After clinching podium places on the two preceding race weekends at Oschersleben and the Nürburgring the Volkswagen drivers are set to show their strength in the Formula 3 Euro Series at Brands Hatch (04–06 September) as well. On the tradition-steeped circuit southeast of London the ultra-competitive junior series will stage its 13th and 14th rounds of the season.
With a length of 1.929 kilometres the Indy Circuit at Brands Hatch is the shortest race track on the calendar of the Formula 3 Euro Series. “Due to the short straights and many corners the cars run with the highest amount of downforce during the season on this track,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “The first turn – Paddock Hill Bend – is a real courage tester. The cars run at about 200 kph there. Those who fail to take enough momentum with them from here will lose a lot of time on the uphill stretch towards the next turn, Druids Bend. The meandering turns before the start and finish are another important section. A driver making a mistake as early as in the first one of these corners will not be able to optimally drive through. At lap times of just over 42 seconds, every driving mistake in the extremely tight field immediately results in a lower place.”
The Finn Mika Mäki from Team Signature, who most recently clinched podium places at both Oschersleben and the Nürburgring, adds: “At Brands Hatch, qualifying is even more important than usual because overtaking is extremely difficult. A driver securing a grid position on the front rows of the grid has good prospects of scoring a good race result.” His French team-mate Jean Karl Vernay, who is currently the driver “powered by Volkswagen” with the best points score after twelve of 20 races, is optimistic: “I think we’ve got a promising package for the weekend. In 2008, I finished the second race as the runner-up. After the weekend at the Nürburgring didn’t go so well for me I want to attack again. The third of the standings, Valtteri Bottas, is ranking just two points ahead of me.” The third Signature driver is the Brazilian Tiago Geronimi.
Home round for Carlin Motorsport and Nick Tandy
The British round of the Formula 3 Euro Series marks a special weekend for Volkswagen’s partner team Carlin Motorsport with its drivers Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) and Jake Rosenzweig (USA) as well as for local hero Nick Tandy, who competes for Team Kolles & Heinz Union together with Johan Jokinen (Denmark). “Brands Hatch is our home round,” says team boss Trevor Carlin. “We’ve often competed there in various series and know what counts. We worked a lot on the cars lately and want to surpass the results we’ve achieved in the season so far.” Nick Tandy, as well, is highly motivated for the races in front of a home audience. “I know the circuit very well and am hoping to profit from this. I’ve clinched several victories there in the smaller junior classes.”
Formula 3 Euro Series: points score, drivers standings after twelve of 20 races
1 Jules Bianchi (France), 74 points 2 Christian Vietoris (Gönnersdorf), 49 3 Valtteri Bottas (Finland), 37 4 Jean Karl Vernay (France), 35 5 Roberto Merhi (Spain), 28 6 Sam Bird (Great Britain), 28 7 Alexander Sims (Great Britain), 24 8 Mika Mäki (Finland), 22 9 Stefano Coletti (Monaco), 19 10 Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico), 16 11 Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) and Henkie Waldschmidt (the Netherlands), 8 each 13 Jake Rosenzweig (USA), 6 14 Atte Mustonen (Finland), 4 15 Tiago Geronimi (Brazil), 2.
Timetable, Brands Hatch (local time)
Friday, 04 September 2009 11.45 – 12.45 Formula 3 Euro Series, Free practice (60 min) 17.00 – 17.55 Formula 3 Euro Series, Qualifying (2 x 25 min) Saturday, 05 September 2009 11.45 – 12.15 Formula 3 Euro Series, race 1 (41 laps = 79.089 km) Sunday, 06 September 2009 10.55 – 11.35 Formula 3 Euro Series, race 2 (56 laps = 108.024 km)
TV schedule, Brands Hatch (CEST)
Saturday, 05 September 2009 14.30 – 15.00 ARD, F3ES race 1 (summary) 18.20 – 18.30 n-tv, F3ES race 1 (short report) 19.00 – 20.00 DSF, F3ES race 1 (summary)
Sunday, 06 September 2009
15.15 – 15.20 ARD, F3ES race 2 (short report) 11.55 – 12.45 n-tv, F3ES race 2 (live report) 19.30 – 20.00 DSF, F3ES race 2 (summary)
Tuesday, 08 September 2009
16.05 – 16.30 n-tv, F3ES (short reports)
Looking for more? Have a look below.
- Formula 3 Euro: Volkswagen driver Jake Rosenzweig celebrates podium place at Zandvoort
- Polo Cup and Formula 3 talent ready for season opener at Hockenheim
- Volkswagen in Formula 3 Euro Series with three teams
- Formula 3 Euro Series: Three Volkswagen drivers on the podium
- New Volkswagen Formula 3 engine ready for first race
