Imola : Kush Maini, from Bangalore, demonstrated tremendous maturity over the course of a difficult weekend in the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship, finishing Fifth in the Feature Race of the Imola race weekend out of a field of 29 cars that Started the Race on Sunday .
Formula 3 is run alongside Formula 1 on 9 weekends and gives all the Junior Drivers an amazing Exposure towards an ultimate Goal of Driving in Formula 1.
Racing at the historic Imola circuit, Maini’s weekend was hampered by changing weather conditions during the weekend’s qualifying session, which was interrupted by a red flag with five minutes remaining. Despite not being able to show his true potential, the Omega-Seiki and JK Racing backed driver qualified in 10th place.
On Saturday Kush Started the Sprint race 3rd on the Grid and was involved in battles in the top 5 when an unlucky drive-through penalty jeopardized his Sprint Race, with the Indian eventually finishing 20th.
Undaunted, Maini would recover on Sunday. With conditions mixed once again due to a downpour that occurred on eve of the race, Maini put in a tenacious drive that saw him make up five positions to finish Fifth and secure 10 points for his championship.
“It’s been another weekend of a lot of learnings and I’m glad we were able to finish the weekend so strongly,” Maini said.
“Fifth is a more accurate reflection of our potential, and I’m confident we could have finished in the top five if other factors had aligned in the Sprint Race”
“Nonetheless, I’m pleased with the outcome and grateful to MP Motorsport, as well as my sponsors J.K. Racing and Omega Seiki Mobility for their support.”
Maini’s Fifth-place finish earns him his first points of the season. The FIA Formula 3 Championship, with normally 30 cars on the grid, is brutally competitive, with drivers needing near-perfect weekends to finish at the front.
Running as a support race to the main F1 weekend, the series will move to the Barcelona race track in Spain on May 20-22.