2006 Formula 3 Euro Series season

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.

Contents

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

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

Results

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

Season standings

Drivers Standings

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
 HOC
2
 LAU
1
 LAU
2
 OSC
1
 OSC
2
 BRH
1
 BRH
2
 NOR
1
 NOR
2
 NÜR
1
 NÜR
2
 ZAN
1
 ZAN
2
 CAT
1
 CAT
2
 LMS
1
 LMS
2
 HOC
1
 HOC
2
 Pts
1 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 Sebastian Vettel 5 1 3 6 5 14 2 7 2 Ret 1 1 24 2 1 Ret 9 9 3 12 75
3 Kohei Hirate 1 4 18 11 4 2 DNS 17 4 Ret 5 Ret 3 13 2 4 5 3 5 7 61
4 Esteban Guerrieri 14 3 1 5 2 3 16 12 10 DNS Ret 5 8 4 3 7 6 8 1 4 58
5 Richard Antinucci 7 DNS 5 2 9 Ret 3 23 DSQ EX 7 2 14 16 8 1 8 1 12 8 38
6 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 Kazuki Nakajima 2 6 8 1 6 5 14 13 Ret 5 9 18 22 3 4 3 11 7 Ret DNS 36
8 Kamui Kobayashi 6 5 11 10 11 7 6 3 5 2 8 3 5 Ret 5 Ret DNS 14 Ret 9 34
9 Jonathan Summerton Ret 11 4 7 17 Ret 12 10 3 13 24 16 6 17 Ret Ret 2 4 8 1 32
10 Guillaume Moreau 4 2 7 Ret 8 4 13 20 18 6 11 Ret 7 7 9 10 3 5 4 Ret 32
11 Charlie Kimball 22 12 9 8 10 Ret 15 11 13 4 10 6 11 1 6 2 4 2 6 Ret 31
12 Sébastien Buemi 19 14 Ret 12 7 1 21 16 7 11 4 8 Ret 8 7 5 DSQ 11 2 3 31
13 Romain Grosjean 21 13 6 4 3 6 9 6 12 8 18 10 4 11 Ret 9 20 10 DSQ DSQ 19
14 Peter Elkmann 12 21 13 18 21 13 8 1 9 3 12 4 10 9 14
15 Michael Herck Ret 16 Ret 14 Ret DNS 7 2 Ret 10 6 Ret 9 23 12 Ret 7 13 11 Ret 12
16 James Jakes 9 8 5 4 7
17 Roberto Streit 7 5 4
18 Tim Sandtler 15 22 16 16 16 17 Ret 22 19 9 13 9 13 6 11 11 10 15 18 15 1
19 João Urbano 11 9 10 13 12 9 19 24 8 Ret 1
20 Yelmer Buurman 8 Ret 11 9 1
21 Alejandro Núñez 10 10 19 17 13 8 18 15 Ret 7 22 21 12 22 13 12 14 16 14 Ret 0
22 Filip Salaquarda Ret 15 14 Ret 14 10 20 18 14 17 15 7 15 10 15 Ret 16 18 Ret 11 0
23 James Walker 20 Ret 10 8 0
24 Natacha Gachnang 15 DNS 23 15 12 Ret 13 10 0
25 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 Paolo Maria Nocera Ret 12 17 Ret Ret Ret 15 19 0
27 Récardo Bruins Choi 16 12 0
28 Julia Kuhn DNQ DNQ 17 Ret 22 21 20 20 0
29 Dominick Muermans Ret 20 0
Pos Driver HOC
1
 HOC
2
 LAU
1
 LAU
2
 OSC
1
 OSC
2
 BRH
1
 BRH
2
 NOR
1
 NOR
2
 NÜR
1
 NÜR
2
 ZAN
1
 ZAN
2
 CAT
1
 CAT
2
 LMS
1
 LMS
2
 HOC
1
 HOC
2
 Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Finished, in points
Blue Finished, no points
Not classified (NC)
Purple Did not finish (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
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

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
 HOC
2
 LAU
1
 LAU
2
 OSC
1
 OSC
2
 BRH
1
 BRH
2
 NOR
1
 NOR
2
 NÜR
1
 NÜR
2
 ZAN
1
 ZAN
2
 CAT
1
 CAT
2
 LMS
1
 LMS
2
 HOC
1
 HOC
2
 Pts
1 Julian Theobald 13 18 18 16 17 15 17 14 19 15 73
2 Anthony Janiec 16 19 Ret 20 Ret 14 19 17 21 DNS 19 21 16 16 67
3 Cemil Çipa 18 20 19 18 Ret DNS 21 19 20 21 17 Ret 17 14 65
4 Bruno Fechner Ret DNS 16 Ret 18 18 25
5 Gina-Maria Adenauer 16 16 14
6 Dominik Schraml 20 19 DSQ Ret 10
7 Kevin Fank 17 Ret 6
guest drivers ineligible for championship points
Julien Abelli 18 20 0
Pos Driver HOC
1
 HOC
2
 LAU
1
 LAU
2
 OSC
1
 OSC
2
 BRH
1
 BRH
2
 NOR
1
 NOR
2
 NÜR
1
 NÜR
2
 ZAN
1
 ZAN
2
 CAT
1
 CAT
2
 LMS
1
 LMS
2
 HOC
1
 HOC
2
 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
 HOC
2
 LAU
1
 LAU
2
 OSC
1
 OSC
2
 BRH
1
 BRH
2
 NOR
1
 NOR
2
 NÜR
1
 NÜR
2
 ZAN
1
 ZAN
2
 CAT
1
 CAT
2
 LMS
1
 LMS
2
 HOC
1
 HOC
2
 Pts
1 Kamui Kobayashi 6 5 11 10 11 7 6 3 5 2 8 3 5 Ret 5 Ret DNS 14 Ret 9 119
2 Jonathan Summerton Ret 11 4 7 17 Ret 12 10 3 13 24 16 6 17 Ret Ret 2 4 8 1 107
3 Tim Sandtler 15 22 16 16 16 17 Ret 22 19 9 13 9 13 6 11 11 10 15 18 15 104
4 João Urbano 11 9 10 13 12 9 19 24 8 Ret 53
Pos Driver HOC
1
 HOC
2
 LAU
1
 LAU
2
 OSC
1
 OSC
2
 BRH
1
 BRH
2
 NOR
1
 NOR
2
 NÜR
1
 NÜR
2
 ZAN
1
 ZAN
2
 CAT
1
 CAT
2
 LMS
1
 LMS
2
 HOC
1
 HOC
2
 Pts

Team Standings

Team Points
1 ASM Formule 3 197
2 Manor Motorsport 147
3 Signature-Plus 91
4 ASL Mücke Motorsport 69
5 HBR Motorsport 42
6 Jo Zeller Racing 18
7 Bas Leinders JRT 16
8 Hitech Racing 11
9 Prema Powerteam 7
10 Fortec Motorsport 2

Nations Cup

Nation Points
1  Japan 124
2  USA 100
3  United Kingdom 90
4  Germany 89
5  Argentina 56
6  France 53
7  Netherlands 38
8  Switzerland 32
9  Belgium 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. ^ "2006 Entry List" (PDF). formel3guide.com. http://www.formel3guide.com/images/starter/2006-starter-es.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-13. 
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