The Formula 3 History
This year, the Formula 3 Euro Series enters its sixth season. The foundation for the planet’s most competitive young-gun series was laid on 22nd January, 2003, when the Deutsche Motor Sport Bund (DMSB) and the French Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) fulfilled the final requirements for the most significant joint-venture in international single-seater racing: the new Formula 3 Euro Series.
The international motor sport community was not alone as it watched this venture with great interest. Numerous politicians followed the birth of the new racing series as well. Otto Schilly, at the time Germany’s Secretary of State and Federal Minister of Sports, praised the series as “An example for sporting events going beyond national borders.” Motor sport, he continued, always had been surrounded by an international flair. “Its followers have always been united, beyond borders and barriers”, Schilly commented, whilst also emphasizing the importance of the new series for promoting young talents: “The merger of the two championships will represent another boost for the development of young up-and-coming drivers.”
French Minister of Sports, Jean-François Lamour, also applauded the commitment of the DMSB and the FFSA, and predicted that the Formula 3 Euro Series would provide “First class motor sport and will be a championship in which young talented drivers have the chance of honing their skills.”
On 26th April, 2003, the Formula 3 Euro Series kicked off its inaugural season at the Hockenheimring. Australian driver Ryan Briscoe secured the maiden Formula 3 Euro Series Championship title, with Austrian Christian Klien finishing runner-up. Both made it to Formula 1. Toyota signed Ryan Briscoe as a test driver, while Jaguar signed Klien as GP regular to contest the 2004 F1 season as the teammate of Mark Webber.
In the second Formula 3 Euro Series season the title was clinched by a Briton: Jamie Green who subsequently advanced to DTM. Following his championship title in Formula 3, Green was signed by Mercedes-Benz as a works-driver for Europe’s number one touring car series. Similarly, Nico Rosberg, son of former F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg, joined the BMW Williams F1 team as test driver following the 2004 season. Rosberg secured the maiden GP2 Series title in 2005, and since 2006 he has been a GP driver for the Williams F1 team.
The 2005 title was also secured by a Briton: Having won 15 of the 20 races, Lewis Hamilton clinched the Formula 3 Euro Series title in superior style. In the following season he prevailed in the GP2 Series, and since 2007 he has been racing in the Formula 1 World Championship for Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. The runner-up, Alexandre Prémat, celebrated successes in the GP2 Series and the A1 GP Series, and was signed by Audi for DTM. The 2006 Formula 3 Euro Series title was won by Scotland’s Paul di Resta. He was subsequently signed by Mercedes-Benz for the 2007 DTM season. Following his successful debut season, this year he is going to race the latest spec of the AMG Mercedes C-Class. The 2006 runner-up, Sebastian Vettel from Heppenheim, Germany, now races in Formula 1 for the Scuderia Toro Rosso.
In 2007, Romain Grosjean residing in Geneva, Switzerland, finished the season as new Formula 3 Euro Series Champion. He prevailed in six races but he had to battle it out with Switzerland’s Sébastien Buemi and German Nico Hülkenberg. The latter had experienced difficulties in the beginning of the season, but in the second half of the year he delivered in great style and won four races. While Grosjean and Buemi advanced to the GP2 Series and have been signed as Formula 1 test drivers by Renault and Red Bull respectively, Hülkenberg opted for contesting another Formula 3 Euro Series season. However, he also has made it to Formula 1. In 2008, he will be the test driver of the Williams F1 team.
