European Formula 3 runner-up Gunther sticks with Prema for 2017
Last year's Formula 3 European Championship runner-up Maximilian Gunther will stay on with Prema Powerteam for a third campaign in the series in 2017
The 19-year-old German was runner-up to Prema team-mate and new Williams Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll last year.
Gunther, who joined Prema in 2016 after a rookie F3 campaign with his ADAC Formel Masters team Mucke, will also be a DTM test and reserve driver for Mercedes this year.
"It's great to be part of the team again," said Gunther of staying at Prema.
"Last year was our first together and we finished second in the championship so I'm really happy to go back on-track and go for the championship, which is our goal."
Prema has not lost a drivers' or teams' title in European F3 in the last six seasons, taking Roberto Merhi, Daniel Juncadella, Raffaele Marciello, Esteban Ocon, Felix Rosenqvist and Stroll to championship success.
It also took a GP2 title double at the first attempt last season with Pierre Gasly.
Lining up alongside Gunther for Prema in F3 this year will be fellow third-year driver Callum Ilott, Ferrari junior Guan Yu Zhou and rookie Mick Schumacher.
"We are extremely pleased with our driver line-up for 2017," said team boss Rene Rosin.
"We can rely on four really promising racers and the return of Maximilian provides even more value to the full roster.
"Running with us in 2016, he not only scored remarkable results, but also showed great consistency, keeping his name at the front end of the charts.
"We are sure that with two full seasons now under his belt, including one with our team, he will be able to raise the bar even further."
2017 EUROPEAN F3 LINE-UP SO FAR
Prema Powerteam
Callum Ilott, Guan Yu Zhou, Mick Schumacher, Maximilian Gunther
Hitech GP
Jake Hughes, Ralf Aron, Nikita Mazepin, Tadasuke Makino
Motopark
Joel Eriksson, Keyvan Andres Soori, Marino Sato, TBA
Van Amersfoort Racing
David Beckmann, Pedro Piquet, Joey Mawson, Harrison Newey
Carlin
Lando Norris, Jehan Daruvala, Ferdinand Habsburg, TBA
Yet to announce drivers: Mucke Motorsport, T-Sport
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments