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Sunday, 19 September 2010 05:00 |
 Formula 3 Euro Series - Jim Pla (ART Grand Prix) has won the 16th season round of the Formula 3 Euro Series at the 3.969 kilometres long Motorsport Arena Oschersleben the rookie from France was followed home by Marco Wittmann (Signature) and Nicolas Marroc (Prema Powerteam).
With his second place and the retirement of his opponent Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix), Wittmann is now eight points ahead of Finn Bottas in the battle for runner up spot.
Already crowned champion Edoardo Mortara (Signature) already retired on the opening lap.
Carlos Muñoz (Mücke Motorsport) led for most of the race, already having claimed first place at the start, however, under pressure from Jim Pla, the Columbian ran into the gravel trap with two laps remaining and retired.
In the opening stages, Valtteri Bottas was third behind Muñoz and Wittmann, the Finn, who had won the 17th season round on Saturday, collided with António Félix da Costa (Motopark Academy).
Jim Pla and Nicolas Marroc were among the drivers who benefited from this accident and went on to finish on the podium.
Jim Pla (ART Grand Prix):
"This race was incredible. After the collision between Valtteri Bottas and António Félix da Costa, I had a good feeling. I knew that I was faster than Carlos and Marco. Nevertheless, it was impossible to overtake Carlos. Eventually, I had the luck that he made a mistake. After that, I was just eager to take the chequered flag."
Marco Wittmann (Signature):
"I got the maximum out of the race, that was all I could manage today. Winning was my goal, but Jim was just quicker. We don't know yet why we were having so many problems here at Oschersleben as a team. Now, we have to analyse that and have to do better at the Hockenheim finale."
Nicolas Marroc (Prema Powerteam):
"Before the race, my goal was to make a good start and then stay out of all troubles. I managed to do so. Staying closely behind Marco Wittmann wasn't easy. But I am also quite happy with third place."
(Adam Hay Nicholls) - Champion Mortara rues first lap shunt
Formula 3 Euro Series champion Edoardo Mortara failed to finish Race 2 today at Oschersleben when contact with ART’s Alexander Sims left him with a broken track rod.
Edo made a decent start on fresh tyres from third on the grid and had edged past P2 man Marco Whitmann before braking for the tight Turn 1.
Whitmann was on the inside, Edo was on the outside, and barreling down the middle of the Signature team-mates came Roberto Merhi who had out braked himself.
With Mehri blocking his path, Mortara had to slow his car almost to a stop and had slipped to fourth before he could turn left and accelerate into the curling right hand Turn 2.
He came alongside Sims, who was on the outside, and the two touched, causing damage to Edo’s car and spinning the ART. At the next corner, Mortara went straight on and into retirement.
EDOARDO MORTARA:
“I was the only driver to have kept a set of new tyres for this race and was hoping to win today to celebrate my championship winning weekend in style, so this result is disappointing. My start was okay. I passed Marco [Whitmann], but [Roberto] Mehri came down the middle and braked way too late. I was on the outside and had nowhere to go. I had to avoid him, almost stop the car, and when I was coming back Sims arrived. We were side by side through the right hand corner and we slightly touched. A straight forward racing accident. He spun and I broke my track rod.
“It’s a shame because I think we could have had a really good race today. I’m pleased though that Marco was able to take second and extend his lead over Valtteri Bottas, as this is important for the team and for Volkswagen. Tonight I head home to Geneva where I’m looking forward to a nice Italian dinner with my father, my brother and my girlfriend, where we’ll celebrate my championship. I’m still buzzing from yesterday, it’s been a pretty good weekend on the whole.”
Air temperature: 14.8 °C
Track temperature: 17.9 °C
Race 2 results:
| Pos. |
N° |
Driver/Nat. |
Team |
Laps |
Time / Gap |
Last lap |
Fastest lap |
| 1 |
11 |
Pla/FRA |
ART Grand Prix |
29 |
40'26.450 |
1'23.738 |
1'22.578 |
| 2 |
6 |
Wittmann/GER |
Signature |
29 |
02.151 |
1'23.845 |
1'22.856 |
| 3 |
7 |
Marroc/FRA |
Prema Powerteam |
29 |
03.851 |
1'23.796 |
1'22.807 |
| 4 |
14 |
Vanthoor/BEL |
Signature |
29 |
04.373 |
1'23.809 |
1'22.878 |
| 5 |
34 |
van der Zande/NED |
Motopark Academy |
29 |
15.697 |
1'23.695 |
1'23.233 |
| 6 |
8 |
Juncadella/ESP |
Prema Powerteam |
29 |
16.105 |
1'23.659 |
1'22.597 |
| 7 |
17 |
Hegewald/GER |
Motopark Academy |
29 |
22.784 |
1'23.955 |
1'23.434 |
| 8 |
2 |
Sims/GBR |
ART Grand Prix |
28 |
1 lap |
1'23.874 |
1'22.859 |
| 9 |
3 |
Merhi/ESP |
Mücke Motorsport |
28 |
1 lap |
1'23.123 |
1'22.775 |
| 10 |
4 |
Munoz/COL |
Mücke Motorsport |
27 |
2 laps |
2:01.070 |
1'22.833 |
| 11 |
1 |
Bottas/FIN |
ART Grand Prix |
23 |
6 laps |
1'44.315 |
1'21.651 |
| 12 |
10 |
Laine/FIN |
Motopark Academy |
14 |
15 laps |
1'23.631 |
1'23.247 |
| 13 |
13 |
Felix-da-Costa/POR |
Motopark Academy |
14 |
15 laps |
1'23.397 |
1'23.085 |
| 0 |
5 |
Mortara/ITA |
Signature |
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29 laps |
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