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Hermann Tomczyk, one of the founders of the Formula 3 Euro Series, looks back on the championship’s creation and tries to explain the teams’ extraordinary interest in the series.

“When we created a European Formula 3 series for the 2003 season we had to cope with a lot of scepticism. After all, we had merged two healthy national series - the German and the French Championships - into an international series. But we had the vision of Europe belonging together as early as those days,” the German recalls the first hours of the Formula 3 Euro Series

In the following years, the Formula 3 Euro Series quickly established as the planet’s most competitive young-gun series. In 2009 it will enter its seventh season and for the first time, team entries had to be rejected. “We had 49 entries but the races may be contested by a maximum of 32 cars, reveals Tomczyk. “Consequently, we unfortunately had to reject several entries. At the shortest circuits on our calendar, the number of cars allowed to contest races is limited to 32. And we didn’t want to execute a pre-selection prior to the respective race by sending those drivers home that didn’t succeed in making it to the top 32. Teams and drivers just invest too much money to then have to cope with such a situation. You mustn’t forget that bad luck - such as technical problems in the qualifying session - also can result in a position at the very end of the field.”

“Theoretically, we also could have reduced the number of cars per team to two. But that also was out of the question. After all, we didn’t want to affront the teams that contributed to establishing the series and have entered more than two cars for many years.”

According to the former DMSB President, the planning reliability represents a key factor for the Formula 3 Euro Series boom in theses economically difficult days. “Currently, there are several new series in motor racing but these series still have to establish. The Formula 3 Euro Series, however, represents a constant, it is well organised and features a very high level. I just don’t have another explanation for the current rush. Now it is vital to maintain the high level when it comes to teams and drivers, then we won’t have to worry about the future of the Formula 3 Euro Series.”

In one area, however, Tomczyk sees the need for improvements. “We have to reduce the costs,” he says. For this reason he has met with colleagues representing the British and Japanese Championships to discuss propositions dealing with this issue. “This is a goal we only can realise in cooperation with the other most important Formula 3 series. The first goal is the restriction of developments in the gearbox and driveshaft areas. I am convinced that we can find solutions that have got what it takes to please everybody - and it would be great if we would succeed in doing so in time for the coming season.”

Steven Guerrero improves, but remains in coma

After two weeks in intensive care, Colombian Formula 3 driver Steven Guerrero's condition has stabilized. The young driver no longer needs to be connected to life support equipment, and has now been moved out of the intensive care unit at Clinica del Country, a leading Colombian hospital.

"He is a fighter," said his father, Jesus Guerrero.

However, Steven still remains in coma although his condition is improving slowly.

"Each day that passes we see a more vigorous response," Dr. Burcos de la Espriella was quoted by the La FM station in Bogota. "Every day your brain is resuming more control of the body, and this is an indicator of a favorable response."

Guerrero was injured on November 14 near the town of Guamo while riding his motorcycle to a karting event where he was to be the guest of honor.

Positive reaction to major schedule changes for 2009 Gold Star series

The 2009 Australian Drivers Championship schedule has already been well received by competitors as a strong foundation to continue growth the series has shown in the past two seasons, despite uncertain financial times worldwide.

The eight-round calendar features racing in four states however a majority of the rounds are scheduled for either New South Wales or Victoria – the two states making up six of the eight events.

The Clipsal 500 in Adelaide and the 3rd annual Tasmanian Formula 3 SuperPrix, at Symmons Plains, are the other two rounds.

With a vast majority of professional Formula 3 teams and independent owner-driver or family-run operations running from the Eastern Seaboard, the geographically compacted 2009 schedule looks likely to help reduce transport costs – with consistently strong grids the aim throughout the season.

The shift to a predominantly eastern-seaboard based schedule means Mallala Raceway will not host a Formula 3 round for the first time in the series ten-year history; Winton, Wakefield Park and Sandown returning to the schedule to give New South Wales and Victoria three rounds each.

“We needed to make a decision based on the competitor base of Formula 3 and ensuring that we maintained a strong, competitive field at all rounds next season, in a time when people are tightening their grip on their wallets,” Formula 3 category manager Rowan Harman said.

“Formula 3 Australia worked with the Shannons Nationals to create a schedule that was more evenly spaced and ended later in the season.

“With Clipsal opening the year the decision was taken – and it wasn’t an easy one – to replace Mallala with a round in either Victoria or New South Wales to try to lower the costs for a good majority of our competitors. Sadly, the bottom line is that it costs our teams several thousands of dollars to come to Adelaide from Sydney, Queensland or even Melbourne.

"As much as we’d love to be at Mallala this way in the end we feel what we have is still a win-win; South Australia still gets a round of the Gold Star and our teams save thousands of dollars each in travel expenses.

“I know The Clipsal 500 will be a fantastic start to the Australian Drivers Championship and continue the great traditions of top-level ‘wings and slicks’ cars racing in South Australia. Mallala has been a key part to our championship for many years and we will look at ways of supporting the event in ways other than competing there.”

Two major teams – four time champions Team BRM and the Ian Richards-led R-Tek Motorsport – are Adelaide based and as a result will now only have the Clipsal 500 as their ‘home’ event – but both have supported the change to the schedule designed to lower costs across the board.

“It is disappointing that we won’t be at Mallala in 2009 given we have raced there in each of Formula 3 Australia’s ten years – but for the immediate future of Formula 3 in Australia I think it is a good decision,” Adelaide-based Team BRM owner Bronte Rundle said today.

“We love having a round at Mallala given it is our home circuit and the place where we do a lot of testing, but with a majority of the Formula 3 cars in the country based in Sydney or Melbourne – and a number in Queensland as well – it made sense to focus a good number of our events over there to help keep our numbers up.

“Everyone is feeling the pinch, financially, at the moment so anything the series can do to maintain the solid growth in numbers throughout the championship is worthwhile.

“It has been interesting to note the response from South Australian Media and fans, however, who have contacted us to ask why there isn’t going to be a round at Mallala,” Rundle added.

“It is great to have their support and that kind of interest shows the support that Open-wheel racing continues to have in Adelaide. As a team we hope that they all get out to the Clipsal 500 in March to see the opening round of the 2009 championship, and hopefully we can also be back at Mallala soon.”

The Shannons National Motor Racing Championships will continue to race at Mallala, on the weekend of June 6 – 7, with categories including the rapidly growing and high-profile Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, The Clem Smith Cup for Sports Sedans and a round of the fledgling V8 Touring Car series.

Formula 3 Australia is currently investigating ways of supporting the event in an off-track role.

2009 Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Australian Drivers Championship and the Gold Star

1. Clipsal 500 Adelaide (Adelaide, SA) Mach 19 – 22
2. Wakefield Park Raceway (Goulburn, NSW) April 24 – 26
3. Phillip Island GP Circuit (Phillip Island, VIC) May 15 – 17
4. Winton Motor Raceway (Benella, VIC) June 26 – 28
5. Eastern Creek Raceway (Sydney, NSW) July 17 – 19
6. Oran Park Raceway (Sydney, NSW) August 28 – 30
7. Australian Formula 3 SuperPrix at Symmons Plains (Launceston, TAS) October 16 – 18
8. Sandown Raceway (Melbourne, VIC) November 28 – 29

* Rounds 2 - 8 : Shannons Nationals events

Nico Hülkenberg ADAC Junior Motor Racer of the Year

Big honour for Nico Hülkenberg (ART Grand Prix): the reigning Formula 3 Euro Series Champion was elected ADAC Junior motor racer of the year. In this weekend’s ADAC SportGala, held in Munich, he was decorated for his successes and achievements in the 2008 season.

“Having been chosen by ADAC as best Junior Motor Racer of the year represents a big honour for me,” said the German who was - just as DTM Champion Timo Scheider - one of the event’s two big stars. The Junior Trophy was presented to Formula 1 test driver Hülkenberg by ADAC Sports President Hermann Tomczyk. While ADAC Motor Racer of the year Timo Scheider received his trophy - the Big Christopherus made from Nymphenburg Porcelain - from ADAC President Peter Meyer.

During his address of welcome, the Sports President looked back on the successful motor-racing year. With more than 3,000 events, ADAC once again secured the pole position in German motor sport.

Numerous celebrities travelled to Munich for the ADAC SportGala held in the ‘Deutsches Museum’ - in an appropriate automobile-history ambience - and enjoyed an attractive entertainment programme. Among the guests also were the likes of ITR Chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht and Audi Motorsport Director Dr Wolfgang Ullrich as well as Martin Tomczyk and former DTM driver Christian Abt.

21-year old Hülkenberg can look back on a successful season and proved to be the fastest man on the 2008 Formula 3 Euro Series grid. Consequently, he succeeded in securing the title early. Following the penultimate race weekend of the season, at Le Mans, Hülkenberg’s lead in the championship was that big that none of his opponents had the chance of stealing his championship lead. And the German also demonstrated his impressive skills in the qualifying sessions: he secured six of ten pole positions and won eight of the 2008 season’s 20 races.

In the end, he secured the title in the planet’s most competitive young-gun series with a clear 35.5-point lead over second-placed Edoardo Mortara (Signature-Plus), thus being the first German to have won the title in the six years of Formula 3 Euro Series history. An important success as numerous of his predecessors advanced to higher motor-racing categories. Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton (2005 champion) or DTM front-runners Paul di Resta (2006) and Jamie Green (2004) also won the title in the hard-fought young-gun series. And Hülkenberg already has made the first step on the way to establishing at the pinnacle of motor racing. At the beginning of 2008 he was signed as test driver by the Williams F1 team, thus having the opportunity to prepare for the things to come. In 2009 he is going to race in the GP2 series.

Carlos Huertas Signs for Double R in 2009

Carlos Huertas will race with the Räikkönen Robertson Racing team for the 2009 British F3 International Series. 17 year-old Huertas has completed the last two seasons with the British squad in Formula BMW and will stay with the 2006 British F3 champions as he makes the move up to Formula 3.

The young Columbian completed his first season with the Double R team in 2007, racing in the Formula BMW UK championship. When Formula BMW UK was replaced with a European championship in 2008, Double R were one of only three British teams granted entry, and Huertas moved with the team to race on some of the world’s most prestigious tracks in the Formula BMW Europe championship. With little experience on circuits such as Barcelona and Spa-Francorchamps, the 2008 season was something of a learning curve for the Colombian. Nevertheless, Huertas made a late charge on the championship standings, with three top five finishes in the last three races, including a podium place at the final weekend of the season at Monza.

Speaking about his plans for 2009, Huertas said, “I’m very excited about next season and to be making the move up to Formula 3. I’m very happy in the Double R team and I’m pleased that I can make this next step up in my career with them. British F3 is a great championship that has produced many of today’s top drivers, so I’m looking forward to competing in the championship in 2009 with one of the best teams.”

Team Principal Anthony Hieatt added, “Carlos is a well liked member of the team, and we’re delighted that he’s chosen to stay on with us as he makes the step up to Formula 3. Carlos has already completed quite a bit of testing with us in the F3 car, and has adapted very well. Judging on the progress he’s made already, I think he will have a strong first year in F3 in 2009.”

Australian Drivers Championship schedule released for 2009

The Schedule for the 53rd running of the Australian Drivers Championship has today been confirmed by Formula 3 Australia – and it’s one of the most diverse yet.

The 2009 Australian Formula 3 Championship will race on eight tracks in four states and returns to three circuits that the series has not visited for some time - all the while maintaining its position at some traditional favourites.

It also features a mix of high-downforce, slow-speed circuits and some of the quickest tracks in the country, extending the capabilities of the Formula 3 cars to their very maximum limits in the quest for Australia’s top racing honour - the CAMS Gold Star.

Sandown Raceway, Winton and Wakefield Park all return to the championship after sustained absences; the Goulburn track returning to the schedule for the first time since 2006 whilst the pair of Victorian venues will get Formula 3 action for the first time each since 2004.

The Clipsal 500 Adelaide will open the series between March 19 – 22 with the following seven rounds spread evenly – with one round set to be held in each of the following eight months - except September.

Wakefield Park will form an Anzac day celebration between April 24 – 26, before the series returns to the hallowed Phillip Island GP circuit on the third weekend in May, a now traditional date for Australia’s top ‘wings and slicks’ series on Australia’s quickest track.

The series halfway point will be contested at Winton between June 26 – 28, Formula 3 returning to the tight and twisty rural circuit for the first time in five years.

Another now-traditional date – July’s Eastern Creek Raceway round – is scheduled for round five before a potentially final fling at Oran Park raceway, a drivers favourite, is set to be contested between August 29 – 30 as round six.

The third running of the Formula 3 SuperPrix (for the John Bowe Trophy) held at Symmons Plains raceway will be the penultimate round of the championship and will take place between October 17 – 18. The later date will hopefully ensure better weather for the richest race on the schedule that has quickly become a ‘must win’ event.

The season finale’ will be held at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne’s suburbs, the track, like Winton returning to the series after a five year absence.

The Australian Formula 3 Championship will again play a key role within the Shannons National Motor Racing Championships, the series hosting seven of the eight rounds scheduled.

2009 Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Australian Drivers Championship and the Gold Star

1. Clipsal 500 Adelaide (Adelaide, SA) Mach 19 – 22
2. Wakefield Park Raceway (Goulburn, NSW) April 24 – 26
3. Phillip Island GP Circuit (Phillip Island, VIC) May 15 – 17
4. Winton Motor Raceway (Benella, VIC) June 26 – 28
5. Eastern Creek Raceway (Sydney, NSW) July 17 – 19
6. Oran Park Raceway (Sydney, NSW) August 28 – 30
7. Australian Formula 3 SuperPrix at Symmons Plains (Launceston, TAS) October 16 – 18
8. Sandown Raceway (Melbourne, VIC) November 28 – 29

ATS Formula 3 Cup to showcase itself in Essen

Since its maiden edition back in 1968, the Essen Motor Show has taken centre stage in the motor-racing world at the end of every season. Created as international sports car and racing car exhibition, the fair that is annually held in late November, early December, represents the platform for exchange of experience and trend-setting discussions and conversations. In 2008, it features an innovation: the ’Motorsport Arena’ in hall 7. Here, the ATS Formula 3 Cup 2008 also will be represented, inter alia with an own stand.

Some 350,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s Essen Motor Show, held from 29th November to 07th December, 2008, at the ‘Messe Essen’, with the new ‘Motorsport-Arena’ having been created as special attraction for the motor-racing experts, enthusiasts and sponsors. Motor racing and live acts are supposed to become an additional highlight of the fair. For the first time in the history of the ‘Essen Motorshow’, an indoor circuit will be the venue of practice sessions, races, stunt shows, taxi rides and test runs.

An action stage equipped with a video wall is available for presentation ceremonies. Here, the successful drivers of the 2008 ATS Formula 3 Cup season will receive their awards and prizes. The Formula 3 presentation ceremony will begin on 06th December, at 16:00hrs. The ten best ATS Formula 3 Cup and ATS Formula 3 Trophy drivers will be presented with their awards and in addition, the ‘ZF-auto motor und sport-Juniorpokal’ and ‘AvD-Speedpokal’ winners also will be awarded their trophies.

It goes without saying that the ATS Formula 3 Cup will be represented in the new Motorsport-Arena’s pit-lane throughout the entire Essen Motor Show week. Interested parties, drivers and teams as well as representatives of the industry will find their contact of the fastest German single-seater series in garage 14. Information regarding the past season - including media data, TV-coverage times and attendance figures - will be available, there, and the same applies to information regarding the current status of plans for the 2009 season.

40 years ago, the maiden edition of the Essen Motor Show was attended by 57,000 car enthusiasts and today, more than 350,000 visitors are expected to travel to Essen for the event that has gained the reputation to be the most multi-faceted car fair of the world.

On 06th December, 2008, the annual meeting of the German Formula 3 Association also will be held within the scope of the Essen Motor Show.

Formula 3 Euro Series: 2009 seats in demand like never before

The Formula 3 Euro Series booms: The positions on the grid of the most successful international education series for future Formula 1 and DTM drivers are in demand like never before. A total of 49 potential competitors were interested in securing one of the 32 grid positions available in 2009. For the first time in the history of Formula 3 racing, there were that many concrete entries. Such a massive interest despite the economically difficult times the world has to cope with, today, underlines the significance of this championship that also features two premium manufactures as engine suppliers on its grid: Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.

In the end, the entries of all those teams that supported the championship in 2008 also were accepted for 2009. And the final four grid positions were assigned - strictly according to the date of entry receipt - to the team of the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben and the new Kolles & Heinz Union team. The list of the teams that are going to contest the 2009 season is headed by French squad ART Grand Prix - the team Nico Hülkenberg secured the 2008 title for, at the wheel of a Dallara F308 / Mercedes.

The interest of the teams that already have been involved in the series speaks for the success of the Formula 3 Euro Series concept - and the same applies for the rush of new top-class teams. Since its debut season, back in 2003, the series has established as the most successful and competitive international racing series for up-and-coming young drivers. Some two dozens of drivers succeeded in advancing to Formula 1, from the European Formula 3 series, with Lewis Hamilton representing the most prominent example. In 2005, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team’s new Formula 1 World Champion secured the Formula 3 Euro Series title. Meanwhile, German Grand Prix hopefuls Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Adrian Sutil and Timo Glock also learned their trade, there. And for numerous other drivers, such as Paul di Resta, Jamie Green, Bruno Spengler, Alexandre Prémat and Markus Winkelhock, the Formula 3 Euro Series represented the stepping stone to DTM or other top-class motor-racing.

Formula 3 Euro Series: enrolled teams for 2009
Team - Locality / Nation - Number of vehicles
ART Grand Prix/F - Villeneuve la Guyard/F - 4
Signature-Plus/F - Bourges/F - 3
Mücke Motorsport/D - Berlin/D - 3
Prema Powerteam/I - Grisignano di Zocco/I - 3
Manor Motorsport/GB - Sheffield/GB - 4
SG Formula/F - La Rochelle/F - 3
Jo Zeller Racing/CH - Oetwil am See/CH - 1
RC Motorsport/I - Lacchiarella/I - 3
Carlin Motorsport/GB - Hampshire/GB - 2
HBR Motorsport/A - Brixlegg/A - 2
Motopark Academy/D - Oschersleben/D - 2
Kolles & Heinz Union/D - Trier/D - 2

2008 Season Review: Battle Royal in 2008

The 2008 British F3 International Series can claim to be one of the hardest fought championships in the world, with the title race going down to the final race at Donington Park in September. After two seasons of runaway champions 2008 proved to be a nail biting season for everyone involved, with Jaime Alguersuari scoring three wins in the last three races to beat Oliver Turvey, Brendon Hartley and Sergio Perez to the crown. At 18 years old Alguersuari is also the youngest ever champion in the 44-year history of the world’s leading Formula 3 Championship.

2008 was also a season of firsts. Jaime Alguersuari is the first Spanish Driver to win the British F3 title and the first rookie since 2000 to become champion. Salman Al Khalifa became the first driver from Bahrain to win in British F3 and Michael Devaney scored the first win for a Mygale chassis in Formula 3. The Litespeed SLC chassis also scored its first British F3 podium finish with Jonathan Legris at the wheel in his debut race at Brands Hatch. Oliver Turvey became the first winner of the Mirror.co.uk British F3 Challenge Cup as the top British driver and he also became the first ever recipient of a Cambridge Blue for Motorsport.

There were wins for Dallara, Mugen-Honda and Mercedes, underlining British F3 as the last highly competitive, multi chassis, multi engine formula before Formula One. Jaime Alguersuari also set new lap records at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Donington Park, while Brendon Hartley now holds the record for Bucharest and Marcus Ericsson at Snetterton.

OULTON PARK – Rounds 1 and 2

The season kicked off with the traditional Easter weekend opener in Cheshire. A snow shower just before the first race of the weekend caused a few headaches for the 27 drivers during the 30-minute race. Oliver Turvey came through to take chequered flag after taking the lead off the line. Max Chilton underlined his pre season testing pace with his first ever British F3 podium after Carlin teammates Jaime Alguersuari and Brendon Hartley went off fighting for 2nd place. Atte Mustonen also lived up to his pre season title favourite status to finish 3rd from a lowly 10th place on the grid. It was double joy for Carlin as Andy Meyrick scored his first National Class win ahead of Jay Bridger and Hywel Lloyd.

After the disappointment of missing out on a podium in round 1, Jaime Alguersuari converted his second pole position of the weekend into a race win, finishing ahead of Swedish duo Marcus Ericsson and Sebastian Hohenthal and celebrating his 18th birthday in style. Brendon Hartley was the first driver past the chequered flag but was demoted to 4th after it was judged he overtook during a safety car period. Andy Meyrick made it two out two in the National Class, finishing ahead of Salman Al Khalifa and Niall Quinn.

CROFT – Rounds 3 and 4

Sergio Perez did a one man Mexican wave as he took the first win for T Sport in Round 3 of the 2008 British F3 International Series at Croft, making it three different winners in as many races. His victory also marked the first overall win in British F3 for a Mexican driver and the first for a Mugen Honda powered car since Oliver Jarvis at Thruxton in October 2006. Perez finished the wet race 4.2 seconds ahead of Sebastian Hohenthal, with Esteban Guerrieri securing the first British F3 podium finish for Ultimate and Mygale in 3rd place. Andy Meyrick took his third win from three starts in the National Class finishing ahead Jay Bridger and Steven Guerrero.

Brendon Hartley took the chequered flag in Round 4 from pole position to score his first British F3 win. The race had to be red flagged after a multicar accident and at the restart Hartley immediately took control with Sergio Perez finishing 0.8 seconds behind the Kiwi driver to put the Mexican at the top of the Championship table. Round 1 winner Oliver Turvey returned to the podium after overtaking Atte Mustonen four laps from home while Andy Meyrick notched up his 4th win in four races in the National Class, finishing well ahead of Salman Al Khalifa.

MONZA – Rounds 5 and 6

Rain in Italy caused a few problems in qualifying and Invitation class driver Matteo Chinosi stunned everyone by making the best of the conditions to head up the grid for round 6. However the racing was second to none all weekend with Sergio Perez winning arguably the best race of the year with a brilliant drive from 14th on the grid to take the chequered flag 4.2 seconds ahead of Brendon Hartley and Oliver Turvey. Hywel Lloyd became the first driver to break Andy Meyrick's strangle hold on the National Class, taking a win after his fellow Welshman spun out of the race.

An ecstatic Perez completed the double with another fighting victory from 14th on the grid to take his third win of the season and extend his championship lead. Esteban Guerrieri took his, and his Ultimate Motorsport teams, best British F3 finish in second with Atte Mustonen in third. All three chassis/ engine combinations (Dallara Mugen-Honda, Mygale Mercedes & Dallara Mercedes) were represented on the grid underlining the competitive nature of this year’s British F3 International Series. Jay Bridger scored his first victory in the National Class with Andy Meyrick suffering a weekend in Italy he would quickly forget.

ROCKINGHAM – Rounds 7 and 8

It was back to the UK for Rounds 7 and 8 at Rockingham with rain once again playing a major role in the proceedings. Atte Mustonen won his first race of the 2008 British F3 season with a dominant drive from the front row of the grid to the chequered flag in tricky driving conditions, 2.9 seconds ahead of Marcus Ericsson and 6 seconds ahead of Jaime Alguersuari. Andy Meyrick returned to winning ways with his 5th win from seven starts in the National Class ahead of Salman Al Khalifa and Stefan Wilson.

Round 8 saw another new winner for the 2008 season as Sebastian Hohenthal took his second victory of his British F3 career on the very slippery Rockingham track. The Swede took the lead at the start from pole sitter Jaime Alguersuari and led the Spanish driver home to the chequered flag. Max Chilton took his second podium of season in third 10-seconds ahead of Round 7 winner Atte Mustonen. Andy Meyrick notched up another win in the National Class, finishing 7th overall in his best performance to date.

SNETTERTON – Rounds 9 and 10

The trip to Norfolk saw the sun shine on race day for the first time in 2008 and British F3 history was made as Michael Devaney scored the first ever win in the category for himself, Mygale and Ultimate Motorsport. The Irishman led from the start holding off a very determined Jaime Alguersuari for the entire 28-lap race. It was a double podium for Red Bull as Brendon Hartley took his third podium of the season. Jay Bridger took a well deserved victory in the National Class well ahead of a resurgent Andy Meyrick and Columbian Steven Guerrero.

To prove the first race wasn’t a fluke, Devaney did the double and this time from the second row of the grid, overtaking two cars at the first corner. The Irishman inherited the lead when Brendon Hartley spun off at Riches but held off the challenge of Sebastian Hohenthal and Jaime Alguersuari to the chequered flag. Stefan Wilson took his first National Class win and the second for his Fluid Motorsport team, finishing ahead of teammate Jay Bridger and Hywel Lloyd.

THRUXTON – Rounds 11 and 12

Brendon Hartley took his second win of the 2008 British F3 International Series season with a mature drive that saw the New Zealander lose out at the start only to work his way back up to the front to control the race to the flag. Marcus Ericsson recorded his third podium finish of the year and took the fastest lap of the race, finishing ahead of top British driver Oliver Turvey. In the National Class the battle between Andy Meyrick and Jay Bridger went to the chequered flag with the two separated by less than a car length with Meyrick getting to the line first.

Brendon Hartley added a second win at Thruxton in Round 12 of the 2008 British F3 International Series , never losing the lead after starting from pole position. The New Zealander finished just ahead of Carlin teammate Oliver Turvey, the Racing Steps Foundation backed driver keeping the leader honest for the entire 24-lap race. Jaime Alguersuari finished a great day for the Carlin team in third place. Steven Guerrero took his first National Class win with a fighting drive to the flag against Jay Bridger and marking the first win in British F3 for a Columbian since Juan Pablo Montoya.

BRANDS HATCH – Rounds 13 and 14

Jaime Alguersuari dominated Round 13 at Brands Hatch from pole position but the race was red flagged after 16 laps following a heavy accident involving Alistair Jackson at the exit of Surtees. Oliver Turvey finished second after passing Atte Mustonen at the start. With Andy Meyrick sidelined with a serious illness that would leave the Welsh driver out for the rest of the year, Jay Bridger won the National Class from pole to put one hand on the National Class title. However it was a great result for Jonathan Legris on his British F3 debut, finishing a strong second in the LitespeedF3 SLC R1.

In Round 14 Sergio Perez took his 4th win of the season, and his first podium finish since Monza, after getting a great start off the line. The Mexican was under pressure from Marcus Ericsson for the entire race but the Swede made a mistake two corners from home, spinning off into the barriers and promoting Atte Mustonen and Oliver Turvey to the final podium places. In the National Class it was a 1-2 for T Sport as Steven Guerrero scored his second win leading home teammate Salman Al Khalifa, with Jay Bridger in 3rd.

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS – Rounds 15 and 16

Oliver Turvey returned to winning ways after a 12-lap race long battle with Brendon Hartley at Spa in Round 15 after dominating qualifying with a double pole. Jaime Alguersuari completed a podium lockout for Carlin Motorsport, with Sam Abay coming home in 4th to complete a Carlin 1-2-3-4. Stefan Wilson also took his second win of the year, passing Salman Al Khalifa on lap 7 after the Bahraini made up six places on the opening lap.

Brendon Hartley won Round 16 passing Sergio Perez on the last lap after fighting his way back up from 5th after being delayed at the start after pole position holder Oliver Turvey’s car was left stranded on the grid with engine problems. Nick Tandy in the JTR Mygale scored his first ever British F3 podium finish after briefly leading on the opening lap. Jay Bridger took his fourth National Class win with a last lap move on Steven Guererro.

SILVERSTONE – Rounds 17 and 18

Oliver Turvey continued his strong challenge for the title after a race long battle with Red Bull Junior driver Brendon Hartley. The New Zealander got the better start off the line to overtake pole sitter Turvey into the first corner but the Englishman pressurised his teammate into a mistake on lap 22 to retake the lead and take his third win of 2008. Marcus Ericsson took his first podium finish since Thruxton in a distant third place. Stefan Wilson won the National Class in dominant style from the front of the field, crossing the line ahead of Jay Bridger and Hywel Lloyd.

Oliver Turvey completed the double at Silverstone, taking victory from pole position to leave the Home of British Motor Racing with a nine point championship lead and confirmed as top British driver by securing the inaugural Mirror.co.uk British F3 Challenge Cup. Marcus Ericsson kept Turvey honest for the 24 lap race while Nick Tandy took his second British F3 podium on the final lap. Hywel Lloyd took a surprise National Class win after Stefan Wilson and Salman Al Khalifa collided fighting for the lead two laps from home.

BUCHAREST – Rounds 19 and 20

Brendon Hartley dominated the first race in Bucharest to take his fifth win of 2008 and making him the driver with the most victories this year with just three races remaining. Oliver Turvey finished second to extend his championship lead to seventeen points over third placed Jaime Alguersuari. Salman Al Khalifa became the first Bahraini driver to win in British F3 ahead of Hywel Lloyd but third was good enough for Jay Bridger to be crowned 2008 British F3 International Series National Class Champion.

Jaime Alguersuari took his third win of the year to keep his title hopes alive in Round 20. The Spanish Red Bull Junior driver finished ahead of Oliver Turvey and Brendon Hartley, who had tangled at the start allowing Alguersuari to take the lead, to secure the second 1-2-3 for Carlin Motorsport and he also recorded the team’s 150th victory. Sergio Perez’s title challenge came to an end when he was pushed off the track by Max Chilton and then collected by the unfortunate Ricardo Teixeira. Stefan Wilson returned to winning ways in the National Class after starting 4th on the grid, overtaking Hywel Lloyd seven laps from home. Jay Bridger finished third after falling back to 4th on the opening lap from pole position.

DONINGTON PARK – Rounds 21 and 22

Jaime Alguersuari set up a grandstand finish for the 2008 British F3 International Series by winning the penultimate round a dominant win from the front of the grid. Brendon Hartley finished second with Oliver Turvey a distant third meaning his championship lead was cut to just three points with one race to go. After being caught out by tricky conditions in qualifying Turvey would start the last race in 14th place, twelve slots behind the Spanish driver. Henry Surtees took the win in the National Class on his British F3 debut after moving ahead of Jay Bridger at the start and holding off the new champion for the entire 29-lap race.

Jaime Alguersuari took his third win in a row to become the first Spanish driver to become the 2008 British F3 International Series Champion. The 18-year-old, who is also youngest ever British F3 Champion, overtook pole position holder Oli Oakes at the start and led to the flag in dominant style. His title rival Oliver Turvey, climbed up the field from 20th, dropping back from 14th on the grid after a poor start, to 8th with three laps to go. However Turvey finished his season parked next to the track after trying an ambitious move on Marcus Ericsson at McLeans which didn’t pay off. Nick Tandy took his best finish of the year in second place ahead of Sergio Perez. Jay Bridger finished his championship year with a win ahead of Henry Surtees and Steven Guererro.

The two-hour season review can be seen on Motors TV across Europe from Saturday 29 November, with regular repeats into the middle of December. See the full TV listings schedule here

2009 will see a new title sponsor as the championship becomes the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series. With the cream of the world’s young drivers coming to the UK, British F3 is still the place to see the next generation of Formula One star drivers. The 2009 season starts at Oulton Park on April 13, with 22 races on Europe’s leading race circuits, including a visit to the Grand Prix circuit at Hockenheim in Germany.

CLICK HERE to see the final 2008 championship positions

Hartley Powers Through to Podium Finish in Macau

Brendon Hartley was the highest placed British F3 driver in the 55th Macau Grand Prix with the Carlin Motorsport driver powering his way from 20th on the grid to finish on the podium behind Keisuke Kunimoto and Edoardo Motara. The New Zealander’s mature drive saw him pick off cars on almost every lap and while he also benefitted from other drivers mistakes he made steady progress up the order and setting the fastest lap of the race on his way to a well deserved podium finish.

2008 British F3 Vice Champion Oliver Turvey also drove well after a disastrous start that saw the Englishman stall his Dallara Mercedes on the second row of the grid. Like Hartley, Oliver Turvey made good progress from the back of the field to finish the race 7th overall.

The new British F3 Champion Jaime Alguersuari was handed a drive through penalty that dropped the Spaniard from second place to the back of the field. In his first Macau Grand Prix Alguersuari also made good progress up the order to finish 10th.

Marcus Ericsson joined the Carlin team for the Macau Grand Prix but didn’t complete the first lap after making contact with the wall at Lisboa.

Hitech’s British F3 pairing of Walter Grubmuller and Max Chilton suffered a frustrating weekend but it finished on a high note with Grubmuller taking a top ten finish in 8th overall and Chilton bringing his car home in 14th in the incident filled final.

Atte Mustonen was the final British F3 driver taking part in the event with the Double R driver finishing the race in a disappointing 18th overall.

Third place man Brendon Hartley said, “We made quite a few changes to the car yesterday; it felt really good before the Qualification race, so it was really disappointing to be caught up in a first lap incident. We set the fastest lap in yesterday’s race and in this morning’s warm up, so I knew we had the pace to make up places but it’s difficult to pass here, so a lot of my race was about being patient and waiting for others to make mistakes. I’m really pleased to have ended the weekend on a high, and happy to have got a good result for the team.”

Macau Grand Prix - Result

1 - Keisuke Kunimoto - 41:01.864

2 - Edoardo Mortara - +1.710

3 - Brendon Hartley - +4.006

4 - Mika Maki - +8.442

5 - Renger van der Zande - +10.276

6 - Laurens Vanthoor - +12.975

7 - Oliver Turvey - +13.134

8 - Walter Grubmuller - +14.695

9 - Jules Bianchi - +18.725

10 - Jaime Alguersuari - +20.801

11 - Jon Lancaster - +20.898

12 - James Jakes - +21.418

13 - Franky Cheng - +22.404

14 - Max Chilton - +22.604

15 - Kei Cozzolino - +23.270

16 - Kazuya Oshima - +23.930

17 - Daniel Campos-Hull - +24.997

18 - Atte Mustonen - +33.744

19 - Nicola de Marco - +46.527

20 - Michael Ho - +51.739

Not Classified

Stefano Coletti - 11 laps

Basil Shaaban - 10 laps

Carlo van Dam - 7 laps

Roberto Merhi - 6 laps

Massaki Matsushita - 6 laps

James Winslow - 5 laps

Koki Saga - 2 laps

Marcus Ericsson - 0 laps

Roberto Streit - 0 laps

Sam Bird - 0 laps

Fastest lap

Brendon Hartley - 2:12.565 - lap 15

Macau charge cut short for Winslow

James Winslow’s Macau Grand Prix campaign was all too brief after a crash ended the Australian F3 Champions campaign after just five laps yesterday.

After recovering from a broken roll bar earlier in the weekend that hindered the cars performance and left him to struggle to only 22nd in qualifying, Winslow charged hard in the qualifying race and finished 11th.

Showing the pace and his capabilities, Winslow made a superb start to the 15-lap Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix and had jumped inside the top eight – his goal prior to the race – by the time the field piled into the notorious Lisboa corner at the end of the main straight.

After gaining more ground following a crash in front of him, Winslow was sixth into Lisboa before Carlin Motorsport driver Marcus Erricsson crashed ahead of him and blocked his way, essentially ending his race there and then.

Recovering in 24th, Winslow was forced to again charge though the field and had made up eight places before being caught out on the cement dust and oil over the circuit on lap five; making contact with the wall end ending his weekend.

“It was just a terrible day,” Winslow said.

“I got into the top eight on the first lap and then there was a massive shunt – I was just able to miss the flying tub of Roberto Streit’s car and get though unscathed. Then going into Lisboa Erricsson crashed into the wall and blocked the track and I got stuck and that was pretty much race over.

“I regrouped in 24th and made up some ground but just got caught out on the tricky surface and ended it in the wall. It’s just very disappointing but at least we have shown that we had the pace to contend inside the top eight, which in this field is really good.

“At least we were in the running for a while and were able to show what we were capable of,” he added.

“A huge thank you to Cars Motorsport and Prova for their substantial support for this event, also to Gawler Farm Machinery and Driving Solutions. PROVA came on board at the last minute to secure our place on the grid, so thanks must go to all of them.”

Works TOM’s Toyota driver Keisuke Kunimoto won the 55th Macau Grand Prix after making the best start and leading Eduardo Mortara and Kiwi driver Brendan Hartley to the line.

Walter Grubmuller – who contested two rounds of Australian Formula 3 last year – finished the Grand Prix in eighth position.

James Winslow’s Macau Grand Prix campaign was supported by several local businesses including long-time Australian F3 supporter Gawler Farm Machinery, Prova, Driving Solutions and Cars Motorsport.

55th Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix – Results

1. Keisuke Kunimoto (Tom’s Toyota) 41:01.864 (15 laps)
2. Edoardo Mortara (Signature) + 1.710s
3. Brendon Hartley (Carlin Motorsport) + 4.006
4. Mika Maki (Signature) + 8.442
5. Renger Van Der Zande + 10.276
DNF – James Winslow (Ombra Racing) 5 Laps

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