With a lights-to-flag victory at the 2.3km legendary Norisring, Prema’s Marcus Armstrong opened his 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship account.
Behind the New-Zealander, who races under an Italian licence, was Prema’s Ralf Aron and Carlin’s Jehan Daruvala were next across the line.
Hitech’s Enaam Ahmed, who came to Nuremberg as the points’ leader, had to make do with 14th following a spin, but he remains in the lead of the standings.
“This race was nearly perfect,” said Armstrong. “This season, I have been having some bad luck, so I am particularly happy with this victory now. Of course, the facts that I started from pole position and that my team has done a great job were already helpful.”
Armstrong took the lead at the start and already managed to pull a slight gap during the opening lap with Aron leading the bunch behind. At the end of the opening lap, Carlin’s Sacha Fenestraz hit the wall after contact with Motopark’s Jonathan Aberdein which saw the safety car brought out. Racing resumed on lap eight and Armstrong immediately pulled away to extend his lead. Behind him, Daruvala overtook Motopark’s Daniel Ticktum for third and then started to close the gap to Aron.
From lap 20 onwards, a three-way battle for second to fourth emerged involving Aron, Daruvala and Ticktum. Fifth-placed Prema driver Mick Schumacher turned out to be unable to keep up with the drivers in front of him and had to keep team-mate Robert Shwartzman, and Motopark pair Jüri Vips and Marino Sato at bay who were coming up from behind.
Armstrong remained unfazed by it all, he had already established a 3s lead by that time and safely brought first place home with the order behind remaining almost unchanged. Aron took second from Daruvala, Ticktum, Schumacher, Shwartzman, Vips, Sato and Prema’s Guanyu Zhou with Van Amersfoort’s Keyvan Soori Andres rounding out the top 10 to score his first point.
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