Alexander Sims claims pole position at Masters

British driver Alexander Sims (ART Grand Prix, 1:30.956 minutes) was the fastest driver in the two qualifying sessions of the RTL GP Masters of Formula 3 at the 4.307 kilometres long Circuit Park Zandvoort. As a result, Sims, who is currently placed fifth in the points' standings of the Formula 3 Euro Series will be starting from pole position into tomorrow's race, arguably Europe's most important Formula 3 race. Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix, 1:31.112 minutes), Marco Wittmann (Signature, 1:31.463 minutes) and Roberto Merhi (Mücke Motorsport, 1:31.641 minutes) completed the top 4. Thus, the teams from the Formula 3 Euro Series occupied eight places in the top ten and again underlined the top position of the Euro Series in the European Formula 3 scene.

Alexander Sims (GBR, ART Grand Prix, Dallara Mercedes) Credit: Euro F3 Series

In two exciting qualifying sessions, the starting grid positions for the Masters of Formula 3 were determined and the representatives from the Formula 3 Euro Series showed themselves in good shape. Next to the first two grid rows, the third row was also a lock-out for the Euro Series: the best placed rookie Carlos Muñoz (Mücke Motorsport, 1:31.667 minutes) and guest driver Nigel Melker (Mücke Motorsport, 1:31.687 minutes) set the fifth and sixth fastest time respectively. Edoardo Mortara (Signature, 1:31.713 minutes), the Euro Series' points' leader, will be starting seventh into the race which will get underway tomorrow at 14.00 h.

Alexander Sims (ART Grand Prix): "Being on pole position at the Masters is great. My team has given me a car that felt really good. We were already fast with used tyres, but with new tyres in the second half, it was even better. Of course, now my goal is to win the race, too."

Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix): "I came to Zandvoort with the goal of winning this race a second time. For me, nothing is lost yet with second place on the grid, winning is still possible. Unfortunately, the interruption following Marco Wittmann's accident didn't help me. Otherwise, it could probably have been better."

Marco Wittmann (Signature): "I am happy and disappointed at the same time. On one hand, I hadn't expected that we would be faster in second qualifying than in first. I made up one place and that is good. But I wanted more and took too many risks. I came off the track, which really annoys me."

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