Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Nikita Bedrin took a brave approach from second on the grid at the start of Formula 3’s Hungaroring sprint race, and he was rewarded with his maiden victory.
His AIX Racing team-mate Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak finished second, making “history for the team”.
“It was a very good race,” Bedrin told media including Formula Scout. “Especially not starting from pole made it even better winning the race.
“It was a very challenging first-half of the lap of the race, I would say, because it was quite intense going into turn one with having a car [Prema’s Dino Beganovic] on that side of me. It was a bit scrappy to go there, but I still risked it and it paid off at the end because in turn two I was able to take the lead.
“I’m super happy with the race. I was able to keep it. I was not sure if I was going to have the pace for that, but I think I managed very well. I think I’ve barely done any mistakes from my side and really happy to keep the win, especially having some good pace in the last few laps.”
Beganovic tried to retaliate on lap 10 of 18, which almost went wrong for the battling pair.
“He got a very good exit out of turn one, so I knew he was going to try something. I still defended the inside, and he just sent it. And when he first sent it, I was like ‘ah, shit, he got me’. But then I saw him going straight, and I was like ‘okay, if Tas [Inthraphuvasak] doesn’t pass me, then I’m good’. And luckily, he was too far at that time to get close to me and I still managed to keep the lead.
“Adrenaline was going quite high. It was especially when I saw him going straight. I thought he will collect me as well, and we’re going to crash. But we managed to avoid it, so yeah, hard racing.”
Ferrari junior Beganovic ran off-track after what was a tight manoeuvre, dropping to third behind Inthraphuvasak.
“Obviously not happy with the race starting from pole and finishing P3,” said Beganovic. “In the start, I didn’t really have a good launch. Nikita got me in turn two. But then I just tried to get the focus back and fight back. I tried a move in turn two and caught the kerb when I was going to the apex and I lost the car. I don’t regret trying it.”
He added: “It’s a very technical track, and I really enjoy driving here. In the race, it’s a bit more tough because there are not a lot of overtaking opportunities. It is difficult to understand where to attack and how to plan it. I got a good run out of turn one and it was my chance to try at turn two. Obviously I lost the place, but again I don’t regret trying it.”