Showdown in the finale – Grosjean and Buemi battle
for the title
Track length: 4.574 kilometres
Lap record: 1:33.892 min / Jamie Green 2004
Distance: 25 laps
Winners 2006: Esteban Guerrieri / Jonathan Summerton
Romain Grosjean (ASM Formule 3) vs. Sébastien Buemi
(Mücke Motorsport), that’s the name of the game
when it comes to the battle for the 2007 Formula 3 Euro Series
Championship title. This weekend’s season finale, held
at the 4.574-kilometre Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg,
will be the decisive event. Frenchman Grosjean travels to
the circuit with a seven-point lead over his Swiss rival.
Both young guns are keen on becoming the successor of new
Formula One star Lewis Hamilton (the 2005 champion) as well
as the two DTM aces Paul di Resta (2006) and Jamie Green (2004).
Both title contenders succeeded in winning a race in the
season kick-off, held at the same circuit in mid-April. Buemi
prevailed on Saturday and Grosjean won the Sunday round, with
Mücke driver Buemi also securing pole position. During
the course of the 18 races contested to date, Groesjean clinched
six race wins while Buemi won two races. At the same time,
the 21-year old Frenchman secured three pole positions, with
18-year old Buemi setting two fastest qualifying laps.
The battle for the rookie title also is a thrilling one.
Here, Franck Mailleux (Manor Motorsport) and Edoardo Mortara
(Signature-Plus) are separated by just two points –
with Jean-Karl Vernay (Signature-Plus) also having a theoretical
chance of finishing as best rookie of the season.
And there will be a new face on the grid: Carlo van
Dam (RC Motorsport) will make his Formula 3 Euro
Series debut appearance. The 22-year old Dutchman won the
2007 title in his maiden ATS Formula 3 Cup season. He replaces
US American Jonathan Summerton at the wheel of a Volkswagen
powered RC-Dallara.
Romain Grosjean (ASM Formule 3): “Hockenheim
is the venue of my maiden Formula 3 Euro Series win, secured
at the beginning of this season. Hence, I’m having fond
memories of the circuit and travel to Hockenheim in a confident
mood. Furthermore, the last test contested there also went
really well, for me. I know that I’ll have a competitive
car, in Hockenheim. I’m going to travel to the season
finale with a seven-point lead over Sébastien Buemi.
It’s my goal to secure the title as early as on Saturday.
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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