Sztuka streaks to victory in Eurocup-3’s first Barcelona race

Photo: Eurocup-3

Campos Racing’s Kacper Sztuka streaked to an impressive victory in the penultimate race of the Eurocup-3 season at Barcelona.

A grid penalty carried over from the previous event meant qualifying pacesetter Jesse Carrasquedo started from sixth instead of first, with Sztuka promoted to pole ahead of MP Motorsport’s Emmo Fittipaldi, Drivex School’s Michael Belov, MP’s Maciej Gladysz and Campos’s Jules Caranta.

An awful start meant Fittipaldi was down to fourth by the opening corner, lost fifth to Campos’s Jules Caranta a few corners later and then MP’s Valerio Rinicella swept around the outside of him at turn 11.

Sztuka led Belov by 1.14 seconds at the end of lap one, with Gladysz a further 0.6s behind. Carrasquedo dropped to seventh, ahead of MP’s Andres Cardenas, Sainteloc Racing’s Garrett Berry and Tecnicar Motorsport’s debuting Daniel Macia.

Another driver who lost a lot of ground was Campos’s Ernesto Rivera, who went from ninth down to 21st. He recovered three places on lap two, took 17th on lap four but then fell down the order again on lap five until he eventually came to a stop by a marshal post at turn six.

Yellow flags waved there for a few laps, although it made little difference as little wheel-to-wheel action had been taking place.

Sztuka had gradually grown his lead to three seconds over the first seven laps, with Gladysz keeping Belov in his sights and Rinicella putting pressure on Caranta. He tried passing him into turn four on lap three, but after that stayed in his mirrors as the top three gapped them.

The race took a dramatic at the end of lap nine, as MP’s Alexander Abkhazava dropped his rear-left wheel into the gravel exiting the final corner and it sent him spinning into the pit wall. A safety car period was required while his wrecked car was cleared, and the top three started lap 11 over 20s clear of everyone else.

When they reached the pit straight they were all sent through the pits, and by the time they caught up to the leaders and Abkhazava’s car was cleared, the safety car had to stay out longer as Palou Motorsport’s Isaac Barashi had stopped off-track.

Racing resumed at the end of lap 13, with time for four more laps to be completed. Sztuka accelerated to racing speed before turn 13, and at turn 14 Carrasquedo went off and rejoined at the back of the field in 23rd.

Sztuka pulled away by 2.291s within a lap, and was 4.475s clear by the chequered flag. Gladysz took second on the restart lap as trouble struck Belov and he headed to the pits to retire. Caranta had tried passing Gladysz but instead lost out to Rinicella, who then cleared Gladysz in sector two on the penultimate lap.

Global Racing Service’s Yani Stevenheydens and MP’s Kai Daryanani traded places several times en route to ninth and 10th, and Carrasquedo finished 20th.

Race results (17 laps)