F3: Beganovic on pole for PREMA Racing in Bahrain

It was PREMA Racing and Dino Beganovic that won the first pole position of the year, sealing P1 with a 1:46.431 for the top spot in the final moments of the session.

The Ferrari Academy Driver was over a tenth quicker than Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Luke Browning who ended up second, just 0.003s clear of Gabriele Minì in third.

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The session was led early on by Trident’s Leonardo Fornaroli, who looked to be the driver to beat following the initial runs.

Mari Boya briefly took over as fastest for Campos Racing until Fornaroli restored his advantage, setting a 1:47.141 to retake provisional pole as Beganovic slotted into second.

The Italian was followed closely by teammate Sami Meguetounif, while Minì laid down his first flying lap to go fourth overall ahead of Boya.

There was another brief pause in the action as drivers returned to the pits for one last time to fit fresh Pirelli hard-compound tyres ahead of the final runs.

With little over five minutes to go, the action ramped up once more as the field headed back out for one last chance.

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Christian Mansell improved to put ART Grand Prix provisionally fastest, but the Australian’s time was bettered in quick order.

Beganovic’s last-gasp 1:46.431 put him P1 for the first time in the session, exactly when it counted most.

Browning, who had been quickest on two of the three pre-season testing days in Bahrain, had to settle for second just over a tenth behind, while Minì recovered from a spin in Practice to end up third on the grid.

For a full in-depth report of the FIA Formula 3 Qualifying session, visit the F3 website here.