F3 European Championship
MARCIELLO VS. ROSENQVIST FOR THE FIA FORMULA 3 EUROPEAN TITLE—
The protagonists Raffaele Marciello (Prema Powerteam) and Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) have taken the battle for the FIA Formula 3 European Championship title down to the season finale at the 4.547 kilometre Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. Nonetheless, Marciello who travels to Hockenheim with a 45.5-pointlead over Rosenqvist is the favourite in this battle. On the other hand, the Italian Ferrari Driver Academy protégé can’t feel safe as his Swedish opponent is far from giving up early. The prize for the title winner is impressive: In addition to the title and the trophy, the champion also will win a day of testing at the wheel of a Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 racer.
The two title contenders experienced an eventful season, with Marciello holding the lead right from the start but Rosenqvist following close behind for the major part of the year. The Italian born in Zurich travels to Hockenheim with boosted confidence as he extended his championship lead last weekend by winning two races at his home circuit at Vallelunga, Italy. Rosenqvist, on the other hand, is motivated by the fact that he always has been securing good results at Hockenheim and has got – just as his rival – what it takes to secure race wins at any time.
In addition to the battle for the title, the fight for third position in the championship also isn’t over yet. Here, the rivals are the team-mates Alex Lynn and Lucas Auer (both Prema Powerteam). Prior to the final three races of the season, Briton Lynn holds a comfortable 58.5-pointlead over Austrian Auer, with the maximum of points to be scored amounting to 75.
At the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship regulars will be joined by two young guns who also want to compete with the best Formula 3 drivers of the world. Nick Cassidy replaces Russia’s Red Bull junior Daniil Kyvat to race the Dallara #51. In his Formula 3 debut, at Nuremberg’s Norisring, the Kiwi came close to making it to the point’s right way by finishing 11th twice. Meanwhile, Estonian Kevin Korjus will make his FIA Formula 3 European Championship debut, this weekend. He replaces Briton Alexander Sims and races for team ThreeBond with T Sport.
Raffaele Marciello (Prema Powerteam): “My lead looks comfortable but that’s an error. I learned – at the latest at Zandvoort – that even a big lead doesn’t mean safety. If something goes wrong, such a lead can be lost very quickly. Therefore, I will opt for my usual approach, for the season-finale weekend and won’t allow myself to get distracted by thinking about the possible title triumph. I will fully focus on the job to be done and give my very best. Than we will have to wait and see what happens.”
Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport): “My gap to Raffaele amounts to 45.5 points, prior to the season finale at Hockenheim, but I’m far from giving up and think that my chances of winning the title are still alive. I know that Hockenheim is a racetrack that used to always suit my team and me well. Therefore, this circuit is the perfect place to once again hurl myself with full power and concentration into the battle with Raffaele.”