2024 Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup Explained

The 2024 Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup was the 43rd Austria Formula 3 Cup season and the sixth season since Drexler-Automotive took over the title sponsoring of the series.[1]

The 2024 season was held over eight race weekends across Europe.[2] It began in April at Vallelunga Circuit and concluded in October at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The series continued its cooperation with the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy, with the two series sharing grids and race slots for multiple rounds.

Benjámin Berta, driving for Franz Wöss Racing, won his second Formula 3 Cup title with a race to spare, while Jo Zeller Racing driver Marcel Tobler defended his Formula 3 Trophy at the penultimate race weekend of the season. Viola Formula Racing's Emir Tanju clinched the Formula Light Cup at the final race of the season.

Teams and drivers

Teams and drivers competed in either Formula 3 or the Formula Light Cup. Formula 3 entries were divided between the Cup class and the Trophy class.[3]

Formula 3 Cup entries

TeamNo.DriverCarEngineRounds
Franz Wöss Racing1 Benjámin BertaDallara F320MercedesAll
19 Cian CareyDallara F320Mercedes8
20 Stig LarsenDallara F320Mercedes HWA1–3, 5–6, 8
32 Victor SmialekDallara F316Mercedes HWAAll
Viola Formula Racing2 Laurence BalestriniDallara F317Volkswagen6, 8
Puresport5 Giorgio VenicaDallara F308Power Engine3
8 Dino RaseroDallara F320Mercedes HWA1, 3, 6, 8
12 Christof LedermannDallara F309Power Engine1
Tatuus F3 T-318Alfa Romeo2–3, 6, 8
14 Andrea BenalliDallara F317Mercedes HWA1–3, 6, 8
33 Ahmad Shaheen Al MuhannadiDallara F312Volkswagen1–3, 6, 8
Facondini Racing41 Franco CimarelliDallara F312VW3, 8
Jo Zeller Racing11 Kurt BöhlenDallara F316Mercedes HWA4–7
44 Sandro ZellerDallara F316Mercedes HWAAll
56 Thomas ZeltnerDallara F314Mercedes6
717 Stephan GlaserDallara F314Mercedes7
Bellspeed27 Patrick BellezzaDallara F300Fiat Novamotor8
Team Automobile Tricolore46 Riccardo PeregoDallara F317Volkswagen1–3, 6, 8
JMT Racing Klub65 Roman RoubícekDallara F320Mercedes HWA2–8
TVS Motorsport69 Enzo StentellaDallara F302BMW1–3, 6, 8
Racing in Italy75 Mei ShibiDallara F308Volkswagen1–3, 6, 8
GT2 Motorsport98 Vaclav SafarDallara F320Volkswagen7
G Motorsport131 Francesco GalliDallara F320Volkswagen1–3, 5–8
Magyar Racing Team146 János MagyarTatuus N.T07Honda2, 7–8
ASU NV Racing212 Paolo BrajnikDallara F320Volkswagen6
Source: [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Formula 3 Trophy entries

TeamNo.DriverCarEngineRounds
Jo Zeller Racing2 Urs RüttimannDallara F306VW Spiess2–3, 8
3 Marcel ToblerDallara F308Mercedes HWA2–3, 5, 7
Team Hoffmann Racing4 Roman HoffmannDallara F317Toyota2
Robert RoweDallara F320VW Spiess5–7
10 Luca IannaconeDallara F308Fiat FTP2–4
22 André PetropoulosDallara F316Opel Spiess2, 4–7
Facondini Racing6 Enrico MilaniDallara F308Fiat FTP1, 3
88 Francesco SolfaroliDallara F317Toyota1, 3, 8
96 Oliver KratschDallara F308Toyota1–3
Speed Center Team7 Christian ZellerDallara F305Opel Spiess5
13 Philipp TodtenhauptDallara F317Toyota5
199 Thomas ZeltnerDallara F314Toyota5
Giordano Motorsport9 Giovanni GiordanoDallara F308Fiat FTP1–3, 6, 8
Neri Motorsport10 Luca IannaconeDallara F308Fiat FTP6–7
ASD Living KC21 Umberto VaglioDallara F308Toyota3, 6, 8
Derva Corse ASD24 Marco de ToffolDallara F308Fiat FTP1–3, 6
Bellspeed27 Patrick BellezzaDallara F300Fiat Novamotor3, 6
Franz Wöss Racing Sedin MujagicDallara F305Opel Spiess4–5, 7
BMG Racing28 Giorgio BertoDallara F308Fiat FTP1, 8
Team Automobile Tricolore39 Edoardo BonanomiDallara F312Mercedes HWA1–3, 6, 8
Nannini Racing42 Davide PedettiDallara F317Toyota1–3
43 Giancarlo PedettiDallara F317Toyota1–3, 6, 8
Emotion Motorsport83 Daniele RadrizzaniDallara F317Toyota2–3, 8
Privateer911 Nikolay TaykevDallara F308Opel Spiess7
Source:

Formula Light Cup entries

TeamNo.DriverCarEngineRounds
Alpha Team Racing3 Giancarlo de VirgilisTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 8
Speed Motor7 Karim SartoriTatuus FR2.0Renault1–3, 6, 8
Speed Center Team8 Dennis HüblTatuus FR2.0Renault5
88 Karl TodtenhauptTatuus FR2.0Renault5
Scuderia Cirelli16 Sara FruncilloTatuus F4-T014Abarth6
17 Tony di GiulioTatuus F4-T014Abarth1, 3
GTM Motorsport18 Domenico TerronTatuus FR2.0Renault6
Morel Auto Racing23 Tristan MorelTatuus FR2.0Renault2
Neri Motorsport Bruno MottezTatuus FR2.0Renault3
94 Arthur FoucheTatuus FR2.0Renault6
Viola Formula Racing25 Valentin AndreiuxTatuus FR2.0Renault1–3, 8
26 Emir TanjuTatuus FR2.0Renault1–3, 6, 8
67 Alessandro ZuccoTatuus FR2.0Renault6, 8
Privateer31 Sarene ZiffelTatuus FR2.0Renault5
Privateer33 Andreas StamannTatuus FR2.0Renault5
ASD Ruote Scoperte M.34 Sergio ContiTatuus F4-T014Abarth2–3, 6, 8
79 Fabio TurchettoTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 8
Derva Corse ASD40 Andrea CavigioliTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 6
95 Stefano NoalTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 6
Conrad Racing Sport68 Hartmut BertschTatuus FR2.0Renault5
Team HARS71 Luca GuoloTatuus FR2.0Renault3
STAC91 Jérémy ClavaudTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 6, 8
Team Perodi92 Romano CataldoTatuus FR2.0Renault1, 3, 6, 8
Team Hoffmann Racing122 Dr. Norbert GroerTatuus FR2.0Renault2, 4–8
123 Diego RomaniniTatuus FR2.0Renault4
Franz Wöss Racing125 Robert SiskaTatuus FR2.0Renault2, 6, 8
Privateer163 Falk SchwarzeTatuus FR2.0Renault4, 7
Source:

Race calendar

The championship changed three of its locations compared to 2023. Vallelunga and Monza returned to the calendar after a one-year absence, while the series also returned to the Lausitzring after last racing there in 2018. The rounds at Spa and the Hungaroring left the calendar, as well as the second round at Mugello.

CircuitDateSupport billMap of circuit locations
11 Vallelunga Circuit, Campagnano di Roma21 AprilTCR World Tour
TCR Europe Touring Car Series
2
21 Red Bull Ring, Spielberg18 MayRundstreckentrophy
Eurocup-3
219 May
31 Imola Circuit, Imola1 JuneItalian GT Championship
Porsche Carrera Cup Italia
22 June
41 Lausitzring, Klettwitz29 JunePorsche Club Historic Challenge
P9 Challenge
2
51 Hockenheimring, Hockenheim27 JulyPorsche Club Historic Challenge
2
61 Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero24 AugustEuro 4 Championship
Italian GT Championship
225 August
71 Brno Circuit, Brno7 SeptemberTCR Europe Touring Car Series
TCR Eastern Europe
28 September
81 Monza Circuit, Monza5 OctoberItalian GT Championship
Porsche Carrera Cup Italia
26 October

Race results

CircuitPole positionFastest lapF3 Cup winnerF3 Trophy winnerFormula Light Cup winner
11 Vallelunga Circuit Francesco Galli Francesco Galli Francesco Galli Francesco Solfaroli Emir Tanju
2 Francesco Galli Francesco Galli Francesco Solfaroli Emir Tanju
21 Red Bull Ring Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Francesco Galli Marcel Tobler Valentin Andreiux
2 Benjámin Berta Sandro Zeller Marcel Tobler Karim Sartori
31 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Benjámin Berta Francesco Galli Benjámin Berta Marcel Tobler Karim Sartori
2 Francesco Galli Sandro Zeller Francesco Solfaroli Emir Tanju
41 Lausitzring Benjámin Berta Sandro Zeller Benjámin Berta André Petropoulos Falk Schwarze
2 Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta André Petropoulos Falk Schwarze
51 Hockenheimring Sandro Zeller Sandro Zeller Sandro Zeller Marcel Tobler Sarene Ziffel
2 Benjámin Berta Victor Smialek Marcel Tobler Sarene Ziffel
61 Mugello Circuit Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Sandro Zeller Edoardo Bonanomi Jérémy Clavaud
2 Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Edoardo Bonanomi Jérémy Clavaud
71 Brno Circuit Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta André Petropoulos Dr. Norbert Groer
2 Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Marcel Tobler Dr. Norbert Groer
81 Monza Circuit Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Urs Rüttimann Valentin Andreiux
2 Benjámin Berta Francesco Galli Edoardo Bonanomi Valentin Andreiux

Season report

First half

The season opened at Vallelunga with G Motorsport's Francesco Galli on pole position. He had to contend with Franz Wöss Racing's Benjámin Berta all race, but held on to take the win. Race two saw a repeat of the fight for the win, with Galli victorious again. Jo Zeller Racing's Sandro Zeller was third in race one and looked set to repeat that feat before colliding with Team Automobile Tricolore's Riccardo Perego in race two while battling for third. The F3 Trophy saw a double win for Facondini Racing's Francesco Solfaroli, while the Light Cup witnessed the opening exchange of blows in a season-long fight between Viola Formula's Emir Tanju and Speed Motor's Karim Sartori, with the Turk winning twice.[12]

The Red Bull Ring hosted round two, and this time Berta took pole position. Still, Galli was the man to beat in the races as he overtook Berta right at the start and took his third win in a row. This streak came to a halt in race two when Galli slid off track and had to retire. This left Berta and Zeller fighting for the win, with Berta coming home first, but with a time penalty that handed Zeller the win. Berta's teammate Victor Smialek was third. Jo Zeller Racing's Marcel Tobler made his first appearance of the season in the F3 Trophy and took two wins right away, while wins in the Light Cup were shared between Viola Formula's Valentin Andreiux and Sartori. Tanju was second twice, thereby retaining his points lead.[13]

Round three at Imola also began with Berta on pole position. Galli had superior race pace but once again made a mistake that forced him into retirement, leaving Berta to take his first win of the season as well as the championship lead, ahead of Zeller and Smialek. The Swiss then went one place better in race two, keeping his lead from pole position and fending off Galli and Berta all race. In the F3 Trophy, joint championship leaders Solfaroli and Tobler met each other on track for the first time. Both took a win and a second place, remaining equal on points. The picture in the Light Cup was similar, with leaders Tanju and Sartori also sharing the wins, further distancing themselves from the rest of the field.[14]

Only eleven cars travelled to the Lausitzring, where Berta took another pole position. Galli was not among the attendees, so the fight for both races was between Berta and Zeller. Race one saw a close fight, while race two was dominated from pole - Berta was the winner both times. Smialek took two third places, thereby overtaking Galli in the standings. Both F3 Trophy leaders were absent too, leaving Team Hoffmann Racing’s André Petropoulos to take two wins and instantly move into second place in the standings. The same was seen in the Formula Light Cup, with Tanju and Sartori not joining the grid, allowing privateer entrant Falk Schwarze to take a double win on his debut in the championship.[15]

Second half

The second half of the season began at Hockenheimring with a different pole sitter in Zeller. Berta initially got past him, but Zeller kept close to him to retake the lead and win the race. Smialek took third, before taking his maiden win ahead of returnee Galli and Jo Zeller Racing’s Kurt Böhlen in race two after Berta was hit with a 30-second penalty that dropped him to fourth. Tobler returned to the F3 Trophy and took two wins and the championship lead as Solfaroli was still absent. Petropoulos took a podium to reduce his distance to Solfaroli. The Formula Light Cup saw another double by a privateer debutant, with Sarene Ziffel sweeping the weekend as Tanju and Sartori missed another round.[16]

Round six at Mugello brought the F2000 entries back to the field, with 39 cars entered. Berta won pole position once again, but collided with Galli a few laps into the first race and retired. Zeller was left to take the win ahead of Smialek and ASU NV’s one-off entry Paolo Brajnik. In the second race, Galli stalled at the start, with Berta taking the lead and the win ahead of Zeller and Smialek. Team Automobile Tricolore’s Eduardo Bonanomi took both F3 Trophy wins as Petropoulos was the only front-runner competing, taking one sixth place. Tanju and Sartori returned to the Formula Light Cup, but the winner of both races was STAC’s Jérémy Clavaud. Still, Sartori was able to overtake Tanju in the standings.[17]

The penultimate round at Brno Circuit saw Berta take another pole position, which he then turned into a controlled lights-to-flag victory, with Smialek and Zeller making up the F3 Cup podium behind him. Race two began with Smialek taking the lead, before Berta retook it and reestablished the competitive picture seen in the first race. The top three finished the race in the same order, handing Berta a 28-point lead. Wins in the F3 Trophy were shared by Petropoulos and Tobler, with the former taking second in the standings and the latter crowned class champion. Team Hoffmann’s Dr. Norbert Groer was the sole entry in the Formula Light Cup and took two wins, each only worth half points.[18]

Berta took his third pole position in a row for the season finale at Monza. After a delayed start to race one, Berta managed two restarts to take his seventh win of the season ahead of Smialek and Zeller, crowning him the champion in the process. Race two began with Smialek in the lead, but a bad mid-race restart saw him fall to fourth behind eventual winner Galli, Berta and Zeller. The top two drivers in the F3 Trophy were absent, leaving Jo Zeller Racing’s Urs Rüttimann and Bonanomi to finish the season with a win each. Andreiux won both races in the Formula Light Cup, but Tanju was able to claim the class title by just four points after Sartori was forced to retire from the final race.[19]

Berta’s second championship in a row saw him notch up seven wins and 14 podiums in 16 races. At the start of the year, however, the fastest driver of the field was Galli, who began the season with three wins in a row. A double non-score then set him back considerably, and when he did not contest two of the rounds outside Italy, he was removed from contention. That left Zeller as Berta’s closest competitor, but he was no match for the Hungarian, just like in 2023. The F3 Trophy was once again characterized by high entry fluctuation, with Tobler repeating his 2023 feat of dominating the weekends he contested, while the Formula Light Cup saw a title battle closely fought across five of the eight rounds, with very little drivers traveling to Germany and Czechia.

Standings

Scoring system

Points were awarded per class. If less than three cars entered in a class, half points were awarded for the race.

Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 
Points251815121086421
* - half points awarded as less than three cars entered the race

Formula 3 Cup standings

PosDriverVLL
RBR
IMO
LAU
HOC
MUG
BRN
MNZ
Pts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1 Benjámin Berta2222131124Ret11112310
2 Sandro Zeller31031212217123333269
3 Victor Smialek9443353331232224235
4 Francesco Galli111RetRet262116WDWD41164
5 Stig Larsen8756674574Ret788
6 Riccardo Perego43954498RetRet69
7 Kurt Böhlen44Ret31074568
8 Andrea Benalli5511456810Ret663
9 Roman Roubícek129101355565RetRet791359
10 Enzo Stentella7610121214458Ret41
11 Dino Rasero69896961534
12 Ahmad Shaheen Al Muhannadi11116878RetDNS71029
13 János MagyarRet76613924
14 Vaclav Safar5422
15 Paolo Brajnik3DNS15
16 Franco Cimarelli13DNS5814
17 Cian Carey14510
18 Mei Shibi1212710910WDWDDSQWD10
19 Christof Ledermann108811Ret12131311129
20 Stephan Glaser7Ret6
21 Laurence Balestrini141110111
22 Giorgio Venica11110
23 Thomas Zeltner12120
24 Patrick Bellezza12140
PosDriverR1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2Pts
VLL
RBR
IMO
LAU
HOC
MUG
BRN
MNZ
Bold – Pole

Italics – Fastest Lap

† — Did not finish, but classified

Formula 3 Trophy standings

PosDriverVLL
RBR
IMO
LAU
HOC
MUG
BRN
MNZ
Pts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1 Marcel Tobler11121121186
2 André PetropoulosRet311Ret2Ret612134
3 Francesco Solfaroli112132126
4 Edoardo Bonanomi53Ret8NCNC1121122
5 Luca IannaconeDNS9RetRet22544387
6 Urs Rüttimann22531Ret86
7 Robert Rowe25Ret23473
8 Giancarlo PedettiRet741077254Ret71
9 Giovanni Giordano38Ret6354RetDNSDNS64
10 Davide Pedetti22Ret4Ret950
11 Oliver KratschRet4374849
12 Sedin Mujagic3357†WDWD46
13 Umberto Vaglio6633DNSWD46
14 Enrico Milani468436
15 Thomas Zeltner3427
17 Daniele RadrizzaniRetDNS5325
17 Philipp Todtenhaupt4620
18 Marco de ToffolRet5Ret5WDWD20
19 Christian ZellerNC315
20 Giorgio BertoRet9DNS414
Roman HoffmannWDWD0
Patrick BellezzaWDWDWDWD0
Nikolay TaykevWDWD0
PosDriverR1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2Pts
VLL
RBR
IMO
LAU
HOC
MUG
BRN
MNZ

Formula Light Cup standings

PosDriverVLL
RBR
IMO
LAU
HOC
MUG
BRN
MNZ
Pts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1 Emir Tanju1122214Ret43168
2 Karim Sartori233112323Ret164
3 Dr. Norbert Groer543333961*1*6DNS125
4 Valentin AndreiuxRet216Ret311116
5 Jérémy Clavaud5511DNSRet70
6 Alessandro Zucco232269
=7 Falk Schwarze11WDWD50
=7 Sarene Ziffel1150
9 Fabio Turchetto345449
10 Romano CataldoRet4WDWD74Ret540
11 Robert Siska651077639
=12 Diego Romanini2236
=12 Dennis Hübl2236
14 Stefano Noal465Ret30
15 Tristan Morel4327
16 Sergio Conti779111189727
17 Karl Todtenhaupt4424
18 Andrea CavigioliRet78520
19 Giancarlo de Virgilis8108813
20 Luca Guolo6812
21 Arthur Fouche6Ret8
22 Bruno Mottez798
23 Sara Fruncillo1292
Tony di GiulioRetRetWDWD0
Andreas StamannWDWD0
Hartmut BertschWDWD0
Domenico TerronWDWD0
PosDriverR1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2Pts
VLL
RBR
IMO
LAU
HOC
MUG
BRN
MNZ

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Drexler Automotive . 2023-01-12 . www.drexler-automotive.com.
  2. Web site: Pokale . A. F. R. . Informationen und Ergebnisse 2024 . 2024-01-29 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com . de-de.
  3. Web site: Announcement for Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup 2022 .
  4. Web site: RACING WEEK-END - ZINOX F2000 TROPHY & F2.0 CUP - VALLELUNGA 2023 - ELENCO ISCRITTI / ENTRY LIST .
  5. Web site: RUNDSTRECKENTROPHY am RED BULL RING - BG Sportpromotion - 16 - 19 May 2024 - Provisional Class-Result Qualifying - Drexler Formel Cup / FIA CEZ D2 .
  6. Web site: Racing Weekend Imola 2024 - Elenco Iscritti - Entry List .
  7. Web site: P 9 CHALLENGE DREXLER FORMEL CUP 28./29. 06. 2024 Lausitzring Entry List . 26 June 2024.
  8. Web site: PORSCHE RACE DAYS: DREXLER FORMEL CUP 26./27. 07. 2024 Hockenheim - Entry List .
  9. Web site: RACING WEEK-END DREXLER FORMEL CUP MUGELLO 2024 ELENCO ISCRITTI - ENTRY LIST .
  10. Web site: Entry list Brno - Drexler Formel Cup .
  11. Web site: ACI Racing Weekend Monza, 5-6 Ottobre 2024 Zinox F2000 Trophy - Classifica Gara 1 .
  12. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Francesco Galli wins the season opener . 2024-10-15 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com.
  13. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Francesco Gali and Sandro Zeller win in Spielberg . 2024-10-15 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com.
  14. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Benjamin Berta takes the lead in the standings with first win of the season . 2024-10-15 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com.
  15. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Benjamin Berta consolidates his lead in the standings . 2024-10-18 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com.
  16. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Victor Smialek celebrates first win of the season . 2024-10-18 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com.
  17. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Sandro Zeller back within striking distance of Benjamin Berta . 2024-10-18 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com.
  18. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Benjamin Berta on his way to the title . 2024-10-23 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com.
  19. Web site: Drexler Formel Cup - Benjamin Berta wins second title in a row . 2024-10-23 . www.drexler-formel-cup.com.