The 2023 Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup was the 42nd Austria Formula 3 Cup season and the fifth season since Drexler-Automotive took over the title sponsoring of the series.
The 2023 season was held over eight race weekends across Europe. It started in March at Mugello Circuit and concluded in October at the same venue. The rounds at Mugello, Imola, Red Bull Ring and Spa had joint grids with the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy.
Benjámin Berta, driving for Franz Wöss Racing, claimed the Formula 3 Cup title. Marcel Tobler, driving for Jo Zeller Racing, won the Formula 3 Trophy title. Fabio Turchetto, driving for A.S.D. Ruote Scoperte M., won the Formula Light Cup.
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 Benjamin BertaDallara F316MercedesAll19 Cian CareyDallara F318Mercedes6 Puresport8 Dino RaseroDallara 320Mercedes1–2, 412 Christof LedermannDallara F309Volkswagen4–514 Andrea BenalliDallara F309VW Spiess1–2, 4–5, 8 Noda Racing10 Juju NodaDallara 320Spiess1–2, 4–8 Jo Zeller Racing11 Kurt BöhlenDallara F316Mercedes5–6, 844 Sandro ZellerDallara F316MercedesAll One Sport Performance21 Alessandro BracalenteDallara F317Volkswagen123 Marco MarottaDallara F312Volkswagen5 TVS Motorsport23 Enzo StentellaDallara 320Mercedes1–2, 4, 8 Rennsport Wachter24 Victor SmialekDallara F308Fiat5–6, 8 Bellspeed27 Patrick BellezzaDallara F300Fiat1–2, 5, 8 Team Perego46 Riccardo PeregoDallara F317Volkswagen1–2, 4–5, 8 Magyar Racing Team Janos MagyarTatuus FMHonda3–4, 7 HT Powertrain51 Bernardo PellegriniDallara 320Mercedes1–2, 4–5, 8 Racing in Italy75 Mei ShibiDallara F308Volkswagen4–5, 8 G Motorsport131 Francesco GalliDallara 320Mercedes1–2, 4–5, 8Source:
Formula 3 Trophy entries TeamNo.DriverCarEngineRounds Jo Zeller Racing2 Urs RüttimannDallara F306Volkswagen4–63 Marcel ToblerDallara F308Mercedes2, 4–6 Franz Wöss Racing4 Thomas AmwegDallara F309Volkswagen45 Thomas AreggerDallara F309Volkswagen5 Maximilian Malinowski69 Luca IannaconeDallara F308Mercedes1, 3–4, 7–895 Tom BeckhäuserDallara F309Volkswagen398 Vaclav SafarDallara F309Volkswagen7–8 Team Hoffmann Racing4 Robert RoweDallara F312Toyota5 Danny Luderer826 André PetropolusDallara F316Opel6–7 SAPE Motorsport6 Vaclav LausmannDallara F317Toyota4, 6–7 Facondini Racing Enrico MilaniDallara F308Fiat2, 536 Francesco SolfaroliDallara F317Toyota1–2, 5, 8 Team Speed Center7 Christian ZellerDallara F312Opel512 Philipp TodtenhauptDallara F317Toyota5180 Patrick HarmuthDallara F308Toyota5199 Thomas ZeltnerDallara F317Toyota5 Team Tramonti Corse11 Carmine TancrediDallara F308Toyota1–2 Living KC12 Umberto VaglioDallara F308Toyota2, 5 Twister Italia13 Sergio TerriniDallara F308Fiat1–2, 4 Neri Autosport18 Jean-Luc NeriDallara F311Fiat830 Sébastien BanchereauDallara F308Fiat8 BMG Racing28 Giorgio BertoDallara F308Fiat1–2 Sud Motorsport33 Salvatore MarinaroDallara F310Fiat1–2, 885 Daniele SianoDallara F308Fiat1 Team Automobile Tricolore39 Edoardo BonanomiDallara F312Mercedes1–2, 5 Nannini Racing42 Davide PedettiDallaraToyota6, 881 Marco FalciDallara F317Toyota1–2 Giancarlo Pedetti6, 8 Chabr Motorsport54 Tomáš ChabrDallara F308Mugen-Honda8 Racing in Italy75 Mei ShibiDallara F314Toyota6 Emotion Motorsport83 Daniele RadrizzaniDallara F317Toyota1–2 VS Racing99 Tim BuckleyDallara F302Toyota5Source:
Formula Light Cup entries TeamNo.DriverCarEngineRounds Viola Formula Racing2 Laurence BalestriniTatuus FR2.0Renault4 Team Hoffmann Racing4 Robert RoweTatuus FR2.0Renault6 Walter StedingTatuus FR2.0Renault7122 Dr. Norbert GroerTatuus FR2.0Renault4–8 Team Speed Center8 Dennis HüblTatuus FR2.0Renault6 Andreas Stamann32 Andreas StamannTatuus FR2.0Renault5 PLMRACING29 Stefano PalummieriTatuus FR2.0Renault4, 8 A.S.D. Ruote Scoperte M.34 Sergio ContiTatuus F4-T014Abarth5, 879 Fabio TurchettoTatuus FR2.0Renault1–2, 4, 8 Padoviani Corse ASD89 Simone PadovianiTatuus FR2.0Renault2, 8 Franz Wöss Racing125 Robert SiskaTatuus FR2.0Renault2–3, 7 Schwarze-Motorsport163 Falk SchwarzeTatuus FR2.0Renault7 Jo Zeller Racing717 Stephan GlaserTatuus FR2.0Renault7–8Source:
Race calendar The championship did not return to Vallelunga, but instead returned to Spa-Francorchamps after not visiting the circuit in 2022. CircuitDateSupport billMap of circuit locations11 Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero25 MarchF2000 Italian Formula Trophy24H Series (12 Hours of Mugello)221 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola22 AprilTCR Italian SeriesFormula Regional European Championship223 April31 Hungaroring, Mogyoród29 AprilESET Cup SeriesTCR Eastern Europe230 April41 Red Bull Ring, Spielberg21 MayESET Cup SeriesTCR Eastern Europe251 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot8 JulySpa Summer ClassicsSpa 3 Hours29 July61 Hockenheimring, Hockenheim29 JulyPorsche Club Historic ChallengeP9 Challenge271 Brno Circuit, Brno9 SeptemberTCR Eastern EuropeBOSS GP Series210 September81 Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero8 OctoberBOSS GP SeriesF2000 Italian Formula Trophy2
Race results CircuitPole positionFastest lapF3 Cup winnerF3 Trophy winnerFormula Light Cup winner11 Mugello Circuit Juju Noda Francesco Galli Benjamin Berta Marco Falci Fabio Turchetto2 Juju Noda Juju Noda Juju Noda Marco Falci Fabio Turchetto21 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Benjamin Berta Benjamin Berta Benjamin Berta Edoardo Bonanomi Fabio Turchetto2 Benjamin Berta Benjamin Berta Benjamin Berta Enrico Milani Fabio Turchetto31 Hungaroring Sandro Zeller Sandro Zeller Sandro Zeller Tom Beckhäuser Robert Siska2 Benjamin Berta Sandro Zeller Sandro Zeller Tom Beckhäuser Robert Siska41 Red Bull Ring Benjamin Berta Benjamin Berta Benjamin Berta Marcel Tobler Dr. Norbert Groer2 Benjamin Berta Benjamin Berta Benjamin Berta Marcel Tobler Stefano Palummieri51 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Juju Noda Juju Noda Juju Noda Marcel Tobler Andreas Stamann2 Juju Noda Juju Noda Juju Noda Marcel Tobler Dr. Norbert Groer61 Hockenheimring Juju Noda Benjamin Berta Kurt Böhlen Marcel Tobler Dennis Hübl2 Juju Noda Juju Noda Juju Noda Marcel Tobler Robert Rowe71 Brno Circuit Juju Noda Juju Noda Juju Noda Vaclav Safar Dr. Norbert Groer2 Juju Noda Juju Noda Juju Noda Vaclav Safar Walter Steding81 Mugello Circuit Francesco Galli Juju Noda Francesco Galli Vaclav Safar Stefano Palummieri2 Francesco Galli Juju Noda Juju Noda Vaclav Safar Stefano Palummieri
Season report
First half The season began in March at Mugello Circuit with a 34-car grid together with the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy. Noda Racing's Juju Noda took pole position for both races. She had to concede the win of the first race to Franz Wöss Racing's Benjamin Berta, as she finished third behind the Hungarian and Jo Zeller Racing's Sandro Zeller. She turned her luck around later in the day, to claim the win in race two, ahead of HT Powertrain's Bernardo Pellegrini and Zeller. The F3 Trophy was dominated by Nannini Racing's Marco Falci, who took both race wins. The Formula Light Cup saw only a single car entered into the races: Fabio Turchetto, driving for A.S.D. Ruote Scoperte M., therefore won both races.
The second round at Imola was also held in conjunction with the Italian F2000 series. This time, Berta was the man to beat in qualifying as he took two pole positions. He took two largely unchallenged victories to claim the championship lead. The first race had its podium completed by Pellegrini and Noda, while the latter had to fight through from the back of the grid in race two. That race saw Zeller return to the podium, ahead of Pellegrini. Team Automobile Tricolore's Edoardo Bonanomi and Facondini Racing's Enrico Milani shared the wins in the F3 Trophy class, while standings leader Falci was unable to finish both races. Three cars entered the Formula Light Cup, but Turchetto remained unbeaten.
Only eight cars were present for the third round at the Hungaroring. Zeller and Berta shared pole positions, but Zeller was the better man in both races, winning from pole position in race one and fighting past Berta to take the win in race two. Magyar Racing Team's Janos Magyar completed both podiums as the only other F3 Cup entrant, as Zeller closed up to Berta and moved past the absent Noda in the standings. Franz Wöss Racing's Tom Beckhäuser won both F3 Trophy races, ahead of his teammate Luca Iannacone. The Formula Light Cup saw a new winner, as Turchetto was absent and Franz Wöss Racing's Robert Siska won both races as the only entrant in the class.
The first half of the season ended at Spielberg. Noda was back in action, but Berta was in his best form, dominating qualifying and taking both race wins to extend his championship advantage. Noda came second in race one, but was unable to finish race two. Zeller was also right in the mix, completing the podium in race one and finishing second ahead of G Motorsport's Francesco Galli in race two. Jo Zeller Racing's Marcel Tobler swept the weekend in the F3 Trophy class, while four cars battled for Formula Light Cup honors. Team Hoffmann Racing's Dr. Norbert Groer and PLMRACING's Stefano Palummieri shared the wins, while Turchetto solidified his points lead with two podiums.
Second half 30 cars entered the event at Spa, where Noda set out to reduce her points deficit to the leader. She did so in style, claiming both pole positions and winning both races in her class. Berta minimized the damage to his championship lead with two second places, while Zeller and Galli completed the two podiums. Tobler extended his winning run to four races in the F3 Trophy class. Groer also continued his efforts to catch up to Formula Light Cup leader Turchetto, taking a win and a second place in absence of the latter. privateer entry Andreas Stamann took the other win, but did not enter race two, so Groer had to be content with half points for his win.
The sixth round at the Hockenheimring was another one without the Italian F2000, so only 16 cars entered. The weekend began in tricky wet conditions, with Noda coping the best in qualifying to claim double pole positions, before all three championship contenders had to concede race one victory to Jo Zeller Racing's Kurt Böhlen. Race two however saw the familiar trio back on top, with Noda ahead of Zeller and Berta. The F3 Trophy class still saw no different winners, with Tobler sweeping his third weekend. Groer had to take a hit in his Formula Light Cup catch-up efforts, as he was unable to start both races which were won by Speed Center's Dennis Hübl and Team Hoffmann's Robert Rowe.
Brno Circuit hosted the penultimate round, and only four cars entered the Formula 3 Cup. Berta had a chance to clinch the championship, but Noda was unbeaten all weekend to keep the fight alive. Both races saw the same podium, Noda ahead of Berta and Zeller. Tobler was absent, so his F3 Trophy winning streak ended in favor of Franz Wöss Racing's Vaclav Safar, who took victory in both races. Groer claimed another Formula Light Cup win, but only came fifth in the second race. Team Hoffmann Racing's Walter Steding won the other race. Leader Turchetto had now been absent for four weekends running, and Groer was now in striking distance to take the title.
The championship concluded right where it began, at Mugello Circuit. Noda and Berta were in close competition for the title, but had to concede the first race to Galli, with Berta coming second ahead of Noda. This three-point advantage was enough to earn Berta the championship. Noda won the second race but had no way of overhauling the Hungarian's points tally. Tobler was crowned F3 Trophy champion in absence - Safar won two more races, but Toblers six-race win streak was too much to overcome. The Formula Lighty Trophy ended in very close fashion: Palummieri won both races, but the returning leader Turchetto earned just enough points to win the title, 2.5 points ahead of Groer.