Pole to Sweden

Formula 3: Wurz in 16th place in Bahrain qualifying

The red-white-red motorsport hopeful Charlie Wurz finished 16th in qualifying at the Formula 3 season opener in Bahrain. On his F3 debut on Thursday, the 18-year-old from the Swiss team Jenzer was 0.760 seconds behind the Swede Dino Beganovic, who secured pole position in Sakhir.

The sprint race for the 30 young drivers is scheduled for Friday (11.15 am), with the main race taking place on Saturday (10.00 am).

Wurz had finished fifth in the previous practice session. "The car felt good," said the son of ex-Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz. Wurz had set himself the target of a top ten finish in qualifying. In the sprint race of the junior series, the twelfth-placed driver in qualifying will start from pole position on a reversed grid, with points awarded to the top ten in both races.

Formula 3 races are held at ten venues as part of the Formula 1 supporting program and offer an excellent platform for young drivers to compete with the top talents of roughly the same age on their way to the premier class.