The 2024 Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup was the 43rd Austria Formula 3 Cup season and the sixth season since Drexler-Automotive took over the title sponsoring of the series.
The 2024 season was held over eight race weekends across Europe. It began in April at Vallelunga Circuit and concluded in October at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The series continued its cooperation with the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy, with the two series sharing grids and race slots for multiple rounds.
Benjámin Berta, driving for Franz Wöss Racing, won his second Formula 3 Cup title with a race to spare, while Jo Zeller Racing driver Marcel Tobler defended his Formula 3 Trophy at the penultimate race weekend of the season. Viola Formula Racing's Emir Tanju clinched the Formula Light Cup at the final race of the season.
Teams and drivers Teams and drivers competed in either Formula 3 or the Formula Light Cup. Formula 3 entries were divided between the Cup class and the Trophy class.
Formula 3 Cup entries TeamNo.DriverCarEngineRounds Franz Wöss Racing1 Benjámin BertaDallara F320MercedesAll19 Cian CareyDallara F320Mercedes820 Stig LarsenDallara F320Mercedes HWA1–3, 5–6, 832 Victor SmialekDallara F316Mercedes HWAAll Viola Formula Racing2 Laurence BalestriniDallara F317Volkswagen6, 8 Puresport5 Giorgio VenicaDallara F308Power Engine38 Dino RaseroDallara F320Mercedes HWA1, 3, 6, 812 Christof LedermannDallara F309Power Engine1Tatuus F3 T-318Alfa Romeo2–3, 6, 814 Andrea BenalliDallara F317Mercedes HWA1–3, 6, 833 Ahmad Shaheen Al MuhannadiDallara F312Volkswagen1–3, 6, 8 Facondini Racing41 Franco CimarelliDallara F312VW3, 8 Jo Zeller Racing11 Kurt BöhlenDallara F316Mercedes HWA4–744 Sandro ZellerDallara F316Mercedes HWAAll56 Thomas ZeltnerDallara F314Mercedes6717 Stephan GlaserDallara F314Mercedes7 Bellspeed27 Patrick BellezzaDallara F300Fiat Novamotor8 Team Automobile Tricolore46 Riccardo PeregoDallara F317Volkswagen1–3, 6, 8 JMT Racing Klub65 Roman RoubícekDallara F320Mercedes HWA2–8 TVS Motorsport69 Enzo StentellaDallara F302BMW1–3, 6, 8 Racing in Italy75 Mei ShibiDallara F308Volkswagen1–3, 6, 8 GT2 Motorsport98 Vaclav SafarDallara F320Volkswagen7 G Motorsport131 Francesco GalliDallara F320Volkswagen1–3, 5–8 Magyar Racing Team146 János MagyarTatuus N.T07Honda2, 7–8 ASU NV Racing212 Paolo BrajnikDallara F320Volkswagen6Source:
Formula 3 Trophy entries TeamNo.DriverCarEngineRounds Jo Zeller Racing2 Urs RüttimannDallara F306VW Spiess2–3, 83 Marcel ToblerDallara F308Mercedes HWA2–3, 5, 7 Team Hoffmann Racing4 Roman HoffmannDallara F317Toyota2 Robert RoweDallara F320VW Spiess5–710 Luca IannaconeDallara F308Fiat FTP2–422 André PetropoulosDallara F316Opel Spiess2, 4–7 Facondini Racing6 Enrico MilaniDallara F308Fiat FTP1, 388 Francesco SolfaroliDallara F317Toyota1, 3, 896 Oliver KratschDallara F308Toyota1–3 Speed Center Team7 Christian ZellerDallara F305Opel Spiess513 Philipp TodtenhauptDallara F317Toyota5199 Thomas ZeltnerDallara F314Toyota5 Giordano Motorsport9 Giovanni GiordanoDallara F308Fiat FTP1–3, 6, 8 Neri Motorsport10 Luca IannaconeDallara F308Fiat FTP6–7 ASD Living KC21 Umberto VaglioDallara F308Toyota3, 6, 8 Derva Corse ASD24 Marco de ToffolDallara F308Fiat FTP1–3, 6 Bellspeed27 Patrick BellezzaDallara F300Fiat Novamotor3, 6 Franz Wöss Racing Sedin MujagicDallara F305Opel Spiess4–5, 7 BMG Racing28 Giorgio BertoDallara F308Fiat FTP1, 8 Team Automobile Tricolore39 Edoardo BonanomiDallara F312Mercedes HWA1–3, 6, 8 Nannini Racing42 Davide PedettiDallara F317Toyota1–343 Giancarlo PedettiDallara F317Toyota1–3, 6, 8 Emotion Motorsport83 Daniele RadrizzaniDallara F317Toyota2–3, 8Privateer911 Nikolay TaykevDallara F308Opel Spiess7Source:
Formula Light Cup entries TeamNo.DriverCarEngineRounds Alpha Team Racing3 Giancarlo de VirgilisTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 8 Speed Motor7 Karim SartoriTatuus FR2.0Renault1–3, 6, 8 Speed Center Team8 Dennis HüblTatuus FR2.0Renault588 Karl TodtenhauptTatuus FR2.0Renault5 Scuderia Cirelli16 Sara FruncilloTatuus F4-T014Abarth617 Tony di GiulioTatuus F4-T014Abarth1, 3 GTM Motorsport18 Domenico TerronTatuus FR2.0Renault6 Morel Auto Racing23 Tristan MorelTatuus FR2.0Renault2 Neri Motorsport Bruno MottezTatuus FR2.0Renault394 Arthur FoucheTatuus FR2.0Renault6 Viola Formula Racing25 Valentin AndreiuxTatuus FR2.0Renault1–3, 826 Emir TanjuTatuus FR2.0Renault1–3, 6, 867 Alessandro ZuccoTatuus FR2.0Renault6, 8Privateer31 Sarene ZiffelTatuus FR2.0Renault5Privateer33 Andreas StamannTatuus FR2.0Renault5 ASD Ruote Scoperte M.34 Sergio ContiTatuus F4-T014Abarth2–3, 6, 879 Fabio TurchettoTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 8 Derva Corse ASD40 Andrea CavigioliTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 695 Stefano NoalTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 6 Conrad Racing Sport68 Hartmut BertschTatuus FR2.0Renault5 Team HARS71 Luca GuoloTatuus FR2.0Renault3 STAC91 Jérémy ClavaudTatuus FR2.0Renault3, 6, 8 Team Perodi92 Romano CataldoTatuus FR2.0Renault1, 3, 6, 8 Team Hoffmann Racing122 Dr. Norbert GroerTatuus FR2.0Renault2, 4–8123 Diego RomaniniTatuus FR2.0Renault4 Franz Wöss Racing125 Robert SiskaTatuus FR2.0Renault2, 6, 8Privateer163 Falk SchwarzeTatuus FR2.0Renault4, 7Source:
Race calendar The championship changed three of its locations compared to 2023. Vallelunga and Monza returned to the calendar after a one-year absence, while the series also returned to the Lausitzring after last racing there in 2018. The rounds at Spa and the Hungaroring left the calendar, as well as the second round at Mugello. CircuitDateSupport billMap of circuit locations11 Vallelunga Circuit, Campagnano di Roma21 AprilTCR World TourTCR Europe Touring Car Series221 Red Bull Ring, Spielberg18 MayRundstreckentrophyEurocup-3219 May31 Imola Circuit, Imola1 JuneItalian GT ChampionshipPorsche Carrera Cup Italia22 June41 Lausitzring, Klettwitz29 JunePorsche Club Historic ChallengeP9 Challenge251 Hockenheimring, Hockenheim27 JulyPorsche Club Historic Challenge261 Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero24 AugustEuro 4 ChampionshipItalian GT Championship225 August71 Brno Circuit, Brno7 SeptemberTCR Europe Touring Car SeriesTCR Eastern Europe28 September81 Monza Circuit, Monza5 OctoberItalian GT ChampionshipPorsche Carrera Cup Italia26 October
Race results CircuitPole positionFastest lapF3 Cup winnerF3 Trophy winnerFormula Light Cup winner11 Vallelunga Circuit Francesco Galli Francesco Galli Francesco Galli Francesco Solfaroli Emir Tanju2 Francesco Galli Francesco Galli Francesco Solfaroli Emir Tanju21 Red Bull Ring Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Francesco Galli Marcel Tobler Valentin Andreiux2 Benjámin Berta Sandro Zeller Marcel Tobler Karim Sartori31 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Benjámin Berta Francesco Galli Benjámin Berta Marcel Tobler Karim Sartori2 Francesco Galli Sandro Zeller Francesco Solfaroli Emir Tanju41 Lausitzring Benjámin Berta Sandro Zeller Benjámin Berta André Petropoulos Falk Schwarze2 Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta André Petropoulos Falk Schwarze51 Hockenheimring Sandro Zeller Sandro Zeller Sandro Zeller Marcel Tobler Sarene Ziffel2 Benjámin Berta Victor Smialek Marcel Tobler Sarene Ziffel61 Mugello Circuit Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Sandro Zeller Edoardo Bonanomi Jérémy Clavaud2 Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Edoardo Bonanomi Jérémy Clavaud71 Brno Circuit Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta André Petropoulos Dr. Norbert Groer2 Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Marcel Tobler Dr. Norbert Groer81 Monza Circuit Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Benjámin Berta Urs Rüttimann Valentin Andreiux2 Benjámin Berta Francesco Galli Edoardo Bonanomi Valentin Andreiux
Season report
First half The season opened at Vallelunga with G Motorsport's Francesco Galli on pole position. He had to contend with Franz Wöss Racing's Benjámin Berta all race, but held on to take the win. Race two saw a repeat of the fight for the win, with Galli victorious again. Jo Zeller Racing's Sandro Zeller was third in race one and looked set to repeat that feat before colliding with Team Automobile Tricolore's Riccardo Perego in race two while battling for third. The F3 Trophy saw a double win for Facondini Racing's Francesco Solfaroli, while the Light Cup witnessed the opening exchange of blows in a season-long fight between Viola Formula's Emir Tanju and Speed Motor's Karim Sartori, with the Turk winning twice.
The Red Bull Ring hosted round two, and this time Berta took pole position. Still, Galli was the man to beat in the races as he overtook Berta right at the start and took his third win in a row. This streak came to a halt in race two when Galli slid off track and had to retire. This left Berta and Zeller fighting for the win, with Berta coming home first, but with a time penalty that handed Zeller the win. Berta's teammate Victor Smialek was third. Jo Zeller Racing's Marcel Tobler made his first appearance of the season in the F3 Trophy and took two wins right away, while wins in the Light Cup were shared between Viola Formula's Valentin Andreiux and Sartori. Tanju was second twice, thereby retaining his points lead.
Round three at Imola also began with Berta on pole position. Galli had superior race pace but once again made a mistake that forced him into retirement, leaving Berta to take his first win of the season as well as the championship lead, ahead of Zeller and Smialek. The Swiss then went one place better in race two, keeping his lead from pole position and fending off Galli and Berta all race. In the F3 Trophy, joint championship leaders Solfaroli and Tobler met each other on track for the first time. Both took a win and a second place, remaining equal on points. The picture in the Light Cup was similar, with leaders Tanju and Sartori also sharing the wins, further distancing themselves from the rest of the field.
Only eleven cars travelled to the Lausitzring, where Berta took another pole position. Galli was not among the attendees, so the fight for both races was between Berta and Zeller. Race one saw a close fight, while race two was dominated from pole - Berta was the winner both times. Smialek took two third places, thereby overtaking Galli in the standings. Both F3 Trophy leaders were absent too, leaving Team Hoffmann Racing’s André Petropoulos to take two wins and instantly move into second place in the standings. The same was seen in the Formula Light Cup, with Tanju and Sartori not joining the grid, allowing privateer entrant Falk Schwarze to take a double win on his debut in the championship.
Second half The second half of the season began at Hockenheimring with a different pole sitter in Zeller. Berta initially got past him, but Zeller kept close to him to retake the lead and win the race. Smialek took third, before taking his maiden win ahead of returnee Galli and Jo Zeller Racing’s Kurt Böhlen in race two after Berta was hit with a 30-second penalty that dropped him to fourth. Tobler returned to the F3 Trophy and took two wins and the championship lead as Solfaroli was still absent. Petropoulos took a podium to reduce his distance to Solfaroli. The Formula Light Cup saw another double by a privateer debutant, with Sarene Ziffel sweeping the weekend as Tanju and Sartori missed another round.
Round six at Mugello brought the F2000 entries back to the field, with 39 cars entered. Berta won pole position once again, but collided with Galli a few laps into the first race and retired. Zeller was left to take the win ahead of Smialek and ASU NV’s one-off entry Paolo Brajnik. In the second race, Galli stalled at the start, with Berta taking the lead and the win ahead of Zeller and Smialek. Team Automobile Tricolore’s Eduardo Bonanomi took both F3 Trophy wins as Petropoulos was the only front-runner competing, taking one sixth place. Tanju and Sartori returned to the Formula Light Cup, but the winner of both races was STAC’s Jérémy Clavaud. Still, Sartori was able to overtake Tanju in the standings.