The race took an unexpected turn as long-time race leader Sebastian Montoya encountered issues, ultimately handing the lead to Franco Colapinto. The MP Motorsport driver inherited the win and took the chequered flag with a comfortable lead of 3.7 seconds over championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto in second.
As the lights went out under cloudy British weather that delayed the session for eight minutes, Sebastian Montoya, starting from the reverse grid pole, got off to a solid start as Colapinto made an early move to slide into second. Behind him, Taylor Barnard held on to third as Jonny Edgar struggled to make the most of his MP Motorsport car and dropped the order.
As the laps progressed, Montoya held on to the lead, fending off the challenges from Colapinto with a comfortable gap. The young drivers showcased their skills and determination, providing an intense battle for the fans. However, a dramatic turn of events would soon change the course of the race.
On lap 16, Montoya, who had been leading the race comfortably, encountered misfortune and lost his long-held position at the front. Franco Colapinto, who had been trailing closely behind, inherited the lead from Montoya. The Argentinian seized the opportunity and showcased his experiences around the track, building a substantial gap between himself and the pack.
Despite the late-race drama, the competition remained fierce throughout the field. Gabriel Bortoleto, the championship leader, continued his consistent form, securing the second position and earning valuable points in his title campaign. Christian Mansell impressed with a strong drive, claiming his first-ever Formula 3 podium finish in third place.
Caio Collet claimed fourth for Van Amersfoort Racing, as Hitech’s Gabriel Mini secured fifth to add five points to his tally ahead of Campos Racing’s Hugh Barter in sixth and Trident’s Leonardo Fornaroli in seventh.
Despite the issues that cost him the lead, Montoya managed to salvage a respectably eighth-place finish for Hitech. Rodin Carlin’s Ido Cohen impressed with his remarkable effort from 26th on the grid to ninth. Campos Racing’s Juan Maria Marti rounded out the top ten showcasing his ability to hold on in a dramatic drag race to the finish line with Alejandro Garcia.
The field now has the chance to do it all again in Sunday’s Feature Race, which is set to begin at 8:20 local time as Fornaroli looks forward to converting his maiden pole into victory.
