The Prema team scored two two pole positions and three front row starts in the two qualifying sessions held by the FIA F.3 European Championship at the Norisring racetrack. On the street course located in Nurnberg, championship leader Lance Stroll will start from the pole in both Race 1 and 3 and also grabbed a second position for race 2. Actually, Stroll set the same laptime of pole-sitter Hubert, who posted his 48”163-mark a little earlier than the young Canadian.

Nick Cassidy also got good results and will start from the third place in race 1, but he suffered an unlucky break due to a broken gearbox in qualifying 2. Maximilian Gunther will be seventh, third and fourth on the three grids respectively. Rookie Ralf Aron will start at the middle of the pack in all three occasions.

# 1 - Lance Stroll

“I’m really happy to have scored a double pole, pity that it brings no points. Everything went well in Q1, I kept pushing hard and tried to get to the limit. In the end, we got a really fast laptime. In Q2 I almost did it all again for race 2 but I made a couple of slight mistakes. All the pack is really close together and since this track leaves plenty of room for passing it will be a tough battle. In addition, rain is expected so anything can happen!”

# 2 - Nick Cassidy

“The first qualifying session was really positive. I could fight for the top and the second row is a good result. Unfortunately, a gearbox problem forced me to the pits before I could set a good mark so I’m relegated to the last row. I’m not backing down though. The car is quick and I can try to recover in both race 2 and 3.”

# 16 - Ralf Aron

“The biggest problem today was that we are missing some of my data so it was really hard to learn. In Q1 basically I lost all the time in one place and we were trying to understand what was going on. In Q2 I improved a lot. My final flying lap was really good but unfortunately a yellow flag situation in sector 2 and 3 forced me to lift off. It’s a pity but the car is good, the speed is there and I hope to recover in all three races.”

# 17 - Maximilian Gunther

“In the first qualifying session I was a little conditioned by traffic, then in the final couple of laps I created a gap with the drivers I had in front and managed to set a good laptime which handed me what was a fourth place, that became a third place when Ilott was penalized. Unfortunately though, I caught the checkered flag before completing a second clean lap so I was passed by other drivers and I went down to seventh. It’s not a disaster, but certainly not what I could have got. The second session hasn’t been easy, but I did the best I could securing a fourth place.”

Canadians In BOLD