Heartbreak for Xie after an impressive weekend at the Hungaroring

Despite challenging track conditions following early morning rain, he delivered a measured performance in the wet, maintaining his fourth-place starting position for six laps. But as the race resumed on Lap 7 following a Safety Car intervention, he began to push and defend his position against the advancing pack behind. Unfortunately, the wet track got the better of him and he lost the rear, which punted him into the side of Ugochukwu’s car, ending his hopes of a double points finish in Budapest.

The rain abated, but the damp conditions persisted, and combined with multiple race neutralisations, progress through the field was difficult. Nonetheless, Martinius Stenshorne gained four places on his starting position to reach P16, while Nikita Johnson steadily made up eight positions to P21.

As the race switched to a timed format rather than laps, dry patches began to emerge, which promoted the bold decision to roll the dice and pit Martinius for slicks. This dropped him down the order, but the hope was for another Safety Car to turn the gamble into a gain. Meanwhile, Johnson stayed on the full-wet tyres mandated at the race start.

Unfortunately, the track remained too damp for dry tyres, and there was insufficient grip to be able to push. But with nothing to lose – being outside the points-paying positions – it was a gamble worth taking in a race with so many fits and starts.

Nikita finished the race in P21, while Martinius was unable to recover back to the mid-field and came home in P26.

Earlier in the weekend, Gerrard delivered a standout performance at one of the toughest tracks on the calendar, one notoriously difficult to Qualifying well at. Building on the confidence from his maiden GB3 pole and victory at the Hungaroring last season, he showed impressive determination and composure, which he carried through into Saturday’s Sprint Race.

Starting from ninth place on the reverse grid, he held his nerve against stiff competition and prevailed to claim to eighth place, securing his first points finish of his debut campaign with P10. He can be very proud of what he has achieved this weekend and is trending in the right direction as the season enters its closing stages.

Martinius climbed to P12 in the Sprint Race, gaining eight places from his starting position. However, on lap 14, he was handed a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Coming just after a Safety Car period, when the chasing pack had bunched up, the penalty’s impact was more severe, dropping him to 23rd. Meanwhile, Nikita made up seven places to finish 22nd.

The Formula 3 community will now enjoy a long summer break before returning for the season finale at Monza from 5-7 September.

With the Drivers’ Championship already decided, Hitech TGR congratulate Rafael Câmara on a successful campaign.