This is the result of Marciello’s head and shoulders domination of the first heat, which he followed with a similar performance up in race 2 on the Nürburgring helped by the fact that Rosenqvist stalled on the grid dropping from second to twenty-second place.  

 

Not even a safety car intervention could stop the young Italian from clinching his ninth win of the season! So far he has had a perfect weekend with three pole positions and two victories. “It’s been an ideal day for me,” analysed Raffaele. “The important thing was to win two races. I’m not too bothered about what happens to Felix. Today he had a problem at the start; maybe this could happen to me tomorrow. All that counts is that I’ve finished first twice today with three pole positions and the fastest lap in free practice. Rain is forecast for the third race tomorrow. That doesn’t worry me. I just have to continue in the same vein.”

 

Behind the leader of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship Luis Felipe Derani (Fortec Motorsports) drove a solid race. The young 19-year-old Brazilian held off the experienced Alexander Sims (ThreeBond with T-Sport). By finishing in front of the British driver he clinched his first top-3 finish of the season at this level of competition. “Fortec Motorsports and I used the summer break to do a lot of work,” explained Pipo Derani. “Our main problem was tyre management and I think we’ve found the solution. I’m very happy with this result, my first top-three finish in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, and quite honestly I couldn’t do any better. I was much too busy keeping Alexander Sims at bay to even think of catching Raffaele Marciello.” 

 

Alexander Sims rounded out the top 3 from Jordan King (Carlin) and Lucas Auer (Prema Powerteam). Sven Müller (ma-con) provided most the of the excitement in this race, and after crossing swords with Felix Serralles (Fortec Motorsport) and Alex Lynn (Prema Powerteam) he took the flag in sixth place in front of the Brit and the Puerto Rican. After his disastrous start Felix Rosenqvist made a fantastic comeback and bagged two points by finishing ninth ahead of Harry Tincknell (Carlin).

 

The third heat on the Nürburgring will take place tomorrow (Sunday) at 11h00 and rain is forecast in the Eifel Mountains.