“FIA F3: Rosenqvist claims double-pole at the Hockenheimring”

© Formula 3 Euro Series / Thomas Suer

Mücke Motorsport’s Felix Rosenqvist secured double pole for the FIA European Formula 3 Championship finale at the Hockenheimring this afternoon.

The Swede pipped series leader Prema Powerteam’s Daniel Juncadella to the peak, while Pascal Wehrlein (also Mücke) and Alex Lynn (Fortec) trailed on the second row.

Rosenqvist was a prominent figure throughout qualifying, from setting the fastest time on his first initial run (1:34.730) to bringing that down to 1:34.047 as the clock counted down.
It left Rosenqvist with just under our-tenths of an advantage as the chequered waved in the stilled air.

“The Valencia weekend was really good and here, I had a good feeling with my car as well. I wanted the two pole positions and that is what I got. In tomorrow’s race, one needs a good start and I have to try to maintain the lead on the opening lap. I hope for a win.”

Behind Rosenqvist, the order altered on an almost minute-by-minute basis, as Juncadella, Wehrlein and Lynn battled with Raffaele Marciello, Carlos Sainz Jr and Tom Blomqvist for the second front row spot.
Despite cutting a fast mid-session run short, Juncadella charged to the second position early on; a trick he repeated several times during qualifying as the track picked up pace.

“Qualifying was good, but I am a little bit surprised to be that much down on Felix. However, I am fastest of my team and I am happy with second place. With the second set of tyres, I only had two clear laps, which were, in fact, quite good. In the first race tomorrow, my only goal will be to finish ahead of my title rivals and thus wrap up the title.”

Wehrlein jumped up to 3rd late on, before breaking his front wing over the Hockenheimring’s jagged sausage kerbs in the final minutes.
Lynn crept into the fight as the session drew to a close, but the Fortec runner could do no better than 4th overall. Sainz Jr and Lucas Auer filled out the third row, ahead of Blomqvist (7th) and Marciello (8th).

Rosenqvist garnered pole for the opening weekend’s race, when his second-fastest time was also four-tenths clear of the next fastest Juncadella.
Wehrlein and Marciello fill out the second row, ahead of Sainz Jr and Auer, while Emil Bernstorff climbed up to 7th position. Lynn will start 8th, after pipping Blomqvist and Felix Serrralles.

2012 FIA European Formula 3 Championship (Rd 10, Qualifying Race 1)
Pos Driver               Team                       Time / Gap
 1. Felix Rosenqvist     Mücke Motorsport-Mercedes  1:34.062
 2. Daniel Juncadella    Prema Powerteam-Mercedes     +0.390
 3. Pascal Wehrlein      Mücke Motorsport-Mercedes    +0.592
 4. Raffaele Marciello   Prema Powerteam-Mercedes     +0.715
 5. Carlos Sainz Jr      Carlin-Volkswagen            +0.736
 6. Lucas Auer           van Amersfoort-Volkswagen    +0.776
 7. Emil Bernstorff      ma-con-Volkswagen            +0.779
 8. Alex Lynn            Fortec-Mercedes              +0.797
 9. Tom Blomqvist        ma-con-Volkswagen            +0.892
10. Felix Serralles      Fortec-Mercedes              +0.973
11. William Buller       Carlin-Volkswagen            +1.035
12. Sven Muller          Prema Powerteam-Mercedes     +1.132
13. Felipe Nasr          Carlin-Volkswagen            +1.149
14. Pipo Derani          Fortec-Mercedes              +1.276
15. Michael Lewis        Prema Powerteam-Mercedes     +1.334
16. Lucas Wolf           URD Rennsport-Mercedes       +1.461
17. Dennis van der Laar  van Amersfoort-Volkswagen    +1.660
18. Luis Sá Silva        Angola Racing-Mercedes       +2.003
19. Sandro Zeller        Jo Zeller-Mercedes           +2.066
20. Andrea Roda          Jo Zeller-Mercedes           +2.109
2012 FIA European Formula 3 Championship (Rd 10, Qualifying Race 3)
Pos Driver               Team                       Time / Gap
 1. Felix Rosenqvist     Mücke Motorsport-Mercedes  1:34.047
 2. Daniel Juncadella    Prema Powerteam-Mercedes     +0.378
 3. Pascal Wehrlein      Mücke Motorsport-Mercedes    +0.424
 4. Alex Lynn            Fortec-Mercedes              +0.504
 5. Carlos Sainz Jr      Carlin-Volkswagen            +0.537
 6. Lucas Auer           van Amersfoort-Volkswagen    +0.653
 7. Tom Blomqvist        ma-con-Volkswagen            +0.697
 8. Raffaele Marciello   Prema Powerteam-Mercedes     +0.719
 9. William Buller       Carlin-Volkswagen            +0.764
10. Emil Bernstorff      ma-con-Volkswagen            +0.768
11. Felix Serralles      Fortec-Mercedes              +0.824
12. Sven Muller          Prema Powerteam-Mercedes     +0.914
13. Lucas Wolf           URD Rennsport-Mercedes       +1.043
14. Felipe Nasr          Carlin-Volkswagen            +1.121
15. Pipo Derani          Fortec-Mercedes              +1.163
16. Michael Lewis        Prema Powerteam-Mercedes     +1.182
17. Dennis van der Laar  van Amersfoort-Volkswagen    +1.504
18. Luis Sá Silva        Angola Racing-Mercedes       +1.991
19. Andrea Roda          Jo Zeller-Mercedes           +1.994
20. Sandro Zeller        Jo Zeller-Mercedes           +2.004

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