Van Amersfoort Racing Celebrates First Formula 3 Feature Win in Imola
The European triple-header kicked off at the historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, where the FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 teams took on one of the most technical and challenging circuits on the calendar. It turned out to be a weekend full of mixed emotions, with breakthrough moments, valuable experience gained, and plenty of positives to carry forward.
The highlight of the weekend came in FIA Formula 3, where Santiago Ramos claimed a sensational feature race victory. Not only was it his first in F3, but also the first-ever feature race win for Van Amersfoort Racing in the category. A memorable milestone for both driver and team.
The weekend started strongly in F3 qualifying, with Santiago securing an impressive P2 on the grid for the feature race. Teammates Théophile Naël and Ivan Domingues showed steady progress throughout the session, placing P21 and P24 respectively, determined to fight forward in the races.
In FIA Formula 2, it was another important step in the team’s ongoing development season. Rafael Villagómez qualified P17 in a highly competitive and tightly contested session, while John Bennett lined up P22, both drivers eager to capitalise on opportunities over the race weekend.
The team carried strong momentum into Saturday’s sprint races. In F3, Santiago demonstrated excellent racecraft, climbing from P11 to P8 to collect valuable championship points. Théophile and Ivan continued to gain vital experience on the demanding Imola circuit, finishing P20 and P25 respectively.
In F2, Rafael delivered a composed and determined drive, moving up to finish P14, while John completed the sprint in P19, gathering crucial data for Sunday’s feature race.
Sunday’s feature races offered more opportunities to shine. In F3, Santiago made an electric start from the front row, taking the lead into the opening lap. After a thrilling race-long battle with Rafael Camara, Santiago reclaimed the lead in the closing stages, securing a brilliant feature race victory — his second win of the season after his sprint race success in Melbourne. Théophile and Ivan both faced tough races, with Théophile finishing P26 and Ivan unfortunately unable to reach the finish line.
In F2, Rafael showed promising pace early on, but his race came to a premature end after contact with Sami Meguetounif at Turn 2. Despite this setback, he demonstrated solid speed before the incident. John Bennett completed the full race distance, finishing P20 and adding more valuable mileage and data to the team’s bank. Post-race, Rafael received a 10-second time penalty for the collision, which will be converted into a five-place grid drop for the next round.
With plenty of positives to build on — including a historic F3 win and solid performances across both categories — the team now shifts focus to the second event in this European triple-header: the famous streets of Monaco. The next race weekend takes place from May 22–25, where the team is eager to continue its momentum.
Van Amersfoort Racing currently sits 10th in the FIA Formula 2 Teams’ Championship with 3 points, all scored by Rafael Villagómez, who holds 16th place in the driver standings after his points finish in Melbourne. Teammate John Bennett is still chasing his first points of the season and is positioned 21st. Both drivers continue to gain valuable experience as they tackle the demanding triple-header phase of the championship.
The team currently holds fourth place in the FIA Formula 3 Teams’ Championship with 54 points. Santiago Ramos leads the team's efforts, ranking fifth in the Drivers’ Championship with 35 points, highlighted by a feature race victory at Imola. Théophile Naël sits tenth with 19 points, having secured a podium finish in Melbourne. Ivan Domingues is yet to score points but continues to gain valuable experience as the season progresses. The Portuguese driver currently sits in P32.
John Bennett - Formula 2 driver, Van Amersfoort Racing:
“An unlucky weekend but looking ahead to Monaco!”