Zandvoort Formula 3 Euro Series: Will Buller wins truncated race two
Will Buller won a rain-shortened second Formula 3 Euro Series race at Zandvoort on Saturday to keep his title hopes alive
The Carlin driver started from pole position on the reversed grid and led into the first corner in his Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen. But his commanding position was shortlived as rain hit the circuit mid-way round the opening lap.
This brought out the safety car and, a lap later, the red flags, to allow the cars to have their slick tyres replaced with wet-weather Hankooks. The rain stopped immediately however, meaning that all the cars remained on slicks.
Crucially, the clock was not stopped during the red flags, meaning that once racing resumed, just three more laps were run before the 20-minute time limit was reached.
As a result Buller's victory - his second of the season - came after just five laps. With half-points awarded, he closed the gap on championship leader Daniel Juncadella to 24.5 points, but remained fourth in the standings.
Juncadella finished second in his Prema Dallara-Mercedes, just 0.3 seconds behind Buller, giving him an increased 13.5-point series lead over third-placed Pascal Wehrlein (Mucke). Ma-con driver Tom Blomqvist, Prema's Sven Muller and Mucke's Felix Rosenqvist completed the top six.
The fourth title contender, Raffaele Marciello finished outside the points after he and his Prema team-mate Michael Lewis banged wheels at the first corner of the race. Lewis retired on the spot with broken suspension while Marciello took a trip through the Tarzan gravel.
Results - 5 laps: Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap 1. Will Buller Carlin Dallara-VW 21m06.032s 2. Daniel Juncadella Prema Dallara-Merc + 0.323s 3. Pascal Wehrlein Mucke Dallara-Merc + 1.174s 4. Tom Blomqvist Ma-con Dallara-VW + 1.744s 5. Sven Muller Prema Dallara-Merc + 2.286s 6. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Merc + 3.217s 7. Lucas Wolf URD Dallara-Merc + 5.205s 8. Emil Bernstorff Ma-con Dallara-VW + 5.507s 9. Carlos Sainz Jr Carlin Dallara-VW + 6.116s 10. Sandro Zeller Zeller Dallara-Merc + 9.020s 11. Andrea Roda Zeller Dallara-Merc + 9.280s 12. Luis Sa Silva Angola Dallara-Merc + 11.171s 13. Raffaelle Marciello Prema Dallara-Merc + 11.401s Retirements: Michael Lewis Prema Dallara-Merc 0 laps
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