Win apiece for Fumanelli and Fontana at Monza

Alex Fontana extended his lead at the top of the European F3 Open standings with a victory and third place finish at Monza after fellow championship contender David Fumanelli won the opening race.

Fumanelli’s comparatively lonely lights-to-flag victory on home turf in race one was in stark contrast to the battles raging behind as the impressive Zoel Amberg came through to finish second ahead of Fontana.

While Fumanelli’s solid start helped him maintain the lead at the first corner, Amberg’s poor getaway allowed Fontana, Niccolò Schirò and Juan Carlos Sistos to all vault clear. That order changed almost by the lap though as the Swiss rookie worked his back up to third behind Sistos.

With Monza’s long fast straights once again aiding overtaking, it was no surprise to see moves made all the way down the order. But nowhere was that more evident than in the fight for second as the De Villota pair swapped positions several times before Amberg could break the toe.

While their squabble allowed Fumanelli to pull out a healthy six-second gap, it also profited Fontana who closed in and passed Sistos over the closing stages to secure a podium finish.

Further back the fight for fifth was just as intense with Schirò eventually edging out Fernando Monje and RP Motorsport team-mate Matteo Beretta.

Team West-Tec proved the class of the Copa contingent to record a 1-3 result courtesy of Sam Dejonghe and Luca Orlandi, the pair sandwiching Francisco Diar. 

Race two was then even more dramatic, despite Fontana’s win moving the Swiss 31 points clear of Fumanelli in the title race.

This time it was Schirò who headed the field in the early stages with Fontana fighting off the advances of Monje, Sistos, Fumanelli and Victor Correa. Amberg meanwhile could not repeat his earlier heroics after retiring soon after the start.

Having seen off Monje’s challenge, Fontana was soon able to chase down the leader and by lap eight the Corbetta Racing driver was through. Schirò wasn’t finished though and struck back, the pair dicing for position until the RP Motorsports driver pushed too hard, ran wide at Lesmo and allowed Sistos through.

Indeed Sistos would also briefly pass Fontana before slipping back into the clutches of a recovering Schirò as well as Noel Jammal and Fumanelli. A small mistake from the Mexican soon let all three through but further late drama was still to come.

With the battle raging to the finish, it was no surprise when Sistos and Jammal collided at the Ascari chicane and allowed Copa class race leader Dejonghe to take third overall. That later became second when runner-up on the road Schirò was penalised three seconds post-race for cutting a chicane.

His misdemeanor saw Sistos inherit third with Fumanelli fourth. Monje, Beretta and Matteo Davenia completed the top eight behind Schirò in fifth.

Team West-Tec topped their opening race performance thanks to a 1-2-3 finish, Fabio Gamberini and Orlandi coming home behind double weekend winner Dejonghe. 

Catch live European F3 Open coverage on Motors TV throughout 2011.

Tom Hornsby