First season win for Nico Hülkenberg
Air temperature: 25.3 °C
Asphalt temperature: 28.3 °C
At Mugello in Italy, Nico Hülkenberg (ART Grand Prix)
celebrated his first victory of the season in the Formula
3 Euro Series. The 20-year old German was joined on the podium
by Japanese Koudai Tsukakoshi (Manor Motorsport) and rookie
driver Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix) from France. After three
rounds, Italian Edoardo Mortara (Signature-Plus) is leading
the drivers’ standings. At the 5.245 kilometres long
Mugello circuit, the Volkswagen driver crossed the finish
line in fourth place and now has 15 points to his tally.
Hülkenberg laid the foundation for his victory at the
start when he made the best out of his pole position and led
the field into the first corner. During the 21 lap race, he
had to turn down one attack by his rival Tsukakoshi, during
which the two opponents slightly tangled. After that, Hülkenberg
safely drove victory home with 21-year old Honda protégé
Tsukakoshi second across the line.
Things went badly for Christian Vietoris (Mücke Motorsport).
The German stalled in third place on the grid at the start,
tried to catch up from behind, but then retired in the gravel
trap with five laps remaining following a collision with Daniel
Campos-Hull (HBR Motorsport).
Nico Hülkenberg (ART Grand Prix): “Today,
it wasn’t an easy win. Tsukakoshi kept me under pressure
all the time so that I didn’t have any chance to relax
even once. In this race, I had to remain focussed one hundred
percent in order not to make any mistakes. After the problems
I had in the season opener at Hockenheim, today’s victory
is a great result.”
Koudai Tsukakoshi (Manor Motorsport): “It
was a hard race today. The balance of my car has been great
throughout the weekend. I am really happy with my maiden podium
in the Formula 3 Euro Series.”
Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix): “I
had a good start and, bar some minor problems with my car,
I had a good race, too. Accordingly, third place is all right,
that was all I could manage today. My first podium in only
my third race in the Formula 3 Euro Series is a great result.”
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