Tom Blomqvist has taken a dominant race victory around the Red Bull Ring in Austria as the FIA Formula Three European Championship saw the first race of the weekend get underway in style. Antonio Giovinazzi followed his team mate home to make it a fantastic double podium for the team. Avoiding incidents at the start of the race the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin pair streamed into the lead and didn’t look back with Blomqvist taking his fourth win of the 2014 season. Team mate Gelael fought his way through the field throughout the race and took the flag in 12th position.
It was a dramatic first lap for the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin drivers – having both got off the line well they maintained their positions as they made their way into the first corner. However up ahead there would be a huge change as race leader Esteban Ocon and second placed Max Verstappen came together leaving the door wide open for the Jagonya Ayam pair of Blomqvist and Giovinazzi to breeze in to the lead. Blomqvist headed the field while team mate Giovinazzi slotted in behind. Gelael meanwhile was running in 15th position.
As the race continued Blomqvist and Giovinazzi kept pace with one another however the pair had soon pulled a gap over third placed man Felix Rosenqvist as they streamed away at the front. A small battle for position between them ensued when Giovinazzi tried to pull a move on lap ten however Blomqvist was wise to the attempt and closed the door.
For Gelael his progress was also rapid; the Indonesian racer was picking up places each lap, including a great move on Felix Serralles, and by the mid-point of the race had moved his way up to 12th position overall and was soon very close behind Roy Nissany.
However at the very front the drama was few and far between as Blomqvist and Giovinazzi continued to drive strongly in their efforts to clinch a double podium. With no one able to touch them Blomqvist came home to take a fantastic win – his fourth of the season – with Giovinazzi behind him in second. Gelael meanwhile was piling the pressure on Nissany and despite getting the gap right down was unable to make the position before the conclusion of the race and took the flag in a solid 12th position.
Reflecting on his victory Blomqvist said, ‘I couldn’t have asked for much more – it was a good result for me and also for the team too with Antonio [Giovinazzi] in second. It was always going to be interesting with Max [Verstappen] and Esteban [Ocon] ahead, so when they came together I was able to pick up the pieces. I had to defend from Antonio a couple of times but we had a good race and then I could pull a lead and bring home a win for the guys.’
Picking up a podium Giovinazzi said, ‘It was a really good race for the whole team, I got a good start and was fighting with Tom [Blomqvist] for the lead when the leaders crashed. I tried to overtake a few times during the race but couldn’t. However this shows that we have the pace so we’re now looking good for the next qualifying and the other races this weekend with the aim to go one better.’
Gelael added, ‘I had a really great battle with Serralles which was fun however in the midst of this I had lost time by the time I passed him so Nissany was up the road and I had to chase him down. When I got to him our pace was very similar and so it was hard to overtake. However the car felt great, the pace was there and it’s just a case of working hard in qualifying now to be further up the grid so we don’t have to fight through during the race so much.’
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