Kimball tyre gamble wins race 2
Only the top eight grid positions were reversed in today's second Formula 3 Euroseries round at Zandvoort, but in reality the grid was turned on its head when drastically changing weather conditions meant slick tyres were the correct choice, and Charlie Kimball made the right call
Starting from 11th on the grid, Kimball opted for slicks right from the start, while the majority of the grid lined up on wets. Pole man Esteban Guerrieri (Manor) made a great start and romped away in the lead, chased by Guillaume Moreau (Signature), a fast-starting Giedo van der Garde (ASM) and Romain Grosjean (Signature).
But the wet-shod drivers were doomed, as Kimball bided his time on the damp track early on. It took until lap five for the asphalt to dry sufficiently for him to take advantage, and then he carved into those ahead of him.
But it wasn't all plain sailing, as Sebastian Vettel (ASM) also started on slicks from 24th on the grid. He too was scything his way through the field, and caught Kimball by lap nine. Together, they worked their way to the front, relieving the luckless Guerrieri of his hard-earned lead with six laps to go.
Kimball and Vettel then fought out their own personal duel, almost half a minute clear of the rest of the field, but Kimball kept his head and Vettel at bay. It was the first victory for an American driver in the Euroseries.
Kazuki Nakajima (Manor) also took full use of slick tyres to finish third from 22nd on the grid, while Guerrieri had to settle for fourth, the best of the wet-weather runners. Van der Garde (ASM), Tim Sandtler (Signature, on slicks), Moreau (wets) and Sebastien Buemi (Mucke, slicks) flashed across the line all separated by less than a second.
CLASSIFIED:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Charlie Kimball Signature-Plus 30:33.295
2. Sebastian Vettel ASM Formule 3 + 0.677
3. Kazuki Nakajima Manor Motorsport + 26.251
4. Esteban Guerrieri Manor Motorsport + 41.151
5. Giedo van der Garde ASM Formule 3 + 41.918
6. Tim Sandtler Signature-Plus + 42.703
7. Guillaume Moreau Signature-Plus + 42.727
8. Sebastien Buemi ASL Mucke Motorsport + 42.868
9. Peter Elkmann Jo Zeller Racing + 52.193
10. Filip Salaquarda Team ISR + 56.340
11. Romain Grosjean Signature-Plus + 56.366
12. Recardo Bruins Van Amersfoort Racing +1:00.567
13. Kohei Hirate Manor Motorsport +1:08.442
14. Paul di Resta ASM Formule 3 +1:09.047
15. Julian Theobald SMS Seyffarth Motorsport +1:09.067
16. Richard Antinucci HBR Motorsport +1:10.162
17. Jonathan Summerton ASL Mucke Motorsport +1:12.674
18. Bruno Rudolf Fechner SMS Seyffarth Motorsport +1:32.490
19. Ronayne O'Mahony Prema Powerteam +1:38.128
20. Dominick Muermans Van Amersfoort Racing + 1 lap
21. Cemil Cipa HBR Motorsport + 1 lap
22. Alejandro Nunez Prema Powerteam + 1 lap
23. Michael Herck Bas Leinders JRT + 2 laps
NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:
Driver Make On Lap
Paolo Nocera Prema Powerteam 7
Kamui Kobayashi ASM Formule 3 1
Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel, 1:36.182 on lap 18
Share Or Save This Story
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him” before Hamlin clash
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
How IMSA's GTP revival proved worthy of its name
Piastri "flattered" by rumours of Red Bull F1 interest
NASCAR great Kyle Busch dies at 41 after illness
Verstappen: 2027 engine changes “definitely” help me stay in F1
Why Sainz believes F1 and FIA must be "tough" on 2027 changes
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments