Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Toyota junior Jin Nakamura claimed his first FIA Formula 3 win in the Spa-Francorchamps sprint race as championship leaders Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater collided.
Polesitter Brando Badoer led the field away as the lights blinked out but the action kicked off at the end of the Kemmel Straight, where Hiyu Yamakoshi was left spinning across the runoff having been rear-ended by Ernesto Rivera after the Campos driver reacted too late to the Van Amersfoort Racing driver’s multiple direction changes.
Further back, Slater, who is set to start from pole tomorrow, found himself collected by Ugochukwu with the British driver sent spearing into the barriers on the outside of Le Combes.
Ugochukwu would continue to the pitlane but rejoin a lap down.
The safety car was out for three laps before racing resumed with Badoer leading the field away closely followed by Nakamura.
The Hitech driver made his move into Le Combes, shooting around the outside of the Italian and into the lead while Badoer was left to defend from his teammate Pedro Clerot behind.
Further back, Campos’ Theophile Nael was looking to benefit from the collision for his teammate and close the gap in the championship standings.
The Frenchman passed Taito Kato for fifth into Le Combes while behind both Ernesto Rivera and Tuukka Taponen ran wide while squabbling over sixth.
The safety car was back out on lap eight after Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi ran wide at turn 1 and collected the marker board on the outside, sending polystyrene into the racing line.
With two laps remaining Nakamura led the field away looking to become the first Japanese winner in the series since Ayumu Iwasa in 2021.
Despite a big slide on the restart Nakumura clung on to claim victory, leading home the Rodin duo of Badoer and Clerot.
MP Motorsport’s Mattia Colnaghi was fourth ahead of Kato who snatched back fifth from Nael on the last lap. Taponen and Rivera followed rounding out the points scorers.