System 3 champion Gabriel Bortoleto opened his System 2 win account with a dominant drive within the Austrian characteristic race, as Franco Colapinto emerged in second on the alternate technique.
Invicta driver Bortoleto had began from the third-place grid slot, however shortly established himself within the lead and secured himself the victory following his pitstop with a go on Campos rival Pepe Marti, who turned the online race chief courtesy of stopping throughout a short digital security automotive interval.
4 drivers stalled when the formation lap commenced, amongst them MP Motorsport’s pole-sitter Dennis Hauger, who was pressured to begin from the pits consequently.
This elevated Joshua Durksen (AIX) to a de facto pole place and the German led the early laps earlier than Bortoleto made his transfer on lap 4 with a textbook transfer aided by DRS.
Early championship chief Zane Maloney (Rodin) has endured a torrid time of late and this continued in Austria, because the Sauber junior stalled at first of the race earlier than retiring on lap six, inflicting the digital security automotive to be deployed.
Similtaneously the race was neutralised, Marti was getting into the pits. The cease is topic to a post-race investigation as drivers can’t enter the pits for his or her necessary cease below the VSC, however the cease may be accomplished if they’re already in.
Following Bortoleto’s cease, he rejoined 5s behind Crimson Bull junior Marti, however a present of tempo to shortly shut this hole finally proved decisive because the Brazilian pulled his race-winning transfer on lap 20 at Flip 3.
Working the choice technique by beginning on the more durable of the 2 tyre compounds, Colapinto (MP Motorsport) stayed out to steer dash winner Oliver Bearman, however the Prema driver’s hopes have been dashed when a reliability situation pressured him to retire on the lap 20 mid-point of the race.
Colapinto’s exploits in enjoying the lengthy recreation yielded rewards as soon as he stopped with eight laps to go and switched to the tremendous delicate rubber. After rejoining eighth, the Argentine charged by way of to second with finishing late strikes on warring Campos duo Marti and Isack Hadjar.
Tensions had risen for Campos after Marti was slowed to permit championship-contending Hadjar by way of to chase Bortoleto.
Nevertheless it was additional ramped up when Hadjar, unable to show the tempo he had claimed to have, did not return the favour within the closing phases and as an alternative stored the ultimate podium place for himself.
Championship chief Paul Aron (Hitech) crossed the road in fifth, however dropped a spot to Enzo Fittipaldi after he was handed a five-second penalty for shifting below braking when battling with Hadjar early on.
Nevertheless, Aron stays on the prime of the standings with a nine-point lead over Hadjar.
Bortoleto is boosted third, 10 factors away from Maloney, who has scored as soon as within the final 4 races, whereas Colapinto is now tied with the Barbados driver, however stays fifth by advantage of getting just one win to the Rodin driver’s two.