Photo: F3esmedia

Formula 3 Euro Series

A 1-2 for Mücke at Valencia – Roberto Merhi third

Nigel Melker (Mücke Motorsport) decided the 22nd season round of the Formula 3 Euro Series at the 4.005 kilometres long Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia in his favour. The Dutchman finished ahead of Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport) and Roberto Merhi (Prema Powerteam). Title favourite Merhi extended his championship lead to 83 points and in this afternoon’s 23rd round again has the chance to secure an early Euro Series’ title.

Nigel Melker started from pole position and won the dash towards the first corner from Felix Rosenqvist and Roberto Merhi. In the remainder of the race, the trio remained close, but the differences between the drivers were never small enough to start an attack. Daniel Juncadella (Prema Powerteam) crossed the finish line in fourth place, keeping his championship hopes alive. Marco Wittmann (Signature) is also still in with a chance of becoming the successor of last year’s champion Edoardo Mortara. The German finished sixth, just behind Carlos Muñoz (Signature).

Nigel Melker (Mücke Motorsport): “I almost stalled the engine at the start and therefore had to keep Felix and Roberto at bay in the first corner. After that, my race was good, I was able to control it until the end.”

Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport): “My start was good and I was able to make up one place. After that, I had no more chances of improving my position, because Nigel didn’t make any mistakes in front of me. And without him making a mistake, overtaking is impossible at this circuit. For my Mücke team, this 1-2 is a great success, but after a couple of second places, I would rather have finished first.”

Roberto Merhi (Prema Powerteam): “Third place is not what I had expected, because I started from second place. When I was alongside Nigel Melker and Felix Rosenqvist on the run towards the first corner, I decided to back off. I didn’t want to risk an accident. After that, third place was all I could do, because the three of us on the first three places were more or less equally quick.”