The biggest starting grid of the season offered a thrilling Formula cars race that had every possible element. Paolo Brajnik managed to win after avoiding all collision on the first lap.
Just a single view on the grid with 36 cars was enough to expect that something big is going to happen. All the drivers had a tough time just making it through the first corner, but miraculously they managed to do so. However, fans got to see their accidents in the following corners. First lap accidents even involved the two fastest drivers on the grid – Tom Beckhäuser and Andrea Cola. While Beckhäuser had to retire, Cola dropped to the last place. Luckily for him, he still had hope as Safety Car went on the track.
Paolo Brajnik, who started from pole position, was in the lead and with more than 30 cars behind him, he waited for the restart. It took three laps before the race could continue and then he had to start thinking about a good defence strategy in order to keep Sandro Zeller behind. Zeller started 3rd, but he is always a threat, especially at Red Bull Ring. Right after the start, Zeller managed to get into the lead for a brief moment, but Brajnik quickly retook the first position and then the battle was neutralised by Safety Car.
Their battle continued after the restart, with a blue Formula car in the lead followed closely by a yellow single-seater. And it was just another example of how breathtaking can single-seaters racing be.
Both drivers were followed by Alessio Deleda in 3rd place, who was ready in case any of them makes a mistake. However, nothing like that happened as Brajnik used all his experience and Zeller slightly dropping behind. Soon, he had to give up any ideas about winning this race with 36 cars.
In the end, it was Paolo Brajnik who won the opening Formula race at Red Bull Ring. He also won the E2-2000 category, ahead of János Magyar. In the F3 category, it was a victory for Zeller, who finished 2nd overall, ahead of Alessio Deleda and Antonio Bottiroli.
In Formula Renault category, the reigning champions Mirecki Bartolomiej took his first win of the season ahead of Nico Gruber and Thomas Aregger. In the F4 category, Stefan Fürtbauer finished 1st ahead of Marius Morosan.
Race results
Formula L21 Race 1
Foto: Harald Lindtner/werace.TV