2025 Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup

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Jo Zeller Racing driver Sandro Zeller (top) won his eighth title in the highest class, the F3 Cup, while Team Hoffmann Racing's André Petropoulos (bottom) won the title in the F3 Trophy.

The 2025 Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup was the 44th Austrian Formula 3 Cup season and the seventh season since Drexler-Automotive took over the title sponsoring of the series.[1]

The 2025 season was held over seven race weekends across Europe.[2] It began in April at Monza Circuit and concluded in October at Misano World Circuit. The championship continued its cooperation with the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy, with the two series sharing grids and race slots for multiple rounds.

Jo Zeller Racing's Sandro Zeller took his eighth title in the championship's highest class, the Formula 3 Cup. Team Hoffmann Racing's André Petropoulos was victorious in the Formula 3 Trophy, while STAC's Jérémy Clavaud became the inaugural Formula Regional Class winner and LRT's Michael Fischer claimed the Formula Light Cup title.

Formula 3 Cup entries

The 2025 season saw the introduction of a Formula Regional Class, open for Tatuus F3 T-318 cars using Renault or Alfa Romeo engines. The other three classes remained the same: The Formula 3 Cup and Formula 3 Trophy classes divided the entered Formula 3 cars based on their age and power output, while the Formula Light Cup remained open for Formula Renault and Formula 4 cars.[3]

Team No. Driver Car Engine Rounds
Austria Franz Wöss Racing 1 Hungary Benjámin Berta Dallara F320 Mercedes 1–3, 5–7
20 Denmark Stig Larsen Dallara F320 Mercedes HWA 1–2, 5–7
21 Germany Ludwig Kronawitter Dallara F320 Mercedes HWA 3, 5
Switzerland Christof Ledermann Dallara F320 4
32 Germany Maximilian Malinowski Dallara F316 Mercedes HWA 3
Poland Victor Smialek Dallara F320 7
Italy Viola Formula Racing 2 Italy Laurence Balestrini Dallara F317 Volkswagen 1–2
14 Italy Andrea Benalli Dallara F317 Mercedes HWA 1–2
Italy Puresport 5–7
8 Italy Dino Rasero Dallara F320 Mercedes HWA 1–2, 5–7
Switzerland Jo Zeller Racing 11 Switzerland Kurt Böhlen Dallara F316 Mercedes HWA 1, 5
44 Switzerland Sandro Zeller Dallara F312 Mercedes HWA All
Italy Perego Racing 46 Italy Riccardo Perego Dallara F317 Volkswagen 1
Italy One Competition 70 Italy Enzo Stentella Dallara F317 Volkswagen 1–2, 5–7
Germany Team Hoffmann Racing 98 Czech Republic Václav Šafář Dallara F320 Volkswagen 5
Sources:[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Formula Regional entries

Team No. Driver Car Engine Rounds
France Neri Autosport 10 Italy Luca Iannacone Formula Regional Renault 3–7
Italy Puresport 12 Switzerland Christof Ledermann Alfa Romeo 1–2, 5–6
16 Italy Sara Fruncillo Alfa Romeo 1
25 Italy Mattia Bagioni Alfa Romeo 1, 7
France Neri Autosport 30 France Sebastien Banchereau Renault 2, 6
Italy Alpha Team Racing 33 Italy Sandro de Virgilis Renault 1
Italy ASD Ruote Scoperte M. 38 Italy Andrea Masci Renault 1
France STAC 91 France Jérémy Clavaud Renault 1–2, 6
Sources:[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Formula 3 Trophy entries

Team No. Driver Car Engine Rounds
Switzerland Jo Zeller Racing 3 Switzerland Marcel Tobler Dallara F308 Mercedes 2–3, 5
4 Switzerland Urs Rüttimann Dallara F306 Volkswagen 3–4
99 United Kingdom Lee Cunningham Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 1–3, 5–7
privateer 4 Austria Alexander Geier Dallara F308 5
5 Austria Michael Aberer Dallara F308 5, 7
15 Austria Roman Pöllinger Dallara F300 4
90 Italy Antonio Marco Rinaldi Dallara F393 Fiat FTP 6
Italy Facondini Racing 6 Italy Enrico Milani Dallara F308 Fiat 5–7
96 Germany Oliver Kratsch Dallara F308 Toyota 1, 5–7
Germany Speed Center Team 7 Germany Christian Zeller Dallara F305 Opel Spiess 3
France Neri Autosport 10 Italy Luca Iannacone Dallara F311 2
Italy Twister Corse 13 Italy Sergio Terrini Dallara F308 Fiat FTP 6
Italy ASD Living KC 21 Italy Umberto Vaglio Dallara F308 Fiat FTP 1, 6–7
Germany Team Hoffmann Racing 22 Germany André Petropoulos Dallara F316 Opel Spiess 2–3, 5–7
98 Czech Republic Václav Šafář Dallara F312 Toyota 6
Italy Bellspeed 27 Italy Patrick Bellezza Dallara F300 7
Italy One Competition 28 Italy Federico Porri Dallara F308 7
France Sud Motorsport 33 Italy Giuseppe Marinaro Dallara F310 Fiat FTP 6
Italy ASD Autodromos - Nannini Racing 42 Italy Davide Pedetti Dallara F317 Toyota 1–2, 6–7
88 Italy Francesco Solfaroli Dallara F317 Toyota 6–7
Czech Republic Chabr Motorsport 54 Czech Republic Tomáš Chabr Dallara F308 Mugen Honda 5–7
Italy Team Perodi 92 Italy Romano Cataldo Dallara F316 Toyota 1–2, 6
Italy Corbetta Racing 93 Italy Antonio Montruccoli Dallara F312 Mercedes HWA 1
Italy Antonio Racing 777 Italy Antonio Pellegrino Dallara F312 Toyota 6–7
Austria APE Racing 912 Austria Nikolay Takev Dallara F308 Opel Spiess 4–5
Sources:[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Formula Light Cup entries

Team No. Driver Car Engine Rounds
privateer 4 Austria Alexander Geier Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 7
28 Germany Thomas Hoffmann Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 3, 6
31 France Sarene Ziffel Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 3–5, 7
Italy Speed Motor 7 Italy Karim Sartori Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 1–2, 6–7
Germany Speed Center Team 8 Germany Dennis Hübl Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 3
Italy Henry Morrogh Drivers School 9 Italy Giovanni Ciccarelli Tatuus F4-T014 Abarth 6
37 Italy Matteo Zoccali Tatuus F4-T014 Abarth 6–7
Italy GTM Motorsport 18 Italy Domenico Terron Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 1–2, 6
Italy Team Perodi 19 Italy Vincenzo Siciliano Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 1–2
Italy G Motorsport Italy Vito di Bello Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 7
Italy Team Hars 22 Italy Luca Guolo Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 6
France Neri Autosport 23 France Bruno Mottez Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 2, 6–7
France Team Morel Auto Racing 24 France Tristan Morel Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 2
Italy Viola Formula Racing 26 Portugal Luis Aguiar Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 1–2
Italy Valdelsa Classic Motor Club 59 Italy Riccardo Rossi Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 1, 7
Italy ASD Ruote Scoperte M. 79 Italy Fabio Turchetto Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 1, 6–7
Austria LRT 81 Austria Michael Fischer Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 3–7
101 Austria Norbert Lenzenweger Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 3
127 Austria Jürgen Berger Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 3
143 Austria Dominic Makolm Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 6
175 Austria Alexander Fritz Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 3–5
303 Austria Markus Fischer Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 5
Austria Franz Wöss Racing 95 Germany Nicolas Löffler Tatuus FR2.0 Renault All
125 United States Robert Siska Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 2–3, 6
Hungary Kermor Motorsport 104 Hungary Adam Kovacs Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 4
146 Hungary Vida Benedek Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 7
168 Hungary Zeno Kovacs Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 4, 7
Germany Team Hoffmann Racing 122 Austria Dr. Norbert Groer Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 2–7
Austria MSC Rottenegg 133 Austria Marco Milani Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 5
Switzerland Jo Zeller Racing 717 Switzerland Stephan Glaser Tatuus FR2.0 Renault 1
Sources:[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Race calendar

The 2025 calendar was announced on 9 January 2025.[2] The series made its debut on two tracks, the Automotodróm Slovakia Ring and the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Three tracks left the calendar in the Lausitzring, the Red Bull Ring and Vallelunga Circuit, meaning the series downsized from eight to seven rounds and did compete in Austria for the first time in its history, despite its original name being the Austrian Formula 3 Cup.

R. Circuit Date Support bill Map of circuit locations
1 SR Italy Monza Circuit, Monza 12 April Monza Historic
F2000 Italian Formula Trophy
FR 13 April
2 SR Italy Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero 10 May ACI Historic Racing Weekend Mugello
F2000 Italian Formula Trophy
FR 11 May
3 SR Germany Hockenheimring, Hockenheim 26 July P9 Challenge
Formula Vee Festival
FR
4 SR Slovakia Automotodróm Slovakia Ring, Orechová Potôň 23 August ESET Cup Series
Formula 4 CEZ Championship
FR 24 August
5 SR Czech Republic Brno Circuit, Brno 6 September TCR Eastern Europe Trophy
Formula 4 CEZ Championship
FR 7 September
6 SR Italy Imola Circuit, Imola 27 September Italian GT Championship
F2000 Italian Formula Trophy
FR 28 September
7 SR Italy Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico 26 October Campionato Italiano Auto Storiche
F2000 Italian Formula Trophy
FR

Season report

First half

The 2025 season commenced in April at Monza Circuit. In the primary F3 Cup class, Franz Wöss Racing's Benjámin Berta and Jo Zeller Racing's Sandro Zeller took a win and a second place apiece, with Berta taking an early lead in the standings as his win came in the higher-rewarding feature race. Wins in the F3 Trophy went to Jo Zeller Racing's Lee Cunningham and Facondini Racing's Oliver Kratsch, while STAC's Jérémy Clavaud became the championship's inaugural Formula Regional class winner before following that up with a second victory in race two. Viola Formula Racing driver Luis Aguiar meanwhile claimed two wins on his debut in the Formula Light Cup to also establish an early lead.[11]

Mugello Circuit hosted round two, where the battle between Zeller and Berta continued. Berta won race one, before the pair collided in race two. That saw Viola Formula's Andrea Benalli inherit victory as Berta retired and Zeller finished fourth in class to take the championship lead despite incurring a 20-second penalty for the collision with Berta. All three other classes saw unchallenged double victories, with Clavaud and Aguiar doubling up on their round one performances to grow their win streaks in Formula Regional and Formula Light, while Nannini Racing's Davide Pedetti took victory ahead of Team Hoffmann Racing's André Petropoulos in both races in the F3 Trophy.[12]

The field for all four classes shrunk for the series' third round at the Hockenheimring. The F3 Cup was dominated by Berta, who was fastest in both qualifying sessions before doubling up and leading Zeller in both races to reclaim the championship lead. Clavaud did not travel to Germany to try to sustain his Formula Regional win streak, leaving Neri Autosport's Luca Iannacone to take two wins as the sole competitor in class. Similarly, Aguiar was absent in the Formula Light Cup, leaving LRT's Michael Fischer to dominate the field with a double win. Wins in the F3 Trophy were shared between Jo Zeller Racing's Marcel Tobler and Petropoulos, with Cunningham taking the standings lead in class.[13]

Round four saw the series debut at the Slovakia Ring, but only 13 cars entered across all classes. Berta crucially was not among them, handing Zeller the lead in the F3 Cup on a silver platter - only half points were awarded for both races, though, as only two cars entered the class. Iannacone and Fischer continued their win streaks in Formula Regional and Formula Light, with the former once again the only competitor in his class and the latter now level on points with early season dominator Aguiar. Only three cars entered the F3 Trophy class, where APE Racing's Nikolay Takev and Jo Zeller Racing's Urs Rüttimann took a win each as none of the drivers topping the standings entered the event.[14]

Second half

Berta returned to the field for round five at Brno Circuit in dominant fashion: he swept the weekend by setting pole position in both qualifying sessions before winning both races overall and in class, leading Zeller, closing the gap to the Swiss in the F3 Cup standings once again. The F3 Trophy saw the return of frontrunners Petropoulos and Cunningham, with the pair taking a race win each to end the weekend level on points. The Formula Regional class finally saw some competition for Iannacone, with Puresport's Christof Ledermann wining both races on his return to the category, while Fischer notched up two more wins in Formula Light to build his streak up to six and take the lead in the class.[15]

The penultimate round at Imola Circuit delivered the next twist in the F3 Cup title battle. Berta claimed pole position in qualifying, but Zeller beat him in both races to take two more victories and move closer to securing the title. The F3 Trophy saw a multi-car crash in the first race that eliminated Petropoulos, with Sud Motorsport's Giuseppe Marinaro taking the win, before the German bounced back with victory in race two to move back into the championship lead. Neri's Sebastien Banchereau won race one in Formula Regional, before Clavaud was back on top in race two as Fischer's Formula Light streak was broken by Speed Motor's Karim Sartori, but the Austrian still wrapped up the title.[16]

Three of the four class championships were yet to be decided in the final round at Misano. The F3 Cup title was decided in anticlimactic fashion when Berta retired with a mechanical issue in the first race, handing victory and the title to Zeller. The same issues prevented Berta from taking part in the second race, which was won by his teammate Victor Smialek on his return to the series. With Ledermann and Clavaud both absent, Puresport's Mattia Bagioni won both races in Formula Regional, while Petropoulos took the title in the F3 Trophy by coming second twice behind Kratsch. Sartori meanwhile took both victories in the Formula Light Cup to cement his second place in the standings.[17]

Championship veteran Zeller claimed his eighth series title after two years of finishing behind Berta, but the picture might have been different had Berta not skipped the round in Slovakia and had he not suffered mechanical problems in the final round. Both took six victories each, but with Berta retiring twice, Zeller had the advantage. Title battles in the other classes were all shaped by high entry fluctuation, with no driver in the F3 Trophy and none of the race winners in Formula Light competing for the whole season. The newly-introduced Formula Regional class lastly suffered from low entry numbers all season long, with the high point of six cars from the opening round never reached again afterwards.

Race results

R. Circuit Pole position Fastest lap F3 Cup winner Formula Regional winner F3 Trophy winner Formula Light Cup winner
1 SR Italy Monza Circuit Hungary Benjámin Berta Switzerland Sandro Zeller France Jérémy Clavaud United Kingdom Lee Cunningham Portugal Luis Aguiar
FR Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta France Jérémy Clavaud Germany Oliver Kratsch Portugal Luis Aguiar
2 SR Italy Mugello Circuit Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta France Jérémy Clavaud Italy Davide Pedetti Portugal Luis Aguiar
FR Hungary Benjámin Berta Switzerland Sandro Zeller Italy Andrea Benalli France Jérémy Clavaud Italy Davide Pedetti Portugal Luis Aguiar
3 SR Germany Hockenheimring Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Italy Luca Iannacone Switzerland Marcel Tobler Austria Michael Fischer
FR Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Italy Luca Iannacone Germany André Petropoulos Austria Michael Fischer
4 SR Slovakia Automotodróm Slovakia Ring Switzerland Sandro Zeller Switzerland Sandro Zeller Italy Luca Iannacone Austria Nikolay Takev Austria Michael Fischer
FR Switzerland Sandro Zeller Switzerland Sandro Zeller Switzerland Sandro Zeller Italy Luca Iannacone Switzerland Urs Rüttimann Austria Michael Fischer
5 SR Czech Republic Brno Circuit Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Switzerland Christof Ledermann United Kingdom Lee Cunningham Austria Michael Fischer
FR Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Switzerland Christof Ledermann Germany André Petropoulos Austria Michael Fischer
6 SR Italy Imola Circuit Hungary Benjámin Berta Switzerland Sandro Zeller France Sebastien Banchereau Italy Giuseppe Marinaro Austria Michael Fischer
FR Hungary Benjámin Berta Hungary Benjámin Berta Switzerland Sandro Zeller France Jérémy Clavaud Germany André Petropoulos Italy Karim Sartori
7 SR Italy Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli Poland Victor Smialek Switzerland Sandro Zeller Italy Mattia Bagioni Germany Oliver Kratsch Italy Karim Sartori
FR Poland Victor Smialek Poland Victor Smialek Poland Victor Smialek Italy Mattia Bagioni Germany Oliver Kratsch Italy Karim Sartori

Standings

References

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