Stenshorne adds to FREC lead with lights-to-flag Mugello win

Photo: Sebastian Rozendaal / Dutch Photo Agency

Martinius Stenshorne extended his Formula Regional European Championship lead with a lights-to-flag victory at Mugello. 

The R-ace GP driver was untouchable through race one of the weekend and finished more than two seconds clear of main title rival Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

He had been unable to challenge Stenshorne at the start, allowing the poleman to escape up the road while Antonelli battled with Tim Tramnitz for second. He kept Tramnitz behind him, but couldn’t match Stenshorne’s pace.  

Stenhorne gradually built up his lead, but that was eliminated when the safety car was brought out midway through the race. Kirill Smal and Joshua Duerksen had come together while fighting in the midfield and Smal was sent into the barriers. 

Antonelli had a second opportunity to challenge Stenshorne for the lead when the race restarted with eight minutes left on the clock. However, Stenshorne put in the perfect restart and had jumped away from the Prema driver by the end of the lap. 

Stenhorne didn’t put a wheel wrong thereon to take his fourth victory of the season. Antonelli had a lonely end to the race in second, while Tramnitz held off Kas Haverkort for third. 

The closest battle in the closing stages came from Joshua Dufek and Rafael Camara, who were fighting over fifth place. Camara couldn’t quite find a way past and had to settle for sixth.

Lorenzo Fluxa took seventh ahead of Maceo Capietto, Maya Weug and Alessandro Giusti. 

Further back, there were a few offs through the gravel, including two for Levente Revesz, who was forced wide with contact on both occasions. But only Smal ended the race in the gravel.

Race results (17 laps)