Monza: Zeller rebuffs the Italians
DREXLER-CUP Sandro Zeller started his Formula 3 season in the Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup in Monza with a double victory. With Antoine Bottiroli from Geneva he got a stronger opponent. In cooperation with the F.2000 Italian Trophy, the Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup - formerly Austria Cup and Remus Formula Cup - presented a respectable field of 22 racing cars. In qualifying, the [...]
In cooperation with the F.2000 Italian Trophy, the Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup - formerly Austria Cup and Remus Formula Cup - presented a respectable field of 22 race cars. In qualifying, Geneva's Antoine Bottiroli (Dallara F312) and Italy's Andrea Benalli (Dallara F308) were still ahead of Sandro Zeller.
Zeller makes everything clear right away
The Zurich-based driver of the Dallara F308-Mercedes, which he entered for the first time since winning the title in 2016, took the better line at the start of the first chase over 15 laps and turned into the chicane in the lead. After that, Zeller controlled his opponents in the rear-view mirror and celebrated a convincing victory.
The second race started in the rain behind the safety car. Bottiroli initially took the lead after the safety car was released and built up a small lead. Sandro Zeller did not allow a larger gap to the artist, writer and hobby racer from Geneva, turned up and came within striking distance.
Bottiroli was due on lap 5 ("my Pirellis were not as good in the wet as Zeller's Michelins"). After that, the champion of the last three years didn't let the scepter out of his hands until the end under yellow. After Zeller had suffered his only defeat of the season at the Autodromo last year, revenge was hereby achieved.
Bottiroli, who will be driving under the Swiss flag in an Italian team in 2019, celebrated class victory in the F2000 Italian Trophy and is second in the Drexler Cup behind Zeller.
After a lap-long battle with Andrea Cola for 4th place, which he unfortunately lost, Kurt Böhlen again achieved a good result. In the Drexler Cup classification, the Bernese finished 3rd and 4th. In the Swiss Formula 3 Cup, the order was Zeller twice, ahead of Bottiroli and Böhlen.
Stoller back as Renault winner
In Formula Renault, six years after his last appearance in a race car, newcomer Simon Stoller immediately scored two class wins with placings among the Formula 3 cars. In the second race, he briefly dropped back to P3, but worked his way back to the front.
Münger also on the podium twice
Last year's Renault champion Florian Münger also came out on top in the first race on his debut with a Dallara F306-VW from Jo Zeller Racing in the Formula 3 Trophy classification for race cars up to 2007. Behind Italian Luca Iannacone, he finished second out of only three competitors the other day.
