Hulkenberg wins Zandvoort opener
Nico Hulkenberg won round nine of the Formula 3 Euro Series at Zandvoort in Holland today, cruising to a five-second victory and closing in on series leader Edoardo Mortara, who crashed out
Overnight thunderstorms and heavy morning rain gave way to sunny, yet blustery, weather conditions - which dried the track in time for the start.
Hulkenberg (ART) sprinted away from pole position, immediately chopping across the bows of fellow front row man Mika Maki (Mucke), who had to fend off Hulkenberg's team-mate, Jules Bianchi, into Tarzan.
Hulkenberg led by over a second by lap four, and his victory never looked in doubt. Maki held off a brief challenge from Bianchi on lap five, but quickly re-established the gap to 2.6s at the finish.
Sam Bird, who made a terrible start but just managed to hold his position through the first corners, finished a distant fourth for Manor Motorsport, holding off the challenge of Yann Clairay (SG). Fifth place changed hands throughout, as early position holder Dani Clos (Prema) got a drive-through penalty for jumping the start.
Koudai Tsukakoshi (Manor) held it until Clairay passed him at the chicane on lap 10, but the Japanese would later drop out anyway when his in-car fire extinguisher went off.
Jean-Karl Vernay finished sixth after dropping back with a poor start, but stayed ahead of Renger van der Zande (Prema) and Robert Wickens (Signature), the latter just holding off Niall Breen (Manor) for Sunday's reverse grid pole.
Championship leader Mortara's weekend went from bad to worse. Having qualified 15th in his Signature Dallara-VW, he spun into the gravel while embroiled in a battle with James Jakes (ART). His 14-point lead coming into today is now a four-point one.
Pos Driver Team Car Time
1. Mika Maki Mucke D/M 40:57.822
2. Jules Bianchi ART D/M +7.703
3. Sam Bird Manor D/M +25.172
4. Yann Clairay SG D/M +26.796
5. Jean-Karl Vernay Signature D/V +32.319
6. Renger van der Zande Prema D/M +36.741
7. Robert Wickens Signature D/V +37.444
8. Niall Breen Manor D/M +37.776
9. James Jakes ART D/M +38.716
10. Franck Mailleux Signature D/V +39.355
11. Erik Janis Mucke D/M +39.838
12. Christian Vietoris Mucke D/M +53.810
13. Kazuya Oshima Manor D/M +54.057
14. Dani Clos Prema D/M +54.940
15. Richard Philippe Carlin D/M +56.274
16. Henkie Waldschmidt SG D/M +56.590
17. Cheng Cong Fu RC D/V +57.296
18. Stefano Coletti Prema D/M +58.327
19. Martin Plowman RC D/V +1:12.273
20. Jens Klingmann RC D/V +1:14.502
21. Basil Shaaban HBR D/M +1:18.040
22. Daniel Campos HBR D/M +1 lap
Retirements
Nico Hulkenberg ART D/M DSQ
Rodolfo Gonzalez Carlin D/M 20 laps
Edoardo Mortara Signature D/V 16 laps
Koudai Tsukakoshi Manor D/M 14 laps
Jon Lancaster ART D/M 1 lap
Fastest lap, Hulkenberg 1:33.267 on lap 7
D/M = Dallara Mercedes, D/V = Dallara Volkswagen
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