Race after race, the Eurocup3 single-seater championship is proving to be a highly competitive affair, with the gaps between the numerous podium contenders continuing to close. In Portimao, the third of the eight races of the 2024 season confirmed this observation. Against this backdrop, Dario Cabanelas worked hard to optimise his car's set-up and adapt his driving to the demanding Portuguese track. His entry in the top five of the rankings during Free Practice seemed full of promise, but this performance was not confirmed during Qualifying.

"I still need to improve my handling of the new tyres and make better use of them when they are at their most effective. Having to start successively P13, P13 and then P12 in the three races clearly doesn't correspond with the objectives I've set myself. I went on to set an excellent pace in each of the races, but it's not an advantage to start outside the top 10. It forces you to take risks, with the possibility of encountering various hazards," regretted Dario.

In Race 1 on Saturday, Dario Cabanelas put on a much better show, climbing from 13th to 7th place after a good start and some controlled overtaking. He also had the satisfaction of climbing onto the third step of the Rookie podium. His fighting spirit was confirmed in Race 2 with further gains in places and lap times close to those of the leading drivers, despite several appearances by the safety car which often cut Dario off. Unfortunately, he was then penalised for 'track limits', relegating the Swiss driver to 21st position. His Race 3 again featured a good start and a remarkable progression to 6th position at the chequered flag. Unfortunately, this satisfaction was short-lived, as a new track limits penalty dropped him to 16th.

"It's frustrating because sometimes I have to go beyond the limits of the track to avoid an incident or another car making a dangerous manoeuvre, without gaining any places. I've lost the opportunity to score some important points, so I'm not where I'd hoped to be in the provisional Eurocup3 standings."

After a three-weekend break, Dario Cabanelas will experience a crucial episode in his 2024 season in July, with three events taking place during July alone, at the Paul Ricard (France), Zandvoort (Netherlands) and Motorland Aragon (Spain) circuits.

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.

In 2023, Dario has decided to take things a step further by joining the highly competitive Eurocup-3 Championship midway through the season. Building on this experience, he has now signed up for the whole of 2024 in this prestigious competition with the MP Motorsport Team. Considered one of the top five Swiss drivers by his federation, the young driver has surrounded himself with a host of sporting and financial partners to continue his ascent.