French-Italian driver Edoardo Mortara has claimed his best-ever victory in race two of the Formula 3 Euroseries meeting at Pau. The Signature team driver, who won the F3 Euroseries rookie championship last year, powered from seventh to first in Sunday’s race and moved into a 14-point lead of the overall championship. The result also marks the first victory for a Volkswagen-engined car in the modern era of the Formula 3 Euroseries.

This result concluded a perfect weekend for the 21 year-old, who finished race one in second place after qualifying second. His strong performance meant that he would start race two from seventh on the grid, as the top eight finishers are reversed under the Euroseries rules.

Despite this handicap Edoardo was unstoppable, passing six cars to claim his third Formula 3 Euroseries overall victory and the sole lead of the championship. Pau – a challenging and narrow street circuit – is renowned for being one of the most complex venues of the year, where no mistakes go unpunished. The asphalt is bumpy and unpredictable, calling for a compromise set-up with high downforce. To make matters even more difficult, heavy rain meant that the race got underway behind the safety car.

Once the safety car came in, Edoardo proved his mastery of a variable track in drying conditions. He literally scythed his way through the field, passing one car after another, to take one of the most memorable victories in the history of the F3 Euroseries.

An elated Mortara said at the finish: “To say that I am surprised and happy is a big understatement. It was just one of those dream weekends where the car was absolutely perfect. First and foremost I would like to thank the Signature team and Volkswagen for all their incredibly hard work: it’s because of them that I am here. I love Pau, and I had a fantastic feeling with the car all weekend. The second race was difficult as the track conditions were changing lap by lap, but I had a lot of fun practising my overtaking. We’ve ended up with a good championship lead now, and of course my plan is to try and maintain it in the next race. We’ve still got 14 races to go, so nobody is taking anything for granted.”

Rounds seven and eight of the Formula 3 Euroseries take place at the Norisring in Germany from June 27-29.