Goethe, Boya and Montoya will contest the two Australian races with the utmost motivation to maintain their fight for points-paying fhinishes and, why not, to fully enter the battle for the podium
The 2024 FIA Formula 3 season will continue this weekend with the second and final race outside of Europe at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. Campos Racing will travel to Australia with their three Dallara F3 cars entrusted to Mari Boya, Sebastián Montoya, and Oliver Goethe. The season opener in Sakhir brought points to the Alzira-based team, but also a sense that there was potential to achieve much more.
In Bahrain, all Campos Racing drivers had to approach both races with the goal of making a comeback. In qualifying, the rapidly changing wind significantly affected the final result, condemning the team's drivers to start from middle grid positions. Despite the challenge, Boya climbed to eighth place in the first race ahead of his teammate Goethe, both entering the points. Montoya, on the other hand, moved up to eighteenth place. In the second race, the script was similar. An early collision ended Boya's race prematurely as he had to pit due to a puncture, but Goethe finished ninth, earning more points in his Red Bull-colored Dallara. Montoya managed to pass more than ten rivals from the back of the grid to finish seventeenth at the checkered flag.
Melbourne was added to the FIA Formula 3 calendar last season and quickly became one of the most challenging and demanding venues for the drivers. Its semi-urban character gives it some of the characteristics typical of such circuits, such as the proximity of walls that can thwart anyone's aspirations and dictate the course of the entire weekend. It is a circuit with medium aerodynamic load and does not present high levels of tire wear or degradation, even after resurfacing two years ago.
Both free practice and qualifying will take place on Thursday night at 22:50 and early Friday morning at 4:00, respectively. The Sprint race will be held early Saturday morning at 01:15, while the Feature race on Sunday is scheduled for Saturday night at 23:05. CET Times.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): "Both in pre-season and in race pace in Bahrain, we were at an optimal level as evidenced by the large number of positions that all our drivers gained in both races. We need to improve in qualifying, which was our main handicap in Sakhir, and by starting further up the grid, I am convinced that we have excellent chances to be fully involved in the fight for the podiums. Melbourne is a track that leaves little room for errors. Last year we performed at a high level and it's even possible to overtake many rivals, although it's a circuit that initially isn't the most conducive in this aspect."
Oliver Goethe (Campos Racing Driver in FIA Formula 3): "I’m looking forward for the second round here in Melbourne. I really enjoy the area and the atmosphere and the team and I will do our best to achieve the greatest result possible which I know we’re capable of."
Mari Boya (Campos Racing Driver in FIA Formula 3): “I’m looking forward to contesting the second round of the season. I really love the place and our feedback was pretty good during the curtain-raiser event.”
Sebastián Montoya (Campos Racing Driver in FIA Formula 3): “I’m very excited to be back in Australia, I love the atmosphere around the track that that the fans bring! The track is quite different to Bahrain so it’s gonna be interesting to see what the weekend brings but I’m excited and ready for it!”
