A triumphant weekend at Red Bull Ring for Riccardo Agostini. Two poles and a victory in Race 1 on Saturday. A fourth position Sunday in Race 2, with the reversed grid of the six previous positions, and another victory in Race 3, the longest one - 30 plus a lap. The 18-year-old JD Motorsport driver reached the number of four victories in the championship, earning two more wins after Budapest and Misano and hitting the target he set for himself before this fifth round of the European F.3 Italian Series (the third of the Italian Championship): further increase its lead among the Rookie and permanently secure the top in the overall standings.
Agostini gained important points in this Austrian challenge, and he is now leader among the Rookie, 49 points ahead of the Brazilian Henrique Martins and the Russian Sergey Sirotkin. Third in the European standings, only 16 points away from the leader Eddie Cheever and still third in the Italian Championship, 16 points away from the leader Brandon Maisano.
To spice the whole up a bit also the two fastest laps in Race 1 and Race 3. But above all, it was the incredible pace that Riccardo was able to impose. Thanks to the great job done Roberto Cavallaros team throughout the year.
After a short summer break of a month, the final (and hottest) stage of season will begin. In early September, the next round at Imola. Then, after two weeks, Vallelunga and finally the epilogue on the Monza track in mid-October.
Imola (I), September 1-2, 2012
RACE 1 Top-5
1. Riccardo Agostini ITA 16 laps, 2337.366
2. Eddie Cheever ITA 11.646
3. Brandon Maisano FRA 13.066
4. Henrique Martins BRA 18.056
5. Kevin Giovesi ITA 20.699
RACE 2 Top-5
1. Henrique Martins BRA 12 laps, 1645.142
2. Brandon Maisano FRA 6.907
3. Kevin Giovesi ITA 14.065
4. Riccardo Agostini ITA 14.385
5. Sergey Sirotkin RUS 14.928
RACE 3 Top-5
1. Riccardo Agostini ITA 22 laps, 3234.517
2. Brandon Maisano RUS 13.739
3. Eddie Cheever ITA 14.313
4. Kevin Giovesi ITA 15.136
5. Henrique Martins BRA 17.313
EUROPEAN F.3 ITALIAN SERIES: 1. Cheever 185 points; 2. Maisano 180; 3. Agostini 169.
ITALIAN F.3 CHAMPIONSHIP: 1. Maisano 127 points; 2. Cheever 113; 3. Agostini 111.
ROOKIE: 1. Agostini 215 points; 2. Martins e Sirotkin 166.
