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Grosjean wins chaotic race 1

Romain Grosjean claimed his third F3 Euro Series win of the season in a chaotic race at the Norisring

The Renault junior driver, who started fourth on the grid, survived clashes with teammates Nico Hulkenberg and Kamui Kobayashi to win the race, which was turned into a lottery by a mid-race downpour which first brought out the safety car and then the red flag.

Kobayashi led at the start from third on the grid after Grosjean's attempt to pass Buemi at the first corner forced them both wide and gave the Japanese ASM driver a clear lead. Kobayashi led, with Nico Hulkenberg, Grosjean and Buemi tracking him as the first four pulled away at the front.

First to hit trouble was Hulkenberg, who crashed out of the race when Grosjean forced him onto the dirt off the inside of the track on the run to the hairpin. Hulkenberg spun, and was fortunate not to collect Kobayashi as he flew across the track at the first corner.

The rain then struck, and on lap 24 Grosjean lost it in the wet and hit Kobayashi in the left-hander of the Esses. Kobayashi spun, while Grosjean continued in the lead ahead of Buemi.

The safety car was soon deployed as the whole field was on slicks in the wet, with Yelmer Buurman, who had started from the back of the grid, clattering the rear of Renger van der Zande's Prema entry on the run into the final corner convincing organisers to deploy the red flag.

With several of the frontrunners having to take the restart of the aggregated race from the pit-lane after having stopped for wets, the way was clear for Grosjean to take victory ahead of Buemi and Signature's Edoardo Mortara.

Tom Dillmann took fourth ahead of HBR's Filip Salaquarda, who was fortune to make the finish as his engine cover was on the verge of falling off at the end of the race. Jean-Karl Vernay took sixth ahead of Manor's James Jakes, who survived a late race spin which dropped him from fourth place.

Eighth place, and pole for Sunday's second race, fell to Buurman, who somehow survived his accident with van der Zande to take the final point, one lap down, ahead of Kobayashi.

Classified:

Pos  Driver             Make               Time
 1.  Romain Grosjean    Dallara/Mercedes   40:21.592
 2.  Sebastien Buemi    Dallara/Mercedes   +   3.212 
 3.  Edoardo Mortara    Dallara/Mercedes   +   6.429 
 4.  Tom Dillmann       Dallara/Mercedes   +   8.793 
 5.  Filip Salaquarda   Dallara/Mercedes   +  15.870 
 6.  Jean-Karl Vernay   Dallara/Mercedes   +  15.943
 7.  James Jakes        Dallara/Mercedes   +  16.227
 8.  Yelmer Buurman     Dallara/Mercedes   +  1 lap 
 9.  Kamui Kobayashi    Dallara/Mercedes   +  1 lap 
10.  Tim Sandtler       Dallara/Mercedes   +  1 lap 
11.  H.Schlegelmilch    Dallara/Mercedes   +  2 laps
12.  Michael Patrizi    Dallara/Mercedes   +  3 laps
13.  Sergei Afanasiev   Dallara/Mercedes   +  3 laps
14.  Yann Clairay       Dallara/Mercedes   +  3 laps
15.  Basil Shaaban      Dallara/Mercedes   +  3 laps
16.  Franck Mailleux    Dallara/Mercedes   +  3 laps
17.  R.van der Zande    Dallara/Mercedes   +  4 laps
                                           
Not Classified:          
                                           
     Driver             Make               Laps
     Daniel Clos        Dallara/Mercedes    23
     N.Hulkenberg       Dallara/Mercedes    21
     Marco Holzer       Dallara/Opel         9
     Cyndie Allemann    Dallara/Mercedes     1
     Edoardo Piscopo    Dallara/Mercedes     1

Fastest lap: Grosjean, 49.464 on lap 17

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