The Formula 3 Feature Race at Spa-Francorchamps was cut short after just two laps due to relentless heavy rain.
Persistent downpours and poor visibility forced race control to deploy the red flag multiple times before ultimately cancelling the event, leaving drivers and teams frustrated as no points were awarded.
Brad Benavides was denied a chance at a maiden victory, but Rafael Camara preserves his 28-point lead heading into the final two rounds of the season.
The AIX Racing driver started from pole position after setting the fastest lap in Friday’s qualifying session — the first pole of his F3 career.
Championship leader Rafael Camara lined up alongside him on the front row.
The Brazilian’s title rivals, Nikola Tsolov and Tim Tramnitz, started from seventh and 13th on the grid, respectively.
Red flag issued as rain soaks Spa at lights out
After a dry weekend at Spa, the heavens finally opened on Sunday, forcing drivers to switch to wet-weather tyres for the first time.
The Safety Car led the field on the formation lap as the grid cautiously navigated the treacherous conditions.
However, at the top of Eau Rouge, AIX Racing’s James Hedley was the first to run into trouble, spinning off the track but narrowly avoiding the barriers at Raidillon.
Moments later on the Kemmel Straight, Prema’s Brando Badoer collided with the rear of title contender Tramnitz, sending the German into a spin.
With visibility severely reduced by the spray, Badoer hadn’t seen the MP Motorsport car ahead. The impact destroyed his left front wheel and front wing, ending his race immediately.
Tramnitz managed to keep his car running and rejoined at the back of the field.
Race control soon displayed the red flag due to the undriveable conditions, and the grid returned to the pits to await a decision on whether the race could resume.
Both Hedley and Tramnitz were able to return to the pit lane as well.
After 20 minutes of waiting, race control signalled a 10-minute countdown before a potential Safety Car-led restart.
Feature Race cancelled due to intense rainfall
The race officially got underway as planned, with all 30 drivers returning to the circuit for the opening lap.
Spray remained heavy, and visibility was still poor — a fact underscored when Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak spun off at Turn 8.
The Campos driver had to take evasive action to avoid his team-mate, Tsolov, after misjudging the gap between them.
Inthraphuvasak’s car came to a halt on the kerb and became stranded, unable to reverse back onto the track.
Elsewhere, Bruno del Pino, who was running in 10th place, was instructed by the stewards to drop to 27th, just behind Hedley, though the reason for the penalty was not immediately clear.
Just two laps after the restart, the race was halted once again, with visibility still too poor to continue safely.
Within minutes, race control confirmed there would not be enough time for another restart, and the race would not resume.
As the minimum number of laps had not been completed, no points were awarded.
Up next on the calendar is Round 9 in Budapest, with Camara still holding a healthy championship lead after extending his advantage over Tramnitz by one point.
READ MORE — Noah Stromsted cruises to maiden F3 victory in Spa Sprint Race
Discussion about this post