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Jin Nakamura Scores Thrilling First F3 Victory in Belgium Sprint
Highlights
- Jin Nakamura won his first FIA F3 Sprint Race at Spa.
- Nakamura overtook Colnaghi and Clerot after starting fourth.
- Brando Badoer and Pedro Clerot completed the podium positions.
- Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater collided; no penalties given.
- Slater will start Feature Race from pole position Sunday 08:30.
- Ugochukwu faces two grid penalties after Friday’s qualifying session.
Jin Nakamura claims his first FIA Formula 3 win in the Spa-Francorchamps Sprint for Hitech, converting fourth on the reverse grid with a decisive move after a Safety Car restart.
He vaults forward early, clearing MP Motorsport’s Mattia Colnaghi and Rodin’s Pedro Clerot to position himself behind leader Brando Badoer.
The first Safety Car compresses the field. Nakamura times the restart, uses Spa’s long run to Les Combes, and commits cleanly to relieve Badoer of the lead.
A later restart produces his only scare, a brief snap of oversteer at Turn 1, but he stabilizes the Hitech and manages the remaining laps without threat.
Rodin secures the remaining podium places, Brando Badoer second and Pedro Clerot third after a controlled, internal duel. Colnaghi finishes fourth, with ART’s Taito Kato fifth.
Nakamura converts P4 on the reverse grid into a commanding first F3 victory.
The points scorers are Theophile Nael, Tuukka Taponen, Ernesto Rivera, Alessandro Giusti, and Noah Stromsted, rounding out the top ten.
The race pivots on an early clash at Les Combes between championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu and closest rival Freddie Slater.
Ugochukwu attempts a move, contact sends Slater’s Trident out immediately, and Ugochukwu pits with damage. He resumes, but finishes a lap down in 29th.
Stewards deem the collision a racing incident, so no penalties follow, preserving the title fight’s raw balance heading into Sunday.
Stewards ruled the Ugochukwu–Slater clash a racing incident; no penalties issued.
Slater nevertheless starts Sunday’s Feature from pole, targeting his first F3 win and damage limitation after today’s retirement.
Ugochukwu carries two separate grid penalties from Friday qualifying, leaving Campos with strategy choices and a recovery brief at Spa.
Feature Race scheduled for 08:30 local time on Sunday.
For Hitech, Nakamura’s execution under restarts underlines a compliant package and strong engineering response to cool, low-grip conditions.
The Spa weekend sits within a packed Belgian Grand Prix programme, and the form book remains volatile on a circuit that rewards confidence through high-speed sections.
Visual Summary
JIN NAKAMURA
TAKES MAIDEN F3 WIN AT SPA
⬆ From P4 to Victory
🚀
Lightning Start
Lightning Start
Nakamura leaps up the order, overtaking rivals in early chaos.
🚨
Safety Car Surges
Safety Car Surges
Two restarts, one heart-stopping oversteer—still holds the lead.
🥈🥉
Rodin Double Podium
Rodin Double Podium
Badoer & Clerot finish nose-to-tail after fierce fight.
💥
Leaders Collide
Leaders Collide
Ugochukwu & Slater tangle at Les Combes—both hopes dashed.
⚡
Next: Feature Race Sun 08:30
Slater starts on Pole 🎯
Nakamura’s breakthrough, championship rivals clash, and the Spa drama continues tomorrow.
Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.
