Nigel Melker won the F3 Euro Series' first 2011 round in France's Circuit Paul-Ricard on Saturday.
Roberto Merhi had won the pole position for Prema on Friday after completely dominating the qualifying session. Marco Wittmann and teammate Laurens Vanthoor had taken 2nd and 3rd. Melker was then only 5th.
But it didn’t take long before he grabbed the lead of the race, on lap 6. Melker was first able to overtake Daniel Juncadella for third and then Vanthoor, who quickly lost pace with uncooperative tires, for second. One-and-a-half lap was then enough to overtake the leader.
Melker crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of Felix Rosenqvist who had the best of the Prema drivers. Juncadella managed to pass Merhi for the third place on the all-Mercedes podium.
Wittmann had a very impressive outing. Forced to start from the pits, he quickly catched-up with the field and later finished in 5th position.
Vanthoor finished in 8th with his only consolation being that he will start from pole in the second race in virtue of the reverse grid rule.
Results - 19 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Nigel Melker Mucke Dallara-Merc 36m32.728s
2. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Merc + 4.090s
3. Daniel Juncadella Prema Dallara-Merc + 9.268s
4. Roberto Merhi Prema Dallara-Merc + 11.340s
5. Marco Wittmann Signature Dallara-VW + 12.424s
6. Carlos Munoz Signature Dallara-VW + 18.186s
7. Kuba Giermaziak Star Dallara-VW + 20.106s
8. Laurens Vanthoor Signature Dallara-VW + 22.891s
9. Gianmarco Raimondo Motopark Dallara-VW + 23.504s
10. Jimmy Eriksson Motopark Dallara-VW + 24.184s
Retirements:
Kimiya Sato Motopark Dallara-VW 8 laps
Daniel Abt Signature Dallara-VW 7 laps
Roberto Merhi had won the pole position for Prema on Friday after completely dominating the qualifying session. Marco Wittmann and teammate Laurens Vanthoor had taken 2nd and 3rd. Melker was then only 5th.
But it didn’t take long before he grabbed the lead of the race, on lap 6. Melker was first able to overtake Daniel Juncadella for third and then Vanthoor, who quickly lost pace with uncooperative tires, for second. One-and-a-half lap was then enough to overtake the leader.
Melker crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of Felix Rosenqvist who had the best of the Prema drivers. Juncadella managed to pass Merhi for the third place on the all-Mercedes podium.
Wittmann had a very impressive outing. Forced to start from the pits, he quickly catched-up with the field and later finished in 5th position.
Vanthoor finished in 8th with his only consolation being that he will start from pole in the second race in virtue of the reverse grid rule.
Results - 19 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Nigel Melker Mucke Dallara-Merc 36m32.728s
2. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Merc + 4.090s
3. Daniel Juncadella Prema Dallara-Merc + 9.268s
4. Roberto Merhi Prema Dallara-Merc + 11.340s
5. Marco Wittmann Signature Dallara-VW + 12.424s
6. Carlos Munoz Signature Dallara-VW + 18.186s
7. Kuba Giermaziak Star Dallara-VW + 20.106s
8. Laurens Vanthoor Signature Dallara-VW + 22.891s
9. Gianmarco Raimondo Motopark Dallara-VW + 23.504s
10. Jimmy Eriksson Motopark Dallara-VW + 24.184s
Retirements:
Kimiya Sato Motopark Dallara-VW 8 laps
Daniel Abt Signature Dallara-VW 7 laps