Felix Rosenqvist finally achieved a unique Grand Slam in Formula 3 by securing the 2015 FIA European Formula 3 Championship title with victory in the third race of the Nurburgring weekend in Germany.
The Swede became the first driver to secure the title on top of winning the Macau Grand Prix, the Masters of F3 and the Grand Prix de Pau, and lead home a Prema Powerteam 1-2-3-4 in race three despite four safety car interruptions.
For Antonio Giovinazzi to have taken the battle to the final race weekend of the season, the Italian would have either have beaten or finished second to Rosenqvist, but an first lap pit stop for repairs ended his chances, having been collected by an errant Mikkel Jensen at the first corner, with the Mücke Motorsport driver out on the spot.
The four safety cars meant Giovinazzi was able to catch up the pack, but could do no better than thirteenth position, meaning the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin driver will have to fight Charles Leclerc and Jake Dennis for second place in the championship.
Behind Rosenqvist, Lance Stroll and Nick Cassidy completed the podium, and complete with Dennis’ fourth place meant Prema Powerteam locked out the top four places in the race.
Leclerc took his Van Amersfoort Racing entry to fifth, ahead of Markus Pommer of Motopark, with Santino Ferrucci completing a trio of seventh place finishes this weekend in Germany for Mücke Motorsport.
Callum Ilott took eighth for Carlin ahead of Sergio Sette Camara of Motopark, who enjoyed a good battle with George Russell of Carlin, who took the final point on offer.
The safety car was first deployed when Nicolas Pohler crashed his Double R Racing machine into Alessio Lorandi’s Van Amersfoort Racing, with the second to clear up a crash between Motopark’s Sam MacLeod and Fortec Motorsports’ Matt Rao.
The third safety car intervention was to recover Dorian Boccolacci’s stranded Signature car at the outside of turn one after he made a rash move on Ryan Tveter, who was lucky to keep going, while the fourth and final safety car was to clear up a crash between Lorandi and Tatiana Calderon of Carlin.
Nurburgring Race 3 Result
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