After a recent Formula 3 test session with the PREMA racing team at the Vallelunga Circuit, in Italy, Laguna Beach’s Michael Lewis turned the test drive into a podium finish at the same race track.
Lewis and the PREMA arrived at Vallelunga on Friday, Sept. 16, for Rounds 11 and 12 of the Formula 3 Italia Championship. During practice sessions, Lewis recorded among the fastest lap times.
Qualifying for the Formula 3 Italia series took place mid-day on Saturday, Sept. 17, under a hot son. After the second set of tires were placed on Lewis’ car, he was unable to improve his time and ended up qualifying P-3 with a time of 1:30.374. “My goal was to do everything possible to qualify in the front of the grid for the Saturday race,” explained Michael. “I was hoping for P-1 but in the end P-3 was acceptable.”
The first of the two Formula 3 Italia race events at Vallelunga took place late Saturday afternoon. Michael was positioned in third on the grid for Round 11 and crossed the finish line in third position.
In Round 12, Lewis began the second race in fifth position. At the end of the 30-minute race, he crossed the finish line in sixth.
Lewis is currently tied for fifth in the Formula 3 Italia Championship with 85 points, 10 points behind third-place driver and PREMA teammate Raffaele Marciello. The top-five drivers are all very close in the championship points battle with only four races remaining.
