Van Amersfoort Racing’s Caio Collet sealed victory and the fastest lap in the F3 Sprint Race at Spa-Francorchamps, as championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto suffered his first DNF of the season.

Collet was followed home by maiden podium-sitter Taylor Barnard and third-placed Paul Aron in an eventful 12-lap race that finished under the Safety Car.

The final Safety Car period was the third of the short race and given the lack of laps under green, race officials declared that no points were to be awarded for the race.

The biggest winner of the no-points ruling was Bortoleto, the championship leader started outside the top-10 for the first time all season and his day got worse after contact to the rear from Dino Beganovic at Turn 1 led to him pulling out on the Kemmel Straight for his first retirement of the season on Lap 9.

But the no-points nature of the Sprint means his sizeable 42-point championship lead remains intact.

Hoping to gain from Bortoleto’s retirement was Zak O’Sullivan, winner in the Hungary Feature Race last time out.

O’Sullivan climbed through from seventh at the start to fourth via a series of daring moves at each Safety Car restart.

The first Safety Car came out on the opening lap, thanks to Sebastian Montoya getting tagged by Rafael Villagomez.

Prior to the Safety Car’s release, Collet, Barnard and Aron had climbed up to the top three as reverse pole-sitter Hugh Barter tumbled down the order.

The Safety Car came in at the end of lap three, but shortly afterwards would be called to action once more as a dramatic title twist came to pass.

Fastest in qualifying and looking to close in on series leader Bortoleto, Josep Maria Marti made an ambitious move on Gabrielle Mini at Turn 10, causing them both to spin out.

Marti then collected Ido Cohen with a clumsy attempt at rejoining the circuit.

The second Safety Car period ended at the start of Lap 8, but green flag racing came to an end following Bortoleto’s aforementioned retirement.

Collet delightfully took the chequered flag behind the Safety Car, ahead of Barnard, Aron and O’Sullivan.

Jonny Edgar finished in fifth, ahead of Franco Colapinto and pole-sitter Barter in sixth and seventh.

Nikola Tsolov finished in eighth place, with Beganovic and Luke Browning completing the top-10.

The lack of racing laps means the drivers’ standings remain the same as they did before the Sprint Race got underway.

Bortoleto leads with 144 points, ahead of Marti with 102 and O’Sullivan with 101 points.

Bortoleto needs just a 39-point margin at the end of tomorrow’s Feature Race to be declared F3 champion.

Van Amersfoort Racing has completed its 2023 Formula 3 driver line-up with the signing of Caio Collet, who makes the switch from MP Motorsport.

The Brazilian will enter his third season of the series, after making his debut in 2021. He managed to finish on the podium twice that year.

2022 saw him remain with MP Motorsport, where he earned two Sprint Race victories in Budapest and Zandvoort.

For the 2023 season, Collet is feeling confident about his chances with VAR, which will enter its second F3 season: “Exciting times are coming as I am extremely motivated to get started with Van Amersfoort Racing.

“During their first year in F3, the team proved to everyone how much potential they have. From my side, I am very confident going into the new season.

“I have used the winter period effectively and feel ready, more than I ever did. I have set high goals for myself, and the team is as motivated as I am to take the maximum out of this year, so let the games begin!”

Rob Niessink, CEO of VAR, added: “Caio has shown in the past how fast and talented he is, making it extremely exciting to have him as part of our F3 driver line-up this year

“Caio brings valuable experience to the team, which will help us to grow at an even higher pace than last year.

“Clearly, he is determined to perform strong this year, and so do we as a team. Our motivation levels are really high, the least said, and our crew is very much looking forward to working with an experienced driver as Caio!”

Van Amersfoort finished the 2022 season in sixth and will be hoping to build on that. With Collet, they have completed their line-up, which also includes the returning Rafael Villagómez and rookie Tommy Smith.

Two of Alpine’s Formula 1 junior drivers have announced their racing plans for the upcoming season.

Caio Collet and Victor Martins will both remain in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, with the former sticking with MP Motorsport for a second campaign.

Martins, however, moves to ART Grand Prix, having spent time with the team at post-season testing last year.

Martins ended the 2021 F3 campaign fifth in the Drivers’ standings, taking one victory and a further five podiums across the season.

He will join Gregoire Saucy and Juan Manuel Correa at the squad for the upcoming year.

“I am very happy to be able to collaborate with ART Grand Prix once again,” said Martins. “This time for the 2022 FIA F3 Championship, following on from a 2020 season [in Formula Renault Eurocup] that was filled with common successes. 

“I am excited for this opportunity and to start this new adventure together. Our goals are big, and we are ready to achieve them.

“I have already done a lot of work this winter to start the season well prepared from the first few laps behind the wheel. I can’t wait to get back in the car!”

Collet’s 2021 season saw him take two podiums in F3 and a ninth place finishing position in the standings.

The Frenchman will have Alexander Smolyar as a team-mate this year, with MP Motorsport’s third driver yet to be announced.

“I’m very happy to continue in FIA F3 with MP Motorsport and the enduring support of the Alpine Academy,” said Collet. 

“We were strong in 2021 – and that was while taking on many accomplished drivers in an intensely competitive championship. 

“With the knowledge that I have gained in my first season, I’m very much aiming to improve on last year’s results. I’m also looking forward to again racing in the special atmosphere of the Grand Prix weekends, and in front of the F1 teams.”