The drivers of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine were greeted with nearly winter-like temperatures and weather conditions at the Red Bull Ring.
Under heavy rain in the Styrian forests, it was Alessandro Giusti (ART Grand Prix), fresh off his victory in the second race at Imola last Sunday, who set the fastest time of the day in the first Pre Event Collective Test. Close behind the Williams Academy driver, just under four-tenths of a second, was Nikita Bedrin (MP Motorsport), a driver who has not only competed in the championship organized by ACI Sport and Alpine Racing but also made his mark in Formula 3 this year. Also performing well were the three Van Amersfoort Racing drivers Pedro Clerot, Ivan Domingues, and Brando Badoer, who rounded out positions three to five in the time sheets at the end of the session.
Setting the sixth fastest time of the morning was the current championship leader Rafael Camara (Prema Racing), who edged out his teammate Ugo Ugochukwu, with Evan Giltaire (ART Grand Prix) finishing seventh and eighth, respectively. The top 10 was completed by Prema Racing’s third driver James Wharton and Zachary David (R-ace GP).
The second session saw the rain continue to pour relentlessly on the circuit, which hosts the Austrian round of the Formula 1 calendar. As a result, the teams completed only a few laps towards the end, with Ugochukwu emerging on top. The American driver, who completed just nine laps, led ART Grand Prix’s Giltaire and his Prema Racing teammates Wharton and Camara. Rounding out the top five was rookie standings leader Noah Strømsted (RPM), ahead of Roman Bilinski (Trident) and Clerot, who finished sixth and seventh, respectively. The top 10 in the final session of the day was completed by Matteo De Palo (Sainteloc Racing), Giusti, and Domingues.
Tomorrow, the international series drivers will hit the track for the first Collective Test at 9:44 AM local time.
