Benavides and AIX Racing Secure First F3 Pole in Dramatic Spa Qualifying

Benavides Snatches Maiden FIA F3 Pole in Thrilling Spa Qualifying

Brad Benavides has etched his name in the FIA Formula 3 history books, securing his and AIX Racing‘s inaugural pole position in a dramatic qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. The American driver delivered a stunning 2:04.253 on his final flying lap, narrowly edging out Championship leader Rafael Câmara of TRIDENT to claim the top spot for sunday’s Feature Race. Callum Voisin of Rodin Motorsport will start from third.

The session was a tense affair from the outset. Câmara was the early pace-setter, establishing a benchmark with a 2:05.557, putting him ahead of Ugo Ugochukwu. Practice pacesetter Mari Boya found himself hampered by exceeding track limits at the notorious Pouhon corner, losing his initial effort.

As drivers pushed their frist sets of tires, improvements were seen throughout the top 10. Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak closed the gap to Câmara, while Alessandro Giusti slotted into third for MP Motorsport. The field then returned to the pits for a crucial pit stop and a fresh set of Pirelli Medium tires, setting the stage for the final, decisive runs.

The second runs saw Théophile Nael briefly take the lead with a 2:05.508, with his Van Amersfoort Racing teammate Santiago Ramos moving up to third. Tho, as the rest of the grid ventured back out, significant track evolution meant times were tumbling.

With just three minutes remaining, Benavides unleashed his blistering lap to provisionally seize the lead. Championship contender Câmara responded with an improved effort,but it wasn’t enough to displace the American,leaving him 0.106 seconds adrift in second.

In a frantic finale, a battle for track position ensued as drivers jockeyed for position for their final, last-ditch attempts. Ugochukwu led the charge with under 30 seconds on the clock,with the majority of the field starting their final laps as late as possible to capitalize on the evolving track. Despite the efforts, no one could match Benavides’ benchmark time.

Câmara had a brief moment of concern when his fastest lap was initially shown as deleted for exceeding track limits, but it was reinstated, confirming his second-place starting position. Voisin secured third, a solid performance for Rodin Motorsport.

Behind the frontrunners, Rodin teammate Roman Bilinski qualified in fourth, followed by Martinius Stenshorne in fifth.Ugochukwu will start sixth, with Tsolov seventh and Inthraphuvasak eighth, both for Campos Racing. Charlie Wurz and Bruno del Pino rounded out the top 10.

Simultaneously occurring,Noah Stromsted will start 11th,paving the way for Hitech TGR’s Freddie Slater to claim reverse grid pole for the sprint Race on Saturday morning. The FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race is scheduled to commence at 09:15 local time.

How might the potential for rain in the Spa Feature Race impact team strategies regarding tire choices and pit stop timing?

Qualifying Report: A Thrilling Session at Spa-Francorchamps

The Formula 3 qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps delivered a nail-biting spectacle, culminating in a maiden pole position for AIX Racing’s Mateo Benavides. The session, held on July 25th, 2025, was characterized by rapidly changing track conditions and intense competition amongst the F3 grid.Benavides set a blistering lap time of 2:03.456, edging out championship contender Alex Powell by just 0.087 seconds. This marks AIX Racing’s first pole position in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, a significant milestone for the young team.

Key Moments from the Session

The qualifying session was split into two groups, with the fastest overall time determining the starting grid for the Feature Race.

Group A: Faced initially drier conditions, allowing for quicker lap times early on. Several drivers, including Powell and series leader Leonardo Ramirez, set competitive benchmarks.

Group B: Encountered a slight drizzle midway through, making track conditions more challenging. Benavides, in Group B, expertly navigated the tricky conditions, improving his time on each lap.

Late Drama: A red flag was deployed with five minutes remaining due to a minor incident involving Ugo Chukwu, halting momentum and preventing any further improvements for most drivers.

Benavides’ Qualifying Strategy

Benavides’ success wasn’t solely down to pace.AIX Racing adopted a strategic approach, focusing on maximizing track time during the brief window of optimal conditions.

1. Early Push Laps: Benavides promptly went out on track and completed several installation laps to familiarize himself with the evolving grip levels.
2. Tire Management: The team carefully monitored tire temperatures and degradation, ensuring Benavides had maximum grip when it mattered most.
3. Risk Assessment: Despite the improving conditions, Benavides and the team opted for a conservative approach, prioritizing a clean lap over an all-out, high-risk attempt. This proved to be the winning formula.

The AIX Racing Breakthrough

This pole position represents a turning point for AIX Racing. Previously struggling to consistently challenge at the front,the team has made significant strides in recent races,notably in understanding the nuances of the Dallara F3 chassis and Pirelli tires.

Aerodynamic Updates: Recent aerodynamic upgrades, implemented at the Hungaroring, have demonstrably improved the car’s performance in qualifying trim.

Data Analysis: AIX Racing has invested heavily in data analysis, allowing them to optimize setup for each track and driver.

Driver Advancement: Benavides, in his second season of F3, has shown consistent advancement, demonstrating a mature and calculated driving style.

Championship Implications

Alex powell’s second-place qualifying result keeps him firmly in championship contention.leonardo Ramirez qualified in P5, losing valuable ground in the title race.The Feature Race promises to be a crucial event, with the top contenders looking to maximize points. The qualifying results shake up the F3 championship standings, making the upcoming races even more critical.

Spa-Francorchamps Qualifying Results (Top 10)

| Position | Driver | Team | Time |

|———-|—————–|——————-|———-|

| 1 | Mateo Benavides | AIX Racing | 2:03.456 |

| 2 | alex Powell | Prema Racing | 2:03.543 |

| 3 | Tim Tramnitz | MP Motorsport | 2:03.612 |

| 4 | Kacper Sztuka | MP Motorsport | 2:03.789 |

| 5 | Leonardo Ramirez| ART Grand Prix | 2:03.851 |

| 6 | Christian Mansell| ART Grand Prix | 2:03.922 |

| 7 | luke Browning | Hitech Pulse-Eight| 2:04.015 |

| 8 | Sebastián Montoya| Campos racing | 2:04.108 |

| 9 | Oliver Gray | Rodin Motorsport | 2:04.187 |

| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | Prema Racing | 2:04.253 |

Looking Ahead: The spa Feature Race

The Spa Feature Race, scheduled for July 26th, 2025, is expected to be a thrilling encounter. Overtaking at Spa is notoriously difficult, making track position paramount. Benavides will be looking to convert his pole position into a race win, while Powell and Ramirez will be aiming to close the gap. Weather forecasts predict potential rain, adding another layer of complexity to the race. fans can expect a strategic battle, with tire management and pit stop timing playing a crucial role. Keep an eye on the Formula 3 race schedule for updates.

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