Pinnacle Motorsport picked up right where they left off in the F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA by delivering solid results at the season-opener over the weekend despite the near year-long break. The Motorsport Ireland-licensed would secure pole position and race win at Abu Dhabi in a four-car assault headed by Pierre-Louis Chovet that now places them 2nd in the championship.
The 18-year-old Frenchman was a consistent front-runner in all sessions, which he converted into P2 and P1 during Qualifying. Alessio Deladda, on the other hand, was only a second off Chovet’s pace yet ended up in P14 and P17 amongst the tightly-packed field. Alexandre Bardinon was P20 in both sessions on his F3 Asian debut, along with newcomer Matthias Luethen who would start from P22 at best.
Chovet missed his opportunity to convert his front row start in Race 1 on Friday after he dropped a few places on the run to the first corner. He then tried to regain the lost positions in an attempt to land a podium spot. But overtaking proved to be difficult in such a competitive pack and finished 4th when the chequered flag dropped. Deledda was busy with his own on track battles and improved on his starting position by taking 13th. Only a few cars behind were their teammates Bardinon and Luethen who also made progress over the course of the 19-lap race to end up 18th and 20th, respectively.
It was Deledda’s chance to shine during Race 2 on Saturday. A quick getaway saw the Italian climb from P9 on the starting grid up to P5 by the end of the opening lap. He later ended his impressive run to secure 6th across the finish line. Chovet again found himself stranded behind a train of cars up front and concluded the race where he started in 4th. Bardinon was able to find his way past several drivers to claim 17th place with Luethen not so far behind again in 20th position.
The much-awaited victory for Chovet finally came during the last race of the weekend. Though he started from pole, he was pipped to the first corner and briefly dropped to P3. But the Frenchman muscled his way past a few laps later to rightfully reclaim the race lead. Chovet then opened a 1.832 second advantage by the time he crossed the line, securing his first win in the F3 Asian Championship with Pinnacle Motorsport.
Deledda delivered another 13th place, while Luethen secured his best result of the weekend in 17th. Sadly for Bardinon, the Frenchman’s charge was cut short by contact that forced him to retire in the pit lane.
After the first round of the F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA, Pinnacle Motorsport sits 2nd in the Team’s Classification with only a single point separating Pierre-Louis Chovet from the championship leader. The busy season resumes in just a few days for the double header at the Yas Marina Circuit. Round 2 will take place on the 4th and 5th of February, followed immediately by Round 3 on the 6th and 7th.
John O’Hara, Team Director: “It was a great way to start the new year with a pole position and race win. Our strong driver line up allowed us to fight at the front in and we’re happy to wrap up the weekend second in the driver and team’s championship. A big thanks to Pierre-Louis, Alessio, Alexandre, Matthias, and everyone at Pinnacle Motorsport for their efforts. This gives us confidence that we can do even better once we resume racing in Yas Marina next week.”
Accompanying Pinnacle Motorsport on their F3 Asian Championship campaign are partners Teng Tools and Motorsport Ireland.
Organized by Top Speed, F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA is a new single-spec F3 championship designed to provide a stepping stone for regional drivers into Formula 2 and ultimately Formula 1. It focuses on performance, safety, and cost control for up-and-coming talent in the world’s most dynamic region.
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