Rosenqvist claims European F3 points lead with Algarve victory

Felix Rosenqvist snatched the European Formula 3 Championship points lead with a commanding victory in the second race of the weekend at Portimao.

The Swede led home his Prema team-mates Jake Dennis and Lance Stroll to secure a 1-2-3 for the Italian squad.

Starting from pole after Alexander Albon’s exclusion, Rosenqvist led away cleanly off the line, eking out an early advantage before the first of two safety cars was deployed to clear debris dropped by a stranded Matt Rao.

With Dennis forced to counter the attentions of Stroll off the restart, Rosenqvist built up a comfortable five second advantage out front before his lead was wiped out by a late safety car as fourth-place runner Nick Cassidy crashed at Turn 1.

Rosenqvist controlled a second restart to take his eighth win of the campaign, from with team-mates Dennis and Stroll completing the podium.

Gustavo Menezes held off late pressure from team-mate George Russell to come home  fourth.

Pietro Fittapaldi, grandson of two-time Formula 1 world champion Emerson, scored his best finish of the year in sixth.

Charles Leclerc led title rival Giovinazzi across the line, the pair seventh and eighth respectively – Giovinazzi now 13.5 adrift of new points leader Rosenqvist.

Mucke Motorsport team-mates Mikkel Jensen and Santino Ferrucci completed the top 10 to the final points on offer.

Albon, excluded from qualifying on a technicality on Friday night, stormed from the back of the grid to finish 12th, just outside the points.

Image courtesy of FIA European Formula 3 Championship 

Dennis beats Albon in European F3 Algarve opener

Jake Dennis claimed a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening Formula 3 European Championship race of the weekend at the Algarve circuit.

Dennis converted pole into an early lead, as fellow front row starter and Prema team-mate Nick Cassidy stalled on the grid and plummeted down the order.

“I think, today I made the best start of the year,” said Dennis. “I was in front right away and I was immediately able to pull a gap.

“My car was great and I didn’t have any problems with tyre degradation either.”

Signature’s fast-starting Alexander Albon was Dennis’ closest challenger, jumping from sixth on the grid to run second behind the Carlin racer.

The Lotus junior racer, who was stripped of his race three pole on Saturday, shadowed Dennis throughout, but could not stop Dennis from scoring his sixth win of the campaign.

Title challenger Felix Rosenqvist came home third to complete the podium and cut Antonio Giovinazzi’s championship lead to 7.5 points, with the Italian only finishing ninth.

Lance Stroll recorded another fourth place finish to ensure three Prema cars finish in the top four.

Markus Pommer soaked up late pressure from Charles Leclerc, who is still in with an outside chance of the title, to come home fifth for Motopark.

Santino Ferrucci stormed past Giovinazzi, and then later Mikkel Jensen to finish a fine seventh.

Carlin’s George Russell resisted Motopark racer Sergio Sette Camara to round out the top 10.

After his poor start, F3 returnee Cassidy retired late on following contact with Red Bull-backed driver Calum Ilott.

Image courtesy of FIA European Formula 3 Championship

Dennis leads Prema 1-2-3 in European F3 qualifying at Portimao

Jake Dennis beat team-mates Nick Cassidy and Lance Stroll as Prema claimed a dominant 1-2-3 in Formula 3 European Championship qualifying at Portimao.

Dennis, fastest in second practice, jumped to the top of the timesheets in the final minutes with a 1m42.217s to snatch pole from Stroll.

“I am a bit shocked, really, because my lap wasn’t that good at all,” said Dennis. “I approached the last sector two tenths down, but somehow, I managed to find three tenths in the last sector.”

Cassidy, making his European F3 return with the Italian squad, started slowly, but surged up the order late on to claim second, a mere 0.061s shy of Dennis’ pole time.

That dropped Stroll, who scored his first podium last time out in Austria, down to third, as Prema completed a top-three lockout.

Motopark racer Markus Pommer and Signature’s Alexander Albon both made late improvements to claim fifth and sixth on the grid for Saturday’s opening race.

Rookie Charles Leclerc improved late on to go sixth, with title challenger Felix Rosenqvist the slowest of the four Prema cars in seventh.

Points leader Antonio Giovinazzi was just ninth in the Jagonya Ayam-backed Carlin effort, behind early pacesetter George Russell.

Red Bull-backed racer Calumn Allot, who topped opening practice, rounded out the top 10 for Carlin.

Alexander Sims, another driver making a comeback, marked the reformed Hitech GPs first qualifying session with 16th fastest.

Image courtesy of FIA Formula 3 European Championship

Cassidy joins Prema in European F3

Japanese Formula 3 points leader Nick Cassidy will race for Prema Powerteam at the next two rounds of the European F3 Championship at Portimao and the Nurburgring.

Cassidy will replace Brandon Maisano at Prema after the Italian quit the team mid-event during the last round in Austria.

The 21-year-old, who scored a third place finish at Macau last year, last raced in European F3 in 2013.

“I would like to thank Prema Powerteam for this opportunity, one that I am really looking forward to,” said Cassidy.

“With their knowledge I am looking to learn as much as possible, to develop myself, with the aim of good results in these two race meetings.

“I am sure there will be a few little differences to racing in Japan, but I feel prepared, and am looking forward to the challenge.”

Prema team boss Rene Rosin added: “I am delighted to rely on Cassidy, a very quick and consistent driver who has not yet had the chance to show his real value at European level.

“I wish that, driving with Prema at Portimao, where two days of testing will be held before the race, and at Nurburgring, Nick will be able to score the results he deserves.”