WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Storylines to look out for ahead of Round 3 in Imola

15 May 2024

It has been a while since the drivers last went wheel to wheel in Melbourne, but they and their teams have still been busy with in-season testing in Barcelona last month.

All 10 teams will be hoping to carry over their learnings from those three days into Round 3 as this weekend’s action in Imola kicks off the first back-to-back of the season with Monte Carlo to follow.

Imola Preview: A return to action after the mid-season break

But before we get to going once again, here are some of the storylines you should be looking out for at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

HOME FAVOURITES LOOKING TO COME OUT ON TOP

It’s a return home for the two Italian squads in the paddock, PREMA Racing and Trident, who also happen to be at the top of the Teams’ Championship.

The last time Formula 3 raced in Imola in 2022, it was Trident that came out on top, with Zane Maloney on pole before Roman Stanek won the Feature Race.

They will be hoping to do the same again this weekend as while winning on home soil will be special, second-placed Trident will also be keen to close or overhaul the 23-point gap to leaders PREMA.

On the other hand, PREMA will be looking to continue their strong start to the season that has seen them win at least one race at each of the opening two rounds.

This will also help them extend their lead out front as they look to make it five Teams’ Titles in six seasons.

PREMA and Trident are eyeing victory at their home race in Imola

CAMPOS LOOKING TO CONTINUE TESTING FORM

The three days of in-season testing in Barcelona last month were useful for all 10 teams but arguably none came away happier than Campos Racing.

The Spanish outfit surprised even themselves with their strong pace, setting the fastest times on days two and three of running via Mari Boya.

His teammate Oliver Goethe was right behind him also, while Sebastián Montoya took great strides playing catchup after his start to the season was hampered by illness. But the main question is can they continue that form in Imola?

Campos do not expect to be far ahead of their rivals as they were in testing, but they do believe they will be in contention for the top spots in Qualifying and both races.

Imola will be their first chance to do that and if they do, it could give them the momentum they need heading into a busy period in the season.

Boya and Campos had a good test in Barcelona and will look to carry that to Imola

ROOKIES RETURNING TO FAMILIAR TRACKS

It has not been the easiest opening couple of rounds for the 17 rookies as they have had the challenge of racing at two tracks in Sakhir and Melbourne they have never driven before.

They have all performed admirably, with the likes of Arvid Lindblad and Martinius Stenshorne winning the Sprint Races while Tim Tramnitz and Laurens van Hoepen have finished on the podium.

2022 Rewind: Stanek and Trident triumph in wet-weather classic

However, many of them have openly admitted how happy they are to be returning to tracks they know well in Europe, starting in Imola this weekend.

Having also had the three days of testing to get more comfortable, for many, this will feel like the start of a brand-new season. This means we could see several of them taking great strides forward in performance and possibly fighting at the front consistently.

Lindblad, Stenshorne and van Hoepen are three of the rookies to score podiums finishes this year

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT RESUMES

The tight battle for the Drivers’ Title will also resume this weekend with Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Luke Browning and Trident’s home favourite Leonardo Fornaroli tied at the top of the Standings on 37 points.

The leading pair are closely followed by the PREMA teammates of Gabriele Minì and Dino Beganovic in third and fourth respectively, and the second-year quartet will be keen to get the upper hand over their rivals this weekend.

However, each driver in the paddock will know that it is still early in the season, and that a strong results in Imola could vault them into contention for the title.

This weekend’s action in Imola could therefore be the chance for one of the top four to gain an upper hand in the fight or for an outsider to make their intentions clear.