Leon wins the chaotic sprint, but has to face an investigation

Leon negotiated the various disruptions in a stop-start race to finish at the top of the podium, despite crossing the finish line in second place after being caught on the final restart.

However, he moved back to the lead when second-placed Oliver Goethe was given a five-second penalty for a safety car violation on one of the numerous restarts.

But it could still be a blow, as Leon himself faces an investigation for weaving after the race.

Championship leader Luke Browning had finished sixth and opened up a lead at the front after entering the race level on points with Leonardo Fornaroli.

But a late incident left him stranded in the gravel at Tosa, continuing his streak of failing to achieve a result in a sprint race this season.

In a typically hectic start, polesitter Kaper Sztuka was quickly pushed down the rankings and off the podium spots, while Leon, Tim Tramnitz and sixth-placed starter Goethe all made way.

But the action was quickly stopped by a safety car deployment when Mari Boyas Campos Racing starter slid into the gravel on the Villeneuve variant in the middle of the first lap.

Oliver Goethe, Campos Racing

Photo by: Formula Motorsport Ltd

After a brief investigation, stewards handed Tommy Smith a 10-second penalty for his involvement in the incident.

When racing resumed, championship contender Leonardo Fornaroli engaged in a heated battle with AIX rider Nikita Bedrin for 13th place, with both riders pushing themselves to the limit and testing out the abundant gravel recently installed around the Imola track became.

As soon as the race resumed, it was stopped again when Charlie Wurz helped Callum Voisin into the barriers at Tosa, which earned the Austrian a 10-second penalty.

And shortly afterwards a third safety car phase followed when Sami Meguetounif caught the rear of one of the Prema cars on the drive to Tamburello and got stuck in the gravel.

The race threatened to break out after a restart on lap 11, but this was thwarted when Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, who had started from the pitlane after failing to start on the warm-up lap, went off track at Rivazza.

Now, on the 15th lap, Leon started much earlier than before and overtook fourth-placed Sztuka, who was three seconds behind the leading trio and soon fell behind Dino Beganovic.

Championship-leading Browning was looking to finish sixth before colliding with Sztuka at Tosa.

On the final lap, the virtual safety car was deployed to cover up the incident and the field was able to negotiate the final corners unhindered.

When the VSC was withdrawn, Goethe caught Leon napping and took the lead with just two corners to go.

But his joy was short-lived after a five-second penalty for a safety car violation on the previous restart saw him demoted to second place.

Results of the F3 Imola sprint race

1	N. Leon Van Amersfoort Racing	20		18
2	O. Goethe Campos Racing	10		18		4,600
3	T. Tramnitz MP Motorsport	7		18		2,200
4	D. Beganovic Prema Power Team	1		18		1,100
5	K. Sztuka MP Motorsport	8th		18		0.500
6	G. Mini Prema Power Team	2		18		0.600
7	L.Van ART Grand Prix	24		18		0.400
8th	A. Lindblad Prema Power Team	3		18		0.500
9	N. Bedrin PHM AIX Racing	27		18		0.500
10	S. Ramos Trident	6		18		0.400
11	L. Fornaroli Trident	4		18		0.500
12	C. Mansell ART Grand Prix	23		18		0.700
13	N. Tsolov ART Grand Prix	25		18		0.600
14	A. Dunne MP Motorsport	9		18		1,000
15	S. Flörsch Van Amersfoort Racing	21		18		0.500
16	J. Dufek PHM AIX Racing	28		18		1,000
17	M. Zagazeta Jenzer Motorsport	19		18		3,100
18	M. Esterson Jenzer Motorsport	18		18		0.300
19	C. Shields Hitech Pulse Eight	16		18		0.300
20	P. Wiśnicki Rodin Motorsport	30		18		0.400
21	J. Loake Rodin Motorsport	31		18		0.500
22	M. Stenshorne Hitech Pulse Eight	15		18		0.600
23	C. Root Jenzer Motorsport	17		18		4,300
24	T. Smith Van Amersfoort Racing	22		18		5,900
25	S. Montoya Campos Racing	11		17		1 round
dnf	L. Browning Hitech Pulse Eight	14		16						retirement
dnf	T. Inthraphuvasak PHM AIX Racing	26		12						retirement
dnf	S. Meguetounif Trident	5		7						retirement
dnf	C. Voisin Rodin Motorsport	29		4						retirement
dnf	M. Boya Campos Racing	12		17						retirement