the move after losing ground on the opening lap, taking seventh from Hiyu Yamakoshi into Turn 4. Alessandro Giusti followed through with a brave move of his own at Turn 6 around the outside of the Van Amersfoort Racing driver for eighth.

The Virtual Safety Car was deployed at the end of Lap 6 with a front wing on the back straight. Fionn McLaughlin was the driver with damage having had contact with Enzo Deligny on the exit of Turn 3.

At the restart, Wharton was able to put some distance between himself and Rivera, who had been within DRS range prior to the VSC.

The Campos driver closed the gap back down in the next couple of laps and on Lap 11, the pair went wheel-to-wheel. Rivera tried a move at Turn 3, and they made light contact, but the PREMA driver repelled the Mexican at Turns 4 and 5 to hold the lead.

DRS open on the next lap, Rivera looked to the outside at Turn 4, but Wharton closed the space enough to hold him off once again.

Behind them, Clerot tried a pass on the outside of Nakamura through Turns 6 and 7, but the Japanese driver retained P3.

Lap 13 and Rivera set up a switchback at Turn 4 to try the outside pass at Turn 6. But Wharton was smart enough to place his PREMA in the right place to deter any attempt from the Campos driver behind.

Rivera got the ideal exit from Turn 3 on the following lap, and he was able to use DRS to draw alongside and clear Wharton on the approach to Turn 4 to take the lead.

Lap 16 and Clerot renewed his efforts in passing Nakamura for third place, but the Hitech driver defended well through Turns 4, 5 and 6 to keep the Brazilian at bay.

Stromsted was making great progress after his racing incident with Slater on the opening lap and with a DRS pass on Tuukka Taponen on Lap 19, he made his way up to sixth place.

Clerot once again tried the outside move at Turn 6 but couldn't get it done, skirting the gravel trap on corner exit as he continued to push for a spot on the podium.

Onto the final lap and Rivera broke out of DRS range to Wharton behind and up to Turn 3, Clerot dived to the outside to move ahead of Nakamura and he wasn't done.

With DRS into Turn 4, the Rodin driver surged past Wharton to take two places in two corners. Nakamura was able to follow through to demote the reverse grid pole sitter down to fourth.

Rivera coasted home and earned his maiden F3 victory with a strong performance. Clerot and Nakamura's final lap moves put them on the podium ahead of Wharton and Stromsted, who moved into the top five on the final lap.

Kanato Le wound up sixth ahead of Taponen, Kato, Yamakoshi and Ugo Ugochuwku, who rounded out the points in 10th position.

KEY QUOTE – Ernesto Rivera, Campos Racing

"At the end we came through to win. It was a very tough race, lots of pressure from James but in the end, we managed to win at what is my "home race" with Red Bull."

THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Ugo Ugochukwu extends his Championship advantage over teammate Théophile Nael by a point, leading on 59 points to the Frenchman's 52. Bruno Del Pino's scoring streak comes to an end, but he stays third with 48 points, one ahead of Freddie Slater in P4. Brando Badoer remains P5 on 41 points.

Campos Racing tops the Teams' Standings on 137 points, ahead of Van Amersfoort Racing on 101. Third is Rodin Motorsport with 66 points, four clear of TRIDENT in P4 while ART Grand Prix completes the top five with 43 points.

UP NEXT

The FIA Formula 3 Feature Race is set to get underway on Sunday morning at 08:55 local time, with Hiyu Yamakoshi going from Pole Position.