Formula 3: Zeller shows the Italians 🎥

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The slow motion shows Sandro Zeller at the wheel of his Dallara F312.

At the ACI Racing Weekend in Mugello, no fewer than 33 formula racing cars from various classes came together in one field. For the Italians, the two races on the future GP circuit of Mugello (GP of Tuscany on September 13) meant the start of the season for the TOPJET F2000 Italian Trophy.

After the long lockdown in Italian motorsport, they approached the matter with corresponding motivation - but they cut their teeth on the multiple champion from Switzerland.

Disadvantage for Zeller
With the fastest time in free practice and qualifying, the defending champion in the Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup underlined his ambitions and his intention to by no means give way to the hosts. At the start of the first race, however, Bernardo Pellegrini passed with a more modern Dallara F313 with an engine according to the EM regulations of the time with 28 instead of 26 millimeters air mass restriction - as driven by all the others - which released a few more horsepower.

Zeller, however, remained hot on his heels in his Dallara F312-Mercedes and, after 16 laps of the 5.2-kilometer hill-and-dale circuit and a number of lapping maneuvers, was only edged out by eight tenths of a second. His victory in the Drexler classification was undisputed.

As third of the whole field, Thomas Aregger on a Dallara F309-VW of Franz Wöss Racing was convincing as in the previous week in Salzburg. However, he was already half a minute behind the leading duo.

New customer in the master team
Third fastest Swiss was Kurt Böhlen, who after the engine failure in Austria switched to Jo Zeller Racing with the agreement of his previous team boss and series operator Franz Wöss. Without further ado, Zeller provided him with a Dallara F308 brought to Tuscany from Oetwil am See, with which the Bernese did not unexpectedly quite well.

However, the toxic carbon clutch and the pilot did not yet harmonize at the pre-start for the first race, so Böhlen left the grid too late for the formation lap. Nevertheless, he resumed his place at the start, which later earned him a pit drive-through penalty - according to the regulations, he should have started from the very back.

Böhlen was well aware of this, but he wanted to have his fun. And so, after the penalty, he plowed his way back to sixth overall and third place in the Drexler Cup by the time he crossed the finish line.

Accident of the strongest Italians
The second start was perfect for Sandro Zeller. Behind him, however, the Italians Andrea Benalli and Bernardo Pellegrini eliminated each other in the first turn. The champion was thus rid of his strongest opponent.

Thomas Aregger immediately took over second place, which was snatched from him by newcomer Brice Morabito from Luxembourg, also registered in the Drexler Cup, in a Dallara F312-Mercedes.

Zeller already on course for the title again
Midway through the race, the safety car neutralized the action for a short time. Sandro Zeller decided the restart in his favor and then drove towards victory.

With now four victories in eight days, Zeller clearly leads the championship and also the Swiss Formula 3 Cup sponsored by Horag Hotz Racing.

Swiss double victory
Brice Morabito lost his second place, which he thought was safe, due to a time penalty to Thomas Aregger, who thus ensured a double victory for the Svizzeri in the land of the Azzurri.

Kurt Böhlen lost a few places due to the accident in the first corner because he had to swerve through the gravel. After the safety car phase, he regained many positions and, as before, finished sixth and fourth in the Drexler standings.

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