2006 Formula 3 Euro Series season

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2006 Formula 3 Euro Series season
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The 2006 Formula 3 Euro Series season was the fourth championship year of Europe’s premier Formula Three series. As in previous years, there were ten rounds – each with two races – held at a variety of European circuits. Each weekend consisted of one 60-minute practice session and one qualifying session, followed by one c.110 km race and one c.80 km race. In a revised qualifying system that used only one session, the starting order for race 2 was determined by the finishing order of race 1, with the top eight positions reversed.

Summary

2006 saw the Euro Series make its debut at three venues: Brands Hatch in the UK, the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona in Spain, and Le Mans. This was the first time that rounds had been held in Britain and Spain.

A number of regulatory changes took place prior to the 2006 season. Mid-season testing was heavily restricted to a maximum of 10 days per driver/car, with no testing at race venues, leaving teams and drivers to make the most of the race weekend test sessions. The qualifying session for race 2 was dropped in favour of a result-based reverse grid system. The finishing order of race 1 decided the grid for race 2, with the top eight finishers reversed. Chassis specifications of between two and four years old (from 2002–2004) were permitted for the first time, with the creation of the Drivers' Trophy title. Eligibility for this award was restricted to drivers who were not more than 22 years old.[1]

After Lewis Hamilton's domination of the 2005 season, the 2006 championship battle was considerably closer. The title was won by Scotsman Paul di Resta, who ended the year 11 points ahead of Germany's Sebastian Vettel. For much of the season, di Resta and Vettel were exchanging the points lead, but the German's focus wavered towards the end of the year. BMW-Sauber's motorsport director Mario Theissen attributed this to the busy schedule that Vettel undertook as his team's test driver in the last three Grands Prix of the 2006 F1 season.[2] Other drivers worthy of note included Kamui Kobayashi, who finished on the podium twice on the way to winning the Rookie Cup, and race winner Kazuki Nakajima, whose performances attracted a testing contract with Williams.

Not surprisingly, the two main championship contenders were team-mates at ASM Formule 3, the French-based team that has dominated the Euro Series for the last three seasons with three Drivers' and Teams' Championship titles in succession. 2006 saw another improvement in form from Manor Motorsport – a former multiple champion team in British F3. With Japan's Kohei Hirate and the experienced Esteban Guerrieri, it was frequently ASM's closest challenger and finished 2nd in the Teams' Championship standings. This year, Manor was no longer the sole British team in the Euroseries – it was joined by entries from Hitech Racing and Fortec Motorsport at Hockenheim (round 1) and Brands Hatch (round 4).

With only one race win for an Opel-powered car – from a reverse-grid pole position – it was another season of domination by the HWA-built Mercedes engine. Dallara was the de facto sole supplier of chassis, with the Signature SLC project on indefinite hold and the Mygale chassis still yet to race in this series.

Teams and drivers

2006 Entry List[3]
Team # Driver Rookie Chassis[N 1] Engine Rounds
France ASM Formule 3 1 Germany Sebastian Vettel F305/059 Mercedes All
2 United Kingdom Paul Di Resta F305/021 All
16 Netherlands Giedo van der Garde F306/012 All
17 Japan Kamui Kobayashi R F305/012 All
United Kingdom Manor Motorsport 3 Japan Kohei Hirate F305/001 Mercedes All
4 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri F305/020 All
18 Japan Kazuki Nakajima F305/062 All
Italy Prema Powerteam 5 Spain Alejandro Núñez F306/004 Mercedes All
6 Republic of Ireland Ronayne O'Mahony F305/023 All
19 Portugal João Urbano R F306/005 1–5
Italy Paolo Maria Nocera 6–9
Brazil Roberto Streit 10
Germany ASL Mücke Motorsport 7 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi F305/011 Mercedes All
8 United States Jonathan Summerton R F305/028 All
France Signature-Plus 9 France Guillaume Moreau F305/035 Mercedes All
10 France Romain Grosjean F305/029 All
20 United States Charlie Kimball F306/010 All
21 Germany Tim Sandtler R F305/036 All
Austria HBR Motorsport 11 United States Richard Antinucci F305/045 Mercedes All
Czech Republic Team ISR 14 Czech Republic Filip Salaquarda F306/009 Opel All
Belgium Bas Leinders Junior Racing Team 22 Monaco Michael Herck F306/016 Mercedes All
Switzerland Jo Zeller Racing 24 Germany Peter Elkmann F306/014 Opel 1–7
Switzerland Natacha Gachnang 9–10
Germany Julia Kuhn 25 Germany Julia Kuhn F305/063 Opel 1–2, 4, 6
United Kingdom Fortec Motorsport 26 Netherlands Yelmer Buurman F305/002 Mercedes 1, 4
United Kingdom Hitech Racing 29 United Kingdom James Jakes F305/037 Mercedes 1, 4
30 United Kingdom James Walker F305/003 1, 4
Switzerland Bordoli Motorsport 31 Switzerland Natacha Gachnang F305/026 Opel 5–6
Netherlands Van Amersfoort Racing 32 Netherlands Dominick Muermans F306/023 Opel 7
33 South Korea Récardo Bruins Choi F305/046 7
Trophy
France Janiec Racing Team 40 France Anthony Janiec F302/063 Renault 1, 3, 5–7, 9–10
46 France Julien Abelli F302/067 9
Austria HBR Motorsport 41 Turkey Cemil Çipa F304/012 Opel 1, 3, 5–7, 9–10
Germany SMS Seyffarth Motorsport 42 Germany Kevin Fank F302/032 Mercedes 1
Germany Gina-Maria Adenauer 5
43 Germany Julian Theobald F303/015 1, 3, 5–7
44 Germany Bruno Fechner F302/012 1, 6–7
Germany Dominik Schraml 3
Germany FS Motorsport 45 F302/050 Opel 5
Icon Legend
R Rookie

Notes:

  1. All drivers competed in Dallara chassis; model listed.

Driver changes

Changed Teams
Entering/Re-Entering Formula 3 Euro Series
Entering Trophy Class
Leaving Formula 3 Euro Series

Additional participations

Prema Powerteam's third entry was taken over by Italy's Paulo Maria Nocera for four rounds, starting at the Nürburgring. He in turn was replaced by Brazil's Roberto Streit at the final round of the season. Bruno Rudolf Fechner started five races in SMS Seyffarth Motorsport's #44 entry, but was substituted by fellow German Dominik Schraml in round 3 at Oschersleben. The #44 car was not present at every round. Schraml made a one-off return at the Norisring, driving a Dallara-Opel for FS Motorsport. Kevin Fank's #42 SMS Seyffarth Motorsport entry returned at the Norisring in the hands of Gina Maria Adenauer before it, too, failed to make another appearance. Like the drivers that they replaced, Schraml and Adenauer were eligible for the Drivers' Trophy. Julien Abelli, of Janiec Racing, did not make any appearances until the Le Mans round.

In round 5 at the Norisring, F3 rookie Natacha Gachnang of Switzerland drove a second entry for Jo Zeller Racing. She also competed in rounds 6, 9, and 10. In the F3 Masters at Zandvoort, ATS F3 Cup team Van Amersfoort Racing made a one-off appearance with two cars for its Cup regulars, Dominik Muermans and Récardo Bruins Choi.

Calendar

Round Circuit/Location Country Date
1 R1 Hockenheimring  Germany 8 April
R2 9 April
2 R1 EuroSpeedway Lausitz  Germany 29 April
R2 30 April
3 R1 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben  Germany 20 May
R2 21 May
4 R1 Brands Hatch  United Kingdom 1 July
R2 2 July
5 R1 Norisring, Nuremberg  Germany 22 July
R2 23 July
6 R1 Nürburgring  Germany 19 August
R2 20 August
7 R1 Circuit Park Zandvoort  Netherlands 2 September
R2 3 September
8 R1 Circuit de Catalunya  Spain 4 September
R2 5 September
9 R1 Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans  France 14 October
R2 15 October
10 R1 Hockenheimring  Germany 28 October
R2 29 October

Results

Round Circuit Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Winning Rookie Trophy Winner
1 R1 Germany Hockenheimring Argentina Esteban Guerrieri Japan Kazuki Nakajima Japan Kohei Hirate United Kingdom Manor Motorsport Japan Kamui Kobayashi Germany Julian Theobald
R2 Japan Kohei Hirate Germany Sebastian Vettel France ASM Formule 3 Japan Kamui Kobayashi Germany Julian Theobald
2 R1 Germany EuroSpeedway Lausitz United Kingdom Paul di Resta Japan Kohei Hirate Argentina Esteban Guerrieri United Kingdom Manor Motorsport United States Jonathan Summerton
R2 Japan Kazuki Nakajima Japan Kazuki Nakajima United Kingdom Manor Motorsport United States Jonathan Summerton
3 R1 Germany Motorsport Arena Oschersleben Argentina Esteban Guerrieri Germany Peter Elkmann United Kingdom Paul di Resta France ASM Formule 3 Japan Kamui Kobayashi Germany Julian Theobald
R2 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi Switzerland Sébastien Buemi Germany ASL Mücke Motorsport Japan Kamui Kobayashi Germany Julian Theobald
4 R1 United Kingdom Brands Hatch United Kingdom Paul di Resta United Kingdom Paul di Resta United Kingdom Paul di Resta France ASM Formule 3 Japan Kamui Kobayashi
R2 Germany Sebastian Vettel Germany Peter Elkmann Switzerland Jo Zeller Racing Japan Kamui Kobayashi
5 R1 Germany Norisring Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Germany Sebastian Vettel United Kingdom Paul di Resta France ASM Formule 3 United States Jonathan Summerton Germany Gina-Maria Adenauer
R2 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi Netherlands Giedo van der Garde France ASM Formule 3 Japan Kamui Kobayashi France Anthony Janiec
6 R1 Germany Nürburgring Germany Sebastian Vettel Germany Sebastian Vettel Germany Sebastian Vettel France ASM Formule 3 Japan Kamui Kobayashi Germany Bruno Fechner
R2 Japan Kamui Kobayashi Germany Sebastian Vettel France ASM Formule 3 Japan Kamui Kobayashi Germany Julian Theobald
7 R1 Netherlands Circuit Park Zandvoort United Kingdom Paul di Resta Switzerland Sébastien Buemi United Kingdom Paul di Resta France ASM Formule 3 Japan Kamui Kobayashi Germany Bruno Fechner
R2 Germany Sebastian Vettel United States Charlie Kimball France Signature-Plus Germany Tim Sandtler Germany Julian Theobald
8 R1 Spain Circuit de Catalunya United Kingdom Paul di Resta Germany Sebastian Vettel Germany Sebastian Vettel France ASM Formule 3 Japan Kamui Kobayashi
R2 Japan Kohei Hirate United States Richard Antinucci Austria HBR Motorsport Germany Tim Sandtler
9 R1 France Bugatti Circuit Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Argentina Esteban Guerrieri United Kingdom Paul di Resta France ASM Formule 3 United States Jonathan Summerton Turkey Cemil Çipa
R2 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi United States Richard Antinucci Austria HBR Motorsport United States Jonathan Summerton France Julien Abelli
10 R1 Germany Hockenheimring United Kingdom Paul di Resta Switzerland Sébastien Buemi Argentina Esteban Guerrieri United Kingdom Manor Motorsport United States Jonathan Summerton France Anthony Janiec
R2 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi United States Jonathan Summerton Germany ASL Mücke Motorsport United States Jonathan Summerton Turkey Cemil Çipa

Season standings

Drivers Standings

  • Points are awarded as follows:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 PP
Race 1 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1
Race 2 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0
Pos Driver HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
LAU
1

Germany
LAU
2

Germany
OSC
1

Germany
OSC
2

Germany
BRH
1

United Kingdom
BRH
2

United Kingdom
NOR
1

Germany
NOR
2

Germany
NÜR
1

Germany
NÜR
2

Germany
ZAN
1

Netherlands
ZAN
2

Netherlands
CAT
1

Spain
CAT
2

Spain
LMS
1

France
LMS
2

France
HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
Pts
1 United Kingdom Paul di Resta 3 Ret 2 3 1 12 1 5 1 18† 2 13 1 14 10 6 1 6 10 6 86
2 Germany Sebastian Vettel 5 1 3 6 5 14 2 7 2 Ret 1 1 24† 2 1 Ret 9 9 3 12 75
3 Japan Kohei Hirate 1 4 18 11 4 2 DNS 17 4 Ret 5 Ret 3 13 2 4 5 3 5 7 61
4 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri 14 3 1 5 2 3 16 12 10 DNS Ret 5 8 4 3 7 6 8 1 4 58
5 United States Richard Antinucci 7 DNS 5 2 9 Ret 3 23† DSQ EX 7 2 14 16 8 1 8 1 12 8 38
6 Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Ret 7 12 9 Ret 11 4 19 6 1 3 11 2 5 16 8 DNS 12 9 2 37
7 Japan Kazuki Nakajima 2 6 8 1 6 5 14 13 Ret 5 9 18 22 3 4 3 11 7 Ret DNS 36
8 Japan Kamui Kobayashi 6 5 11 10 11 7 6 3 5 2 8 3 5 Ret 5 Ret DNS 14 Ret 9 34
9 United States Jonathan Summerton Ret 11 4 7 17 Ret 12 10 3 13 24† 16 6 17 Ret Ret 2 4 8 1 32
10 France Guillaume Moreau 4 2 7 Ret 8 4 13 20 18† 6 11 Ret 7 7 9 10 3 5 4 Ret 32
11 United States Charlie Kimball 22† 12 9 8 10 Ret 15 11 13 4 10 6 11 1 6 2 4 2 6 Ret 31
12 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi 19 14 Ret 12 7 1 21 16 7 11 4 8 Ret 8 7 5 DSQ 11 2 3 31
13 France Romain Grosjean 21† 13 6 4 3 6 9 6 12 8 18 10 4 11 NC 9 20 10 DSQ DSQ 19
14 Germany Peter Elkmann 12 21 13 18 21 13 8 1 9 3 12 4 10 9 14
15 Monaco Michael Herck Ret 16 Ret 14 Ret DNS 7 2 Ret 10 6 Ret 9 23 12 Ret 7 13 11 Ret 12
16 United Kingdom James Jakes 9 8 5 4 7
17 Brazil Roberto Streit 7 5 4
18 Germany Tim Sandtler 15 22† 16 16 16 17 Ret 22 19† 9 13 9 13 6 11 11 10 15 18 15 1
19 Portugal João Urbano 11 9 10 13 12 9 19 24 8 Ret 1
20 Netherlands Yelmer Buurman 8 Ret 11 9 1
21 Spain Alejandro Núñez 10 10 19 17† 13 8 18 15 Ret 7 22 21 12 22 13 12 14 16 14 Ret 0
22 Czech Republic Filip Salaquarda Ret 15 14 Ret 14 10 20 18 14 17† 15 7 15 10 15 Ret 16 18 Ret 11 0
23 United Kingdom James Walker 20† Ret 10 8 0
24 Switzerland Natacha Gachnang 15 DNS 23 15 12 Ret 13 10 0
25 Republic of Ireland Ronayne O’Mahony Ret 17 15 15 15 15 17 14 11 12 14 22† 23† 19 14 Ret 13 17 15 13 0
26 Italy Paolo Maria Nocera Ret 12 17 Ret Ret Ret 15 19 0
27 South Korea Récardo Bruins Choi 16 12 0
28 Germany Julia Kuhn DNQ DNQ 17 Ret 22 21 20 20 0
29 Netherlands Dominick Muermans Ret 20 0
Pos Driver HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
LAU
1

Germany
LAU
2

Germany
OSC
1

Germany
OSC
2

Germany
BRH
1

United Kingdom
BRH
2

United Kingdom
NOR
1

Germany
NOR
2

Germany
NÜR
1

Germany
NÜR
2

Germany
ZAN
1

Netherlands
ZAN
2

Netherlands
CAT
1

Spain
CAT
2

Spain
LMS
1

France
LMS
2

France
HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not participate (DNP)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

† — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

The effects of the new reverse-grid system – which put the 8th-placed finisher from race 1 on pole for race 2 – can be seen clearly in this chart. 50% of the race 2 pole sitters went on to win, while there was only one double winner (Vettel in round 6) and no other race 1 winner even reached the podium in race 2.

Trophy

The Drivers' Trophy is restricted to drivers who are not more than 22 years old, using chassis specifications that are 2 to 4 years old.

Pos Driver HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
LAU
1

Germany
LAU
2

Germany
OSC
1

Germany
OSC
2

Germany
BRH
1

United Kingdom
BRH
2

United Kingdom
NOR
1

Germany
NOR
2

Germany
NÜR
1

Germany
NÜR
2

Germany
ZAN
1

Netherlands
ZAN
2

Netherlands
CAT
1

Spain
CAT
2

Spain
LMS
1

France
LMS
2

France
HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
Pts
1 Germany Julian Theobald 13 18 18 16 17 15 17 14 19 15 73
2 France Anthony Janiec 16 19 Ret 20 Ret 14 19 17 21 DNS 19 21 16 16 67
3 Turkey Cemil Çipa 18 20 19 18 Ret DNS 21 19 20 21 17 Ret 17 14 65
4 Germany Bruno Fechner Ret DNS 16 Ret 18 18 25
5 Germany Gina-Maria Adenauer 16 16 14
6 Germany Dominik Schraml 20 19 DSQ Ret 10
7 Germany Kevin Fank 17 Ret 6
guest drivers ineligible for championship points
France Julien Abelli 18 20 0
Pos Driver HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
LAU
1

Germany
LAU
2

Germany
OSC
1

Germany
OSC
2

Germany
BRH
1

United Kingdom
BRH
2

United Kingdom
NOR
1

Germany
NOR
2

Germany
NÜR
1

Germany
NÜR
2

Germany
ZAN
1

Netherlands
ZAN
2

Netherlands
CAT
1

Spain
CAT
2

Spain
LMS
1

France
LMS
2

France
HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
Pts

Rookie Cup

Rookie drivers are only eligible for the Rookie Cup title if they have not previously competed in a national or international Formula 3 championship.

Pos Driver HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
LAU
1

Germany
LAU
2

Germany
OSC
1

Germany
OSC
2

Germany
BRH
1

United Kingdom
BRH
2

United Kingdom
NOR
1

Germany
NOR
2

Germany
NÜR
1

Germany
NÜR
2

Germany
ZAN
1

Netherlands
ZAN
2

Netherlands
CAT
1

Spain
CAT
2

Spain
LMS
1

France
LMS
2

France
HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
Pts
1 Japan Kamui Kobayashi 6 5 11 10 11 7 6 3 5 2 8 3 5 Ret 5 Ret DNS 14 Ret 9 119
2 United States Jonathan Summerton Ret 11 4 7 17 Ret 12 10 3 13 24 16 6 17 Ret Ret 2 4 8 1 107
3 Germany Tim Sandtler 15 22 16 16 16 17 Ret 22 19 9 13 9 13 6 11 11 10 15 18 15 104
4 Portugal João Urbano 11 9 10 13 12 9 19 24 8 Ret 53
Pos Driver HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
LAU
1

Germany
LAU
2

Germany
OSC
1

Germany
OSC
2

Germany
BRH
1

United Kingdom
BRH
2

United Kingdom
NOR
1

Germany
NOR
2

Germany
NÜR
1

Germany
NÜR
2

Germany
ZAN
1

Netherlands
ZAN
2

Netherlands
CAT
1

Spain
CAT
2

Spain
LMS
1

France
LMS
2

France
HOC
1

Germany
HOC
2

Germany
Pts

Team Standings

Team Points
1 France ASM Formule 3 197
2 United Kingdom Manor Motorsport 147
3 France Signature-Plus 91
4 Germany ASL Mücke Motorsport 69
5 Austria HBR Motorsport 42
6 Switzerland Jo Zeller Racing 18
7 Belgium Bas Leinders Junior Racing Team 16
8 United Kingdom Hitech Racing 11
9 Italy Prema Powerteam 7
10 United Kingdom Fortec Motorsport 2

Nations Cup

Nation Points
1  Japan 124
2  United States 100
3  United Kingdom 90
4  Germany 89
5  Argentina 56
6  France 53
7  Netherlands 38
8   Switzerland 32
9  Monaco 12
10  Brazil 4
11  Portugal 1
12  Australia 1

Sources

References

  1. Comprehensive regulation changes for 2006 From f1prospects.com, December 23, 2005. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  2. Theissen regrets overloading Vettel From autosport.com, November 21, 2006. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.