F3: Race winner Gunther joins Prema team

Formula 3 European Championship race winner Maximilian Gunther has joined Prema Powerteam for this weekend's Hockenheim season finale.

The 18-year-old has spent his entire career in cars to date with Mucke Motorsport, finishing runner-up in German Formel Masters with the team in 2013 and '14 before graduating with the squad to Euro F3 this year. But since winning a midseason race at Norisring, Gunther's form has slipped and he parted company with Mucke on the eve of the last round at the Nurburgring.

Prema has a spare Dallara-Mercedes this weekend as Nick Cassidy, who has occupied it for the previous two rounds at Algarve and Nurburgring, is on Japanese F3 duty.

Gunther is expected to be in contention for a 2016 seat with Prema, which is looking to run one experienced driver alongside Lance Stroll and two rookies.

"Gunther has been one of the most surprising rookies of the 2015 season," team manager Rene Rosin said. "He is a bold driver and we saw him win and fight inside the top 10. He will be an added advantage for Prema, giving the team the chance to test a really promising driver."

Meanwhile, Scottish racer Sam MacLeod will sit out the Hockenheim finale after splitting with Motopark. MacLeod has a deal with Team West-Tec for next month's Macau Grand Prix.

Originally on Autosport.com