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Salisbury racing driver John Bennett claims podium finish at Monza
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Salisbury's John Bennett has secured his second podium finish of the season during a standout performance at the iconic Monza circuit in Italy.
Salisbury racing driver John Bennett has marked his strongest performance to date in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, securing a podium finish at the historic Monza circuit in Italy. Competing for Team Trident, the 20-year-old showcased consistency across the weekend, which took place from September 4 to September 6.
Bennett, who is currently in his second full season of Formula 2, arrived in Italy with positive momentum following a maiden victory earlier this summer in Austria and a series of top-ten finishes in Hungary. His weekend at Monza began with a promising display of speed during free practice, which he translated into a tenth-place qualifying time of 1m 32.038s. This position proved pivotal, as it granted him pole position for Saturday's sprint race due to the championship's reverse-grid format.
During the sprint race, Bennett capitalised on his strong start to build a lead of nearly three seconds. Although the intervention of a safety car allowed the field to close the gap, he defended his position effectively until he was overtaken by Joshua Durksen on the main straight. Despite his efforts to regain the lead, a second safety car in the final laps cemented his second-place finish, marking his second podium appearance of the season.
Maintaining his form into Sunday's 30-lap feature race, Bennett started from tenth on the grid. A strategic decision to pit early alongside the front-runners allowed him to climb the field. He overtook Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak for a net fifth position, and following a safety car restart, he utilised the Drag Reduction System (DRS) to overtake Alex Dunne, crossing the finish line in fourth place. This combined haul of 20 points represents his highest-scoring round of the season to date.
Reflecting on the weekend, Bennett noted the progress he and his team have made throughout the year. The results have bolstered his confidence as the championship enters its final stages, with the driver now sitting 13th in the overall standings. He is set to return to the track this weekend, September 12 and 13, for the debut of the series at the new street circuit in Madrid.
Source: Salisbury Journal — Sport · View original