Norisring European F3: Lance Stroll survives to win opening race

The Williams Formula 1 junior lined up on pole position but dropped behind Joel Eriksson in the early stages, as Callum Ilott - who qualified second but was hit with a 10-place penalty - charged from 12th to third.

The Van Amersfoort Racing driver attempted a move on Stroll for second but outbraked himself at Turn 2 midway through the race, crashing into leader Eriksson and opening the door for Stroll to reclaim the lead.

The safety car was deployed to clear the two damaged cars, with Stroll having to contend with another brief pause when Sergio Sette Camara and Guanya Zhou collided at Turn 4 while battling for third.

Stroll pulled away from Niko Kari at the restart and crossed the line one second clear of his nearest rival to claim his first victory at the Norisring, extending his lead in the championship.

Red Bull junior Kari finished second, with Nick Cassidy completing the podium.

George Russell struggled in the early stages but the Hitech GP driver recovered to fourth, while Ralf Aron and Ben Barnicoat moved up to fifth and sixth after late overtakes on Mikkel Jensen.

Race two polesitter Anthoine Hubert was eighth, with Pedro Piquet and David Beckmann completing the top 10. Nikita Mazepin, Alessio Lorandi and Ryan Tveter rounded out the classified runners.

Will Buller, on his return to Formula 3 to replace Zhi Cong Li at Carlin, retired early in the race with a mechanical issue.

Ilott, Eriksson, Sette Camara and Zhou joined him on the sidelines, as did Harrison Newey - after contact with Piquet - and Maximilian Gunther, who tapped the Turn 7 wall.

RESULT - 38 LAPS: