The Campos Racing driver kept the lead at the start from pole, and resisted pressure from Van Amersfoort Racing’s Hiyu Yamakoshi, who finished second, early on before taking victory, with teammate Ugo Ugochukwu rounding out the podium in third.
AS IT HAPPENED
It was a great start for Nael who kept the lead from pole but his Campos teammate Ugochukwu was slow away from second and down to P3 behind Yamakoshi before Turn 1.
Yamakoshi and Nael then went side-by-side into Turn 1 but having ran off the road, ceded position back to the Frenchman.
Freddie Slater was on a charge, going around the outside of Enzo Deligny for P7 at Turn 1 on Lap 2. On the next lap, the TRIDENT driver overtook Ernesto Rivera for P6 down the main straight.
A Virtual Safety Car soon signalled with marshals having to pick up debris from the track following contact between Woohyun Shin and Yevan David.
Nael was struggling to break the DRS as Yamakoshi set the fastest time of the race on Lap 6, the gap just 0.6s between the top two.
On Lap 7, Pedro Clerot made an excellent dive to the inside of Mattia Colnaghi for P18 at Turn 7.
Just as they did that, DAMS Lucas Oil teammate Nicola Lacorte and Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi made contact at Turn 10. It left the former out of the race, and with his car needing to be cleared, the VSC was called upon again.
Racing resumed on Lap 9 and Slater was given a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage on the opening lap. The Briton was still showing good pace, as he overtook Brando Badoer for P5 down the main straight.
The VAR cars were keeping pace with their rivals ahead, with Yamakoshi right on the gearbox of Nael, while Ugochukwu, having dropped back from the leading two, was coming under pressure from Bruno del Pino.
Debris on the racing line down the main straight meant VSC was called upon with Yamakoshi now just 0.4s behind Nael.
Del Pino’s pressure on Ugochukwu finally paid off as the Campos driver ran wide at the final corner, allowing the Spaniard to take P3 on Lap 16.
Nael however was now 1.3s clear of Yamakoshi, as he started to set personal best sector times.
Badoer in sixth had just been informed by his Rodin Motorsport team of del Pino’s struggles, and soon afterwards, Ugochukwu used the DRS to get back to P3 from the Spaniard on the main straight on Lap 20.
Slater then ran wide at the final corner, which allowed Badoer through to take P5 on Lap 21.
Out in front, Nael was 1.4s clear of Yamakoshi, who was over three seconds ahead of Ugochukwu.
Badoer’s charge continued on the penultimate lap, with a move past del Pino down the main straight for fourth.
In the battle for points, Taito Kato overtook Tuukka Taponen for P9 at Turn 1, while Maciej Gladysz went around the outside of James Wharton at Turn 4 to go to P11.
Del Pino’s struggles continued on the final lap, with teammate Deligny taking P5 down the main straight.
Out in front however, Nael held firm to win for the first time in Formula 3, beating Yamakoshi across the line by just 0.7s.
Ugochukwu settled for P3, ahead of Badoer, Deligny and Del Pino. Rivera was seventh for Campos, with Slater’s five-second time penalty dropping him to P8 behind the Mexican.
Kato wound up in P9 ahead of ART Grand Prix teammate Gladysz – after his final lap overtake on Tuukka Taponen.
KEY QUOTE – Théophile Nael, Campos Racing
“First victory in FIA Formula 3. I’m super happy, especially as it’s a home race for the team, so a one-three, I am super happy. There’s still a long way to the end of the championship but it’s good points this weekend.”
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Ugo Ugochukwu leads the Drivers’ Standings on 58 points, but Théophile Nael, who is now up to second, has reduced his advantage to just six points going to Spielberg. Bruno del Pino is third on 48 points, just one point ahead of Freddie Slater with Brando Badoer fifth on 41.
In the Teams’ Standings, Campos Racing continue to lead the way with 126 points, with Van Amersfoort Racing second with 99. Rodin Motorsport are up to third with 57 points, while TRIDENT are a point behind in fourth. ART Grand Prix completed the top five with 34.
UP NEXT
The paddock will take a week's break before hitting the track in Spielberg for Round 4 from June 26-28.
