Porcu converts pole; title picture tightens behind him
Jarama’s short, coiled ribbon often rewards precision over bravado, and on Sunday it produced exactly that kind of race. Pole‑sitter Simone Porcu made it look almost clinical—absorbing pressure in the opening minutes, then edging away to win—while Florian Masse shadowed him to the flag. Behind them, FMG stitched together a measured recovery to complete the podium, with Richard Rossier and Max Solmyr rounding out the top five.
Qualifying: a low‑1:20s shootout
The top ten in qualifying set the tone: Porcu on pole with a 1:20.377, just ahead of gilvil77 (1:20.530), Ali Rıza Tuncel (1:20.583) and Florian Masse (1:20.598). Solmyr, Rossier, Nat Stevenson, Dale Ballweg, Aitor Montero and FMG completed a grid that promised elbows‑out racing into Turn 1.
Start and first‑lap chaos
Jarama rarely lets an entire field tip‑toe through Lap 1, and this start was no exception. Within the first 0:03–0:05, Dale Ballweg and Max Solmyr clashed twice in the Turn‑1/Turn‑2 sequence, Ballweg also nudging the barriers—classic accordion contact as the pack pinched together.
Seconds later—still on the opening lap—kuanza, Solmyr, and FMG traded paint in a three‑way chain reaction as the field climbed the hill, a brief scare that everyone somehow survived.
The first lap continued to bite: around 0:46–0:47, Florian Masse brushed the outside and Nat Stevenson met the wall one corner later, both incidents minor but momentum‑sapping.
Porcu vs. Masse: pressure without payoff
Once the race exhaled, Porcu settled into a metronomic rhythm in the low‑1:21s. He even stamped in the race’s fastest lap—1:21.305—mid‑distance, just as the tires and fuel burn hit their sweet spot.
Masse never let the elastic snap. For long stretches he hovered a couple of seconds back, close enough to keep the leader honest and far enough to preserve his fronts in the long, loaded right‑handers. The pair’s duel had the shape of a chess endgame rather than a knife fight—Jarama’s narrow lines and matching pace making the difference more about millimetres than moves. (Official timing lists Porcu ahead of Masse in the final classification. )
The podium fight: FMG’s tidy rebuild
Starting outside the front rows, FMG had work to do after that lap‑one squeeze. Once the field spread, his laptimes stabilized in the 1:21–1:22 bracket and he picked off rivals steadily. By the second half he had clear air, managed the tires, and protected third all the way to the chequer. His stint included several tidy laps in the 1:21.8–1:22.4 window (e.g., 1:21.859 around mid‑race), the sort of consistency Jarama rewards.
Richard Rossier (P4) and Max Solmyr (P5) survived that bruising first lap to bank heavy points. Rossier’s day wasn’t spotless—he was in the thick of the opening skirmishes too—but his average pace and traffic management were enough to keep Solmyr behind when it mattered.
Fastest lap and notable retirements
While Porcu owned the win, gilvil77 was frequently the quickest car not named Simone—clocking repeated low‑1:21s (e.g., 1:21.541 and 1:21.710 while chasing in clean air).
A handful of would‑be scorers fell away:
- Dale Ballweg retired early after 5 laps, his race ending around 7:31.892.
- Nat Stevenson was out after 19 laps (about 27:11), his Turn‑2 wall strike from the opening minutes foreshadowing a short afternoon.
- Ali Rıza Tuncel, so sharp in qualifying, lasted 32 laps (roughly 46:55), then parked it—promising pace that never translated.
Provisional top five (Jarama)
- Simone Porcu — lights‑to‑flag control (fastest lap 1:21.305).
- Florian Masse — pressure without a passing lane.
- FMG — calm rebuild after Lap‑1 contact.
- Richard Rossier — tidy damage‑limitation drive.
- Max Solmyr — recovered from the opening‑lap scuffle.
What it means for the championship (drop‑score applied)
With the series scoring 40‑37‑34‑31‑30‑29… and a drop race rule (worst result discarded), the table after Round 3 shakes out like this for the leading group:
- Simone Porcu — 80 pts (Monza 40, Long Beach 0 [DNS, dropped], Jarama 40)
- Florian Masse — 74 pts (Monza 37, Long Beach 37, Jarama 34 [dropped])
- FMG — 68 pts (Monza 0 [dropped], Long Beach 31, Jarama 37)
- gilvil77 — 60 pts (Monza 31, Long Beach 29, Jarama 29 [one 29 dropped])
- Richard Rossier — 57 pts (Monza 26, Long Beach 26 [one 26 dropped], Jarama 31)
In short: Porcu’s second win from three puts him clearly in command once the DNS is dropped; Masse stays within one result; FMG launches himself into the frame with a podium; and steady scoring keeps gilvil77 and Rossier in touch as the tour heads to Hockenheim.
