A first at Estoril!

Entered in Eurocup-3 to take part in the second half of the season - four events in Jerez, Estoril, Valencia and Barcelona - Dario Cabanelas' first objective is to get his bearings in an environment where he has everything to discover and assimilate. But the Swiss driver is ambitious and has every intention of demonstrating his ability to quickly catch up with the best. At Estoril, he did just that in Free Practice, clocking times just three tenths off the reference times. "In one week, everything has gone very quickly," said Dario. "Between the two meetings in Jerez and Estoril, my driving has already improved a lot, as has my physical condition, while the SAINTéLOC Racing team already has a much better understanding of our Tatuus equipped with a 270hp Alfa Romeo engine. I didn't know the Estoril circuit at all when I arrived, but I'm pleased to have adapted to it so quickly."

P3 in the Rookies

Dario Cabanelas managed to gain confidence at the wheel and had an encouraging Qualifying session, ending up P8 on the grid for Race 1, which he finished in 9th position. "I didn't get off to a great start and made a few small mistakes that cost me a bit of time. It's a shame, because my level of performance was such that I could have finished in the top seven. It just goes to show that I've got a lot of room for improvement. I need to gain more experience, which is logical as this is only my second meeting in Eurocup-3. It's still very different from the French F4 Championship in which I raced for two years." Nevertheless, his efforts were rewarded by a 3rd place finish in the rookies' standings.

Second consecutive podium

"For the second Qualifying session, we were probably too conservative when it came to defining the set-up. The grip of the track changed over the weekend. It's still something we need to work on with the team. I started P9, before losing a position on the restart after the safety car came out. Since I joined the Championship, I've already scored points three times in four races and I've secured a second consecutive 3rd place in the Rookie category. It's all very positive! The next race is at Valencia, a circuit on which I've already raced in F4. I'm really looking forward to it." Rendezvous on October 13th-15th. "Between now and then, I'll be doing some specific physical training to help me feel even better in the car, especially at the end of the race."

About Dario Cabanelas

Dario Cabanelas made his debut in single-seater racing in 2021, as part of the French F4 Championship run by the FFSA Academy. Born on 21st July 2006, the young hopeful, who lives near Lausanne, quickly demonstrated his strong potential by finishing runner-up in the French Junior Championship and winning several races in his category. In his second year of F4 in 2022, he made it into the top 10 of the FIA rankings at just 16 years of age, finishing on the podium on several occasions.

A Swiss national, but also the grandson of a Spanish-Gallego emigrant, as well as having Ukrainian origins, Dario Cabanelas has always impressed with his strong determination. Fast and ambitious, he is fully committed to his goal of reaching the highest level of motor sport.

A student in the FFSA Academy's sport-study section since the age of 14, Dario has chosen to take things to the next level in 2023 by entering the highly competitive and prestigious Eurocup-3 Championship with the Saintéloc team, a benchmark in the field. Considered one of the top five Swiss drivers by his federation, the Swiss driver has surrounded himself with numerous sporting and financial partners to continue his ascent.