Round 3 – Belgium, (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps)
Brandon Bonello (Ferrari), by playing the patience game, was able to wait his turn and overtake Adrian Manduca (Alfa Romeo) on the last lap of the race to win the third round of the V1 Malta Series Main Championship Season 6.
In the qualifying session, Ryan Carabott (Willaims) dominated the field by securing pole position with a commanding lead of 0.418 seconds ahead of a surprising performance by Daryl Pace (AlphaTauri). Carabott’s return as a full-time driver for Williams, stepping into the shoes of Ian Xuereb, was met with high expectations, and he did not disappoint.
The race got underway with a safety car deployment after an incident at the notorious Eau Rouge/Raidillon section. The straights provided the majority of the overtaking opportunities, so a low-downforce setup and DRS became pivotal in determining the pace of the race. After a few laps in second place, Daryl Pace (AlphaTauri) passed Ryan Carabott (Williams) for the lead after a few laps, and he held it for a few more before another safety car intervention prompted strategic pit stops throughout the field. Brandon Bonello (Ferrari) emerged from the pits in third place, closely followed by Matthias Farrugia (Alpine) and Adrian Manduca (Alfa Romeo) all with the medium tyre. Pace’s decision to stick with the hard tyres backfired as he got overtaken after the restart and dropped down in fifth. Further drama ensued when another safety car period unfolded, causing a shuffle in the field. After pitting for softs, Carabott found himself in eighth position, requiring a determined comeback. Farrugia also took a gamble on the soft compound.
Manduca seized the lead in the latter stages of the race, but Bonello, demonstrating impeccable patience, shadowed him closely, guarding himself from the charging Carabott. However, Carabott’s hopes of a podium finish were dashed when he received a 3-second penalty for exceeding track limits. In a breathtaking final lap, Bonello made his move, overtaking Manduca and immediately establishing a lead that proved insurmountable. Carabott and Manduca lost valuable time due to a contact, allowing Bonello to secure a well-deserved victory, crossing the finish line with authority. Manduca and Farrugia crossed the finish line second and third respectively.
Brandon Bonello (Ferrari) was awarded the Driver of the Day Award for his outstanding performance and strategic brilliance while Ryan Carabott (Williams) managed to get the extra point from the Fastest Lap Award.
The Ferrari duo and reigning champions, Brandon Bonello and Osbert Xuereb, managed to take the lead of the Constructors’ Championship by nine points.
Stay in touch with us next Monday at 9pm on the Velocity Esports Racing Facebook or YouTube page for the next round of Tier 2 and in two weeks’ time for the next round of the V1 Malta Series Main Championship. The second round of was postponed to Monday, 27th November 2023 due to an in-game glitch.
