F3: Gabriele Mini takes lights-to-flag Monte Carlo Feature Race

PREMA Racing driver Gabriele Mini earned his second Formula 3 Feature Race victory around Monte Carlo, victorious from pole on Sunday in the Principality.

The Alpine Academy driver didn’t have a straightforward drive to the flag though, battling with ART Grand Prix’s Christian Mansell side-by-side into Turn 1 at lights out, before three separate Safety Car restarts.

Further back, there were overtakes up and down the order, with an early highlight coming from Rodin Motorsport rookie Joseph Loake, who slotted his car up the inside of Campos Racing’s Mari Boya into La Rascasse in the fight for the lower points-paying positions.

The second Safety Car came after a three-car incident at Mirabeau involving Sprint Race winner Nikola Tsolov, Van Amersfoort Racing driver Noel Leon and Imola Feature Race winner, Sami Meguetounif in the Trident.

There was late drama after Loake and ART’s Laurens van Hoepen’s battle for ninth position led to the latter hitting the barriers at Tabac to bring out one final late Safety Car. The Dutchman was out of the car and ok following the incident, but it gave race leader Mini one final hurdle to overcome.

With the Safety Car withdrawn in time for a one-lap shootout to the flag, the Italian driver handled the final restart and push from Mansell to earn his first win of the 2024 campaign to become the eighth different winner of the F3 season.

The Australian finished second in the end ahead of Hitech Pulse-Eight and Williams Driver Academy talent Luke Browning, who rounded out the podium in third.

For an in-depth report of the Formula 3 Feature Race from Monte Carlo, visit the official website here.