Hughes edges Norris in Nurburgring F3 Race 2

Jake Hughes (Hitech Grand Prix) scored his first career European Formula 3 Championship victory in Race 2 at the Nurburgring, winning from Lando Norris (Carlin) and Callum Ilott (Prema Powerteam). Hughes, who had already scored five podium finishes this season, led from start to finish. Wth his 17th podium finish of the year,  Norris extended his lead in the drivers' standings to 54 points over his main rival Maximilian Gunther (Prema Powerteam).

Having started from pole position, Jake Hughes led the field into the first corner and immediately pulled a gap. Behind him, Callum Ilott had to defend his position against Lando Norris until the McLaren protégé overtook his compatriot on lap three. However, it was only in the closing stages of the race that Norris was able to reduce the gap to race leader Hughes in such a way that he was able to put the latter under pressure. But the Hitech driver didn't let himself get forced into an error. Callum Ilott rounded out the podium with a clean sweep of the top three for British drivers.

"This race was mega and my car was really good, too," declared Hughes. "I started from the front row the first time I competed in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship during the season finale at Hockenheim last year, but I didn't think that it would take so long for me to score that first win!

"At the start, I was able to take the lead and then I was able to keep my advantage for a long time. When Lando got closer and closer towards the end, I thought: 'That black and yellow car better leave me alone,' but eventually, he didn't have a chance to attack me."

Norris added: "My start was good and I managed to overtake Callum after a few laps. I reckon that the quick overtaking move was the key to second place. At the end, I was able to reduce my gap to Jake from over three to less than one second, which wasn't too bad. Second place is a good result as it allows me to extend my points' lead."

Fourth across the line was Tadasuke Makino (Hitech Grand Prix), the best FIA Formula 3 European Championship result to date for the Honda protégé. His teammate Ralf Aron (Hitech Grand Prix) finished fifth after Chinese Guanyu Zhou (Prema Powerteam), who was in fourth place in the opening stages of the race, spun and dropped out of the top 10. Ferdinand Habsburg (Carlin), Joey Mawson (Van Amersfoort Racing), Harrison Newey (Van Amersfoort Racing), Joel Eriksson (Motopark) and Jehan Daruvala (Carlin) rounded out the top 10.