Romain Grosjean: portrait of the new champion
Romain Grosjean (ASM Formule 3) has done it: he is the new
champion of the Formula 3 Euro Series. The Frenchman, who
is living in the Swiss city of Geneva, is the successor of
DTM driver Paul di Resta (champion 2006) or Formula 1 star
Lewis Hamilton (2005). For his team ASM Formule 3, it was
already the fourth title in the world’s toughest junior
race series. In previous years, they won the championship
with Jamie Green, Hamilton and di Resta.
Grosjean is the first French champion in history of the Formula
3 Euro Series. The 21-year old racing driver started competing
in single-seaters in 2003 and claimed the title in the Swiss
Formula Renault 1600 series in his maiden season. After stepping
up into Formula Renault 2000, he won the French title two
years later. As a reward, he was inducted into the junior
programme of the Renault Formula 1 team and was allowed to
race in the Formula 3 Euro Series. Once again, it took him
two years to claim the title.
His next career step will most likely be the GP2 series.
Moreover, winning the title in the world’s toughest
junior race series might open the necessary doors for a test
driver’s contract with the Renault Formula 1 team. This
would make Grosjean the 23rd junior driver from the ranks
of the Formula 3 Euro Series to step up directly into Formula
1 or the DTM.
In 2005, Grosjean graduated from grammar school and is also
completing an apprenticeship at a bank this year. “When
my racing career would come to an end at a certain point,
I would like to study aerodynamics. I want to remain involved
in motorsport.” Even though he is more technology-minded,
languages are interesting for him as well. He speaks French,
English and a little German and would like to learn Italian
in the future as well.
His dream is becoming Formula 1 world champion one day. “But
eventually, being happy in life is important.” In the
paddock, he can nearly always be seen with a smile on his
face. “There are so many people that have a job they
don’t enjoy. I am fortunate enough to be doing something
that I really like.”
When things aren’t going the way he wants, there is
always his father he can turn to. “He is attending all
the races, but at the track, he is staying away from me. Usually,
we don’t talk a lot about motorsport then. Only when
I am having problems and need someone to talk to, then he
is there for me. He has been working as a judge for the FIA
for three years and really knows his way in motorsport.”
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