Hall of Fame

It is regarded as the most competitive young-gun series on the planet: the Formula 3 Euro Series. Current Formula 1 aces Lewis Hamilton, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Kazuki Nakajima, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil, as well as DTM drivers Paul di Resta, Jamie Green, Bruno Spengler, Alexandre Prémat and Markus Winkelhock, all learned their trade and honed their skills in the extremely competitive environment represented by the Formula 3 Euro Series. They all succeeded in shining in this professional series and were well prepared for the challenges of the higher motor-racing categories upon their departure. Since its creation in 2003, twenty-two Formula 3 Euro Series drivers made it to Formula 1 as test drivers or GP regulars, with another seven former Formula 3 Euro Series young guns advancing to DTM. Since its inception, the Formula 3 Euro Series has been an integral part of the event package of DTM, the most popular international touring car series.

The Formula 3 Euro Series was created in 2003 by the merger of the French and German Formula 3 Championships. Under the aegis of ‘Deutscher Motor Sport Bund’, DMSB, and ‘Fédération Française du Sport Automobile’, FFSA, the Formula 3 Euro Series was quickly established as the leading single-seater category for young hopeful racing drivers. For upand- coming motor racing talents, there is simply no substitute for racing in the world’s most competitive young-gun series. Many drivers who turned out to be successful in the singleseater series’ short history have successfully advanced to Formula 1. The first Formula 3 Euro Series Champion, Australia’s Ryan Briscoe, was immediately signed as test driver by the Toyota F1 team. The 2003 runner-up, Christian Klien, was signed as a GP regular by Jaguar Racing in the following year. This year, he will be test driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. While Timo Glock, fifth in the 2003 Formula 3 Euro Series Championship, also has made it to the pinnacle of motor racing. He contests the 2008 Formula 1 season for Toyota Racing.

Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel – from the Euro Series to Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel are prime examples of the success of the young-gun series. Hamilton secured the 2005 Formula 3 Euro Series title and was subsequently signed as a McLaren Mercedes test driver. In 2006, the Briton prevailed in the GP2 series and was promoted to the GP driver position for the 2007 season by Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. With four GP Prix wins and second position in the championship, the first coloured driver in Formula 1’s history delivered a truly stunning debut season at the pinnacle of motor racing.

Nico Rosberg contested the 2004 Euro Series season, and then tested for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. In the following year he secured the inaugural GP2 Series title. In 2006, Rosberg, who was born in Wiesbaden (Germany), contested the season as GP regular for the Williams team and succeeded in securing points in his maiden appearance on the F1 grid.

The young German talent Sebastian Vettel, who attracted a great deal of attention for his performance as a BMW Sauber F1 Team test driver in 2006, combined his testing duties with his Formula 3 Euro Series involvement. In 2007, Vettel was signed by Scuderia Toro Rosso as GP regular.

Robert Kubica, (BMW Sauber), Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Kazuki Nakajima also used their Formula 3 Euro Series experiences to move up to F1. Nico Hülkenberg – whose achievements in the Formula 3 Euro Series attracted the attention of Team Principal Frank Williams as early as last year, opts for a two-fold strategy in 2008: The German combines racing in the Formula 3 Euro Series with his duties as test driver for the Williams F1 squad.

Green, Spengler, di Resta, Prémat: from the Euro Series to DTM

Still, advancing to Formula 1 isn’t the only goal for a Formula 3 Euro Series driver. The series also represents a great opportunity for advancing to the pinnacle of touring car racing. For example, Mercedes-Benz signed Jamie Green, the 2004 Euro Series Champion, as a DTM works driver following his title triumph. In his debut DTM season he secured two podium finishes and to date, he has been the pole-sitter in six DTM events. In the 2007 DTM season, he celebrated two consecutive wins at Barcelona, Spain and in the season final held at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg.

Scotland’s Paul di Resta, the 2006 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion, made a brillant DTM debut for Mercedes-Benz last year. He caused a stir by securing good results right from the start of the season and was briefly the championship leader. This year, he will contest DTM as the teammate of Jamie Green with the latest spec version of the AMG Mercedes C-Class entered by Team HWA. Bruno Spengler, who finished runner-up in the past two DTM seasons, also has Formula 3 Euro Series experience under his belt. The Franco-Canadian contested the 2003 and 2004 seasons of the series and is now teammate of di Resta and Green.

France’s Alexandre Prémat, who was signed by Audi last year and succeeded in making it to the podium in his debut season, raced in the Formula 3 Euro Series from 2003 to 2004. In his second season, he finished runner-up and won two prestigious international invitationraces at Macao and Zandvoort.