Incidents cost Prema precious points.

Prema Powerteam's tough Formula Three Euro Series season continued in the latest round of the championship at the Nurburgring, the team once again coming away with no points to show for.

Heralding the Euro Series debut of Paolo Nocera, who replaces Joao Urbano in the squad, the team, together with Alejandro Nunez and Ronayne O'Mahony, struggled in both testing and qualifying, claiming positions 14th, 12th and 18th on the grid respectively.

Nonetheless, the race appeared to show a turning point, with both Nunez and Nocera moving onto the fringes of the point-scoring top ten. However, separate collisions would prove their undoing, with Nunez having to change his nosecone and falling out of contention, while Nocera was forced to retire with suspension problems. O'Mahony brought his car home in 14th place.

With their starting positions for the second race compromised, chances of points looked slim, only for a chance to present itself in the shape of a shower mid-way through the race, eliminating many in front of them. Indeed, O'Mahony was up to ninth, Nunez 12th and 15th after the first few laps, but only Nocera chose to come into the pit lane to change his tyres.

It proved to be a shrewd decision as Nunez and O'Mahoney struggled on their slick tyres, the duo spinning out of contention as they failed to bite into the slippery tarmac. With minimal experience though, Nocera was not able to make the most of his wet weather tyres, eventually crossing the line a respectable 12th place, ending a debut weekend that nonetheless encouraged team principal Angelo Rosin.

"The debut of Paolo Nocera in this difficult category was very positive. The young Italian committed a few errors due to his inexperience and didn't manage to obtain what he has the potential for. Unfortunate was Alejandro Nunez who compromised a result in race 1.

"Finally Ronayne O'Mahony's performance was positive and race after race he continues to improve.Now we have to prepare at best for the next meeting scheduled for the first weekend of September on the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort."