The Swedish prodigy from the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy clinched his inaugural triumph in the Formula 3 circuit at Melbourne. Dino Beganovic’s mastery over the Feature Race stemmed from meticulous racecraft and adept tire management.
Melbourne, 24th March 2024
Securing his debut Formula 3 victory, the Swede from the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, Dino Beganovic, showcased a virtuosic performance at Albert Park. His triumph in the pivotal Feature Race was attributed to impeccable strategizing and astute tire stewardship.
A Triumph Long Awaited
Although Dino Beganovic had been on the cusp of his maiden Formula 3 triumph numerous times, it had always eluded him due to various circumstances. However, today at Albert Park, during the season’s second leg, he utilized his full arsenal of skills, adeptly managing the intricate challenge of tire conservation. Dino demonstrated an exquisite blend of prowess, assertiveness, and mechanical empathy as he maneuvered from third position on the starting grid to claim victory at the checkered flag. “This victory is a testament to the collective effort,” emphasized Beganovic. “Every member of the Prema team executed flawlessly, and I felt supremely confident in the cockpit throughout the race. This day will forever be etched in my memory.” Additionally, Dino secured the bonus point for the fastest lap of the race, elevating him to fourth place in the overall standings with 28 points to his credit.
Feature Race Recap
As the Feature Race commenced, the grid made a clean start, with Beganovic maintaining his third-place position off the line before embarking on a prolonged six-lap stint behind the Safety Car. Despite the static positions during this phase, all drivers exercised caution to preserve their tire integrity. Approaching the halfway mark, Dino amplified his pace, overtaking Gabriele Mini on the 12th lap and seizing the lead two laps later by surpassing pole-sitter Leonardo Fornaroli. Once in the forefront, Beganovic executed flawless race management, diligently conserving his tires while simultaneously fending off Fornaroli’s advances. In the final two laps, he surged ahead, creating a buffer beyond his pursuers’ DRS range, securing a comfortable trajectory to the checkered flag and commemorating his well-deserved maiden victory in the category.
Sprint Race Recap
In the previous day’s opening race of the weekend, Beganovic commenced from the tenth position, courtesy of the reversed grid format. “My start wasn’t optimal,” conceded the driver. “I lost ground initially but managed to regain a spot in the top ten by the midway point, despite contending with unexpectedly high tire degradation.” Following an interlude under the Safety Car, a three-lap sprint ensued, during which Beganovic ascended to sixth place, executing a last-gasp overtake on Mini. However, his joy was short-lived as a five-second penalty for an overly aggressive overtaking maneuver relegated him to 13th position, nullifying his accrued points.
