Nannini’s spectacular Abu Dhabi street race

We hand the reigns over to newest race winner, Matteo Nannini, who crafts a brand-new addition to the Formula 3 calendar.

Choosing everything from the country, to the celebrity that he would invite, the HWA RACELAB driver creates a new race weekend.

WHERE WOULD THE RACE BE HELD?

“I love hot temperatures and I love the summer, so I would hold the race in Abu Dhabi - I prefer 40 degrees to one or two degrees. I also really enjoy racing in Abu Dhabi when I have been there before with other categories.”

HOW WOULD THE TRACK BE LAID OUT?

“I raced in Baku on the street circuit there and I really enjoyed that, so I would have a street race in Abu Dhabi.”

DAY OR NIGHT?

“Racing at night is more special than racing during the day. A lot of people say that, but I agree with them. With all of the lights, it just looks great.”

WHEN WOULD THE RACE BE?

“I would say at the end of the season. If you’ve had a good season, then you can really celebrate it properly in a place like Abu Dhabi. You can have fireworks and music and real celebrations.”

HOW WOULD THE TRACK BE LAID OUT?

“I would not want a flat circuit. I would have plenty of uphills and downhills. That would make the track a lot more complicated, especially being a street circuit. It would be hard to see the exit of the corner, so you would have to be really brave and confident in the car.

“I really like the section at Abu Dhabi at the hotel, and although that isn't a street circuit, it is narrower than the rest of the track, so I think that it would work on this circuit. I would also take Eau Rouge from Spa and find a way for that to fit.

“Then, the Lesmo corners from Monza, which look like normal corners but are actually quite unique because there is a bit of banking, so if you enter too fast then you lose the rear. Those corners would all feature in the track.

“I really like driving around low-speed sections because you can really make the difference in the slow corners. The corners I mentioned before were all high-speed corners, but I would include a few low-speed corners in there too. That way a driver can really make a difference. It is more difficult to gain time at a high-speed corner.”

WHAT TYRE COMPOUND WOULD BE USED?

“I would choose the hardest compound because you can push every single lap on the hard compound. With the soft compound, the driver who manages the tyre the best has a good chance of winning the race, but with the hardest compound, it is always the fastest driver because they can push every lap.”

DRY OR WET?

“I prefer a dry race. As a driver, when it is raining, it is always a unique experience, but you are getting wet under the helmet and your balaclava becomes completely cold and that’s not the best feeling.”

WHICH CELEBRITY WOULD YOU INVITE TO THE RACE?

“I would invite an Italian celebrity. Someone who is becoming pretty famous is Khaby Lame, from Tik Tok. I don’t know him, but he seems quite friendly and I have seen his videos on Tik Tok.”