Qualifying
Qualifying proved once again Spa’s classic challenge, with a few drops of rain appearing as the cars left the pit lane before a pile-up brought the session to an early end with 10 minutes remaining. Red-flagged and never resumed, the session denied the ART Grand Prix drivers a final flying lap, despite having shown the pace to fight for the front rows. Taito qualified 11th, Maciej 15th and Kanato 25th.
Sprint Race
Following average starts, Kanato and Taito found themselves trapped in a DRS train. Despite their best efforts, neither was able to break free and they finished 16th and Following the application of several penalties – including one of his own – Taito lined up fifth. Maciej and Kanato started 13th and 20th respectively. Despite showing good pace, all three drivers had limited opportunities to move forward in a race interrupted twice for lengthy periods. Taito scored 6 points with fifth place, while Maciej and Kanato crossed the line 12th and 18th.
Feature Race
Maciej (10th on the grid) and Taito (12th) put on a show on track, climbing to fifth and sixth and showcasing solid pace with steady progress from both drivers. Kanato was dropped to 23rd place due to track limits penalty. The weekend ends on a positive note, with ART climbing to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Taito Kato
“I love Spa-Francorchamps and I’ve always been competitive there. At this track, you have to master the slipstream and put every sector together, which wasn’t easy this year with the rain and my qualifying penalty. But the car was fantastic to drive, so I made a strong comeback from 12th to sixth. Thanks to the team for the hard work !”
Sébastien Philippe
“Qualifying is a crucial moment of an F3 weekend, and unfortunately it didn’t work in our favour with the rain and the red flag. During the Sprint Race, the three drivers made the most of the circumstances and gathered valuable information for Sunday. I’m happy with the Feature Race, as Maciej and Taito are consistently improving and taking opportunities on track. Kanato, on the other hand, struggled with tyre management and was unable to show his true pace. Besides this, we are heading to Budapest with confidence just before the summer break!”
