Nico Hülkenberg: Second pole in second qualifying

So far this season, qualifying in the Formula 3 Euro Series has been the domain of Nico Hülkenberg (ART Grand Prix, 1:41.443 min). Just like during the season opener at Hockenheim, he also came out fastest in the second qualifying of the year at Mugello in Italy. Kauai Tsukakoshi (Manor Motorsport, 1:41.609 min), Christian Vietoris (Mücke Motorsport, 1:41.765 min) and Renger van der Zande (Prema Powerteam, 1:41.905 min) will be completing the first two rows on the starting grid for the third season round of the Formula 3 Euro Series at the 5.245 kilometers long circuit in Tuscany.

Hülkenberg drove his fastest lap time eight minutes before the end of the session. The final attacks of his rivals weren’t good enough to take the top position away from the test driver of the Williams-Toyota-F1-team. Third-placed Christian Vietoris pushed a little bit too hard on his final attempt and had to plough through the gravel trap.

Italian driver, Edoardo Mortara (Signature-Plus, 1:42.108 min) was best-placed driver with a Volkswagen engine in seventh place behind fastest rookie, Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix, 1:41.906) and James Jakes (ART Grand Prix, 1:42.099 min).

Nico Hülkenberg (ART Grand Prix): “Qualifying wasn’t easy. Compared to free practice, the track had changed a lot so that the car didn’t behave all the time like I had expected it to. Moreover, the asphalt was significantly warmer than in the morning. In these conditions, tires wore out particularly quickly, I could only do one quick lap. This one was about 95 percent right."

Koudai Tsukakoshi (Manor Motorsport): “The balance of my car is really good. In qualifying, I entirely focused on finding the right line and not making any mistakes. Moreover, I tried to find a clear lap, in which I succeeded. I am really happy with second place."

Christian Vietoris (Mücke Motorsport): I am very happy with third place, as the Mugello circuit doesn’t suit me. It took me a few laps to get on the pace. In testing on Thursday, I was way down on the front runners, now I lacked only 0.322 seconds. On my final lap, I was too quick. The tires were already over their peak and I landed in the gravel trap."