F1Weekly podcast # 527

Photo: f3esmedia

 F1weekly podcast number 527

Motorsports Mondial with Nasir Hameed

Tests for the best F3 Euro Series drivers

Since its creation back in 2003, the Formula 3 Euro Series has established as the ideal stepping stone for young racing drivers – and this tradition should be continued, this year. The champion and the vice-champion of the 2011 Euro Series Championship will be rewarded with a Formula Renault 3.5 test. In addition, the two best drivers powered by a Mercedes engine will be offered the opportunity to test an AMG Mercedes C-Class DTM, at the end of the season. While the two best Volkswagen drivers will be invited to test the Audi A4 DTM.

Quite a number of young racing drivers succeeded in using the Formula 3 Euro Series drivers as stepping stone to a successful career in the international motor-racing world, with Formula 1 World Champions Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel who learned their trade in the Euro Series representing prime examples of what a successful Euro Series driver can achieve. The Briton won the 2006 title in superior style, with a clear lead over the runner-up, Adrian Sutil. And in the following season, Sebastian Vettel finished runner-up behind Scotland’s Paul Di Resta. Di Resta, however, opted for another career path. He joined DTM and won the title in the touring-car series to be offered a GP-driver deal afterwards. Edoardo Mortara, the 2010 Euro Series Champion, also switched to DTM. The Italian convinced in the tests he was granted as reward for his title and since then, he has been demonstrating his skills in the cockpit of an Audi touring car. This weekend at Oschersleben, the rookie celebrated his second DTM podium. Currently, six former Euro Series drivers are competing in DTM and nine of the current Formula 1 regulars can look back on a Formula 3 Euro Series career.

It goes without saying that this year’s Euro Series drivers would love to follow the footsteps of drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Paul Di Resta and Edoardo Mortara. In addition to the DTM tests, the two best placed drivers in the championship will be invited to a day of testing in the cockpits of Formula Renault 3.5 single-seaters. On 28th November, two of these 480bhp vehicles will wait for the champion and the runner-up in Spain, at the circuit of Aragon. Currently, Robert Wickens is demonstrating that Euro Series drivers are well prepared for delivering in a Formula Renault 3.5 vehicle, too. With just one more race weekend to go, the Canadian holds the lead in the Formula Renault 3.5 Drivers’ Championship, thus demonstrating in this series that the Euro Series represents the perfect preparation for the higher motor-racing categories.

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