Volkswagen to make its Formula 3 Euro Series debut
Track length: 3.629 kilometres
Lap record: 1:22.744 min / Lewis Hamilton, 2005
Distance: 31 laps
Winners 2006: Sebastian Vettel / Sebastian
Vettel
This weekend, the Nürburgring’s short 3.629-kilometre
layout will be the venue of a motor-racing premiere: the newly
designed Volkswagen Formula 3 engine is going to contest its
maiden race. Three VW-engine powered Dallaras will be on the
grid of the 13th and 14th rounds of the 2007 Formula 3 Euro
Series season. Romain Grosjean (ASM Formule 3) travels to
the Eifel circuit as championship leader, with runner-up Sébastien
Buemi (Mücke Motorsport) following nine points behind.
Last year, the Nürburgring suited the 18-year old Swiss
clearly better than his French rival residing in Geneva. Buemi
succeeded in securing a fourth place while Grosjean couldn’t
do better than finishing tenth, in the 2006 Nürburgring
rounds. At the same time, Kamui Kobayashi (ASM Formule 3)
was the only of the current Formula 3 Euro Series drivers
who made it to the Nürburgring podium, in 2006. The 20-year
old Japanese finished third. With twelve rounds of the 2007
season contested, Kobayashi also holds third position in the
2007 Formula 3 Euro Series Championship.
In addition to the battle for the title in the world’s
most competitive young gun series, the premiere of the new
Volkswagen engine also will attract major attention. Marco
Holzer (AM-Holzer Rennsport), Jonathan Summerton and Maximilian
Götz (both RC Motorsport) will race the three single-seaters
powered by the Wolfsburger’s new power unit.
>From 1979 to 1991, seven Volkswagen drivers succeeded
in securing the title in the International German Formula
3 Championship, thus laying the foundation stones for their
successful motor-racing careers. Apart from John Nielsen (1982),
Volker Weidler (1985), Kris Nissen (1986), Bernd Schneider
(1987) and Joachim Winkelhock (1988), Michael Schumacher (1990)
and Tom Kristensen (1991) also secured their titles with Volkswagen
power.
Nico Hülkenberg (ASM Formule 3): “Finally we’re
back racing. The four-week break following the Masters was
nearly too long. Apart from Zandvoort, the Nürburgring
represents my home circuit. I like the track as it was bedded
in the landscape. The layout is truly diversified. It features
two long straights and challenging sections such as the Mercedes-Arena.
I want to confirm my upward trend, there, and deliver another
two good race performances. Currently, I don’t think
about the Formula 3 Euro Series title as the current leader,
Romain Grosjean, holds a massive 41-point lead over me. Still,
there still are many races to go and you just don’t
know what will happen, prior to the season finale.”
The Formula 3 Euro Series is covered live or re-live in 17
countries. Furthermore, Formula 3 Euro Series race résumés
are broadcasted in numerous countries.
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