Motorsports Mondial

 

Formula 3 Euro Series begins new season with tests

The off-season finally is over: the Formula 3 Euro Series teams and drivers are preparing extensively for the coming season. Today, the official tests have begun at Valencia and in five days time, the testing work will be continued at Barcelona. As usual, the tests in Spain are contested by a an impressive field of highly competitive drivers.

First of all there is Marco Wittmann (Signature): last year’s vice champion will contest the 2011 season with the No 1 on his car. In 2010, he was defeated by just one driver: his Signature team-mate Edoardo Mortara. For 2010 champion Mortara, winning the Euro Series title paid off: he is going to make his DTM debut as Audi works driver, this year.

Like Wittmann, Laurens Vanthoor (Signature) also abides by the Formula 3 Euro Series and his team. In addition to the two aforementioned drivers, the Signature driver line-up also comprises Daniel Abt and Carlos Muñoz. While the two Spaniards Daniel Juncadella und Roberto Merhi represent the Prema Powerteam colours and will be supported by a third driver, from the days of testing at Barcelona. Peter Mücke, the Mücke Motorsport Team Principal, has signed two Euro Series newcomers for 2011: Nigel Melker and Felix Rosenqvist. Team Motopark Academy relies on the services of three drivers from three different continents, in its second year in the planet’s most competitive young-gun series: Sweden’s Jimmy Eriksson, Kimiya Sato from Japan and Canadian Gianmarco Raimondo will race for the Oschersleben based squad. New on the Euro Series grid is the Star Racing Team that has signed Kuba Giermaziak, for its debut season.

Just two of the young talents entered to date are Formula 3 rookies – the number of experienced drivers is clearly higher. On the other hand, not all the race seats have been assigned, with several teams and drivers still being in negotiations. Furthermore, several guest drivers are expected to contest the second race weekend of the season, at Hockenheim, that also will represent the season kick-off of the new FIA Formula 3 Trophy.

As every year, the young hopeful talents are keen on following the footsteps of former Euro Series drivers who have made it to the very top in international motor racing, afterwards: Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel (runner-up in the 2006 Euro Series) or former Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton (2005 Euro Series Champion) are just two of them – and reigning DTM Champion Paul Di Resta also learned his trade in the Formula 3 Euro Series. Back in 2006, the Scot defeated Sebastian Vettel to clinch the Euro Series title.