Mika Mäki secured his maiden F3 Euroseries victory on his debut in the championship in race one at Hockenheim, though the win had looked like going the way of pole-sitter Nico Hülkenberg until the German was forced into early retirement.
The ART Grand Prix star had led from lights-out, but stopped on unlucky lap 13 with an engine problem. That promoted fellow front row starter Mäki to the head of the field, and he would hold on to take the chequered flag almost a second-and-a-half clear of nearest challenger Charlie Kimball to become the first Finn ever to win an F3 Euroseries race.
Championship returnee Kimball drove strongly from seventh on the grid to seal the runner-up spot at the close, with Signature-Plus' Edoardo Mortara completing the rostrum finishers. Team-mates Franck Mailleux, Jean-Karl Vernay came home fourth and fifth respectively, whilst Maximilian Gotz rounded out the top six for RC Motorsport to see four VW-powered cars in the leading half dozen.
Former British F3 front-runner Sam Bird performed well to take the flag tenth, having started all the way down in 23rd place, but there was less good fortune for compatriot Jon Lancaster, who spectacularly barrel-rolled his ART Grand Prix machine out of contention whilst challenging Vernay for sixth. The Formula Renault graduate had no apparent injuries, but was nevertheless taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up.
“Winning my first race in the F3 Euroseries is great,” a jubilant Mäki exclaimed afterwards. “So far the weekend has been perfect, in spite of the weather conditions being quite difficult at times. After Hülkenberg retired, I took the lead, controlled the race and safely drove first place home.”
“Being back in the F3 Euroseries is great,” added Kimball, “and finishing on the podium right away is making the return even better. As I didn't want to take any risks, I safely drove second place home.”
![2008 F3 Euroseries Mücke Motorsport rookie Mika Mäki in action at Hockenheim [pic credit: F3 Euroseries Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/427346.jpg)
