Masters of Formula 3

Masters of Formula 3
Masters of Formula 3
Circuit Park Zandvoort
Zandvoort.svg
Race information
Laps 25
Circuit length 4.18 km (2.6 mi)
Race length 107.675 km (66.90 mi)
Number of times held 20
First held 1991
Most wins (constructors) Dallara (18)
Last race (2010):
Pole position United Kingdom Alexander Sims
Dallara-Mercedes/HWA
1:30.956
Podium 1. Finland Valtteri Bottas
Dallara-Mercedes/HWA
41:36.417
2. United Kingdom Alexander Sims
Dallara-Mercedes/HWA
+1.131
3. Germany Marco Wittmann
Dallara-Volkswagen
+18.248
Fastest lap France Jean-Éric Vergne
Dallara-Mercedes/HWA
1:32.788

The Masters of Formula 3 is a Formula Three race held annually, usually at the Circuit Park Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Due to noise restrictions in the Zandvoort area, the 2007 and 2008 races were held in the Belgian circuit of Zolder. However, it returned to Zandvoort for the 2009 race.[1]

The Masters was first started in 1991, as an international meeting between drivers from various national championships across Europe. As the FIA European Formula Three Cup had been cancelled after the 1990 season, the Masters became the unofficial European F3 championship. Many of Formula One's future stars raced and won in the Masters, including David Coulthard, who was crowned champion in the first event.

In 1999, the FIA nominated the Pau round of French Formula 3 Championship as the new European Cup, but the Masters retained its status as the de facto international meeting between up-and-coming superstars all across Europe, as drivers from the British, French, German and Italian championships continued to flock to the Dutch track. When the French and German series were merged into the Formula Three Euroseries in 2003, the Masters was not included in the calendar at the time, but its position as the premier international F3 meeting in Europe was not threatened.

The event was sponsored by Marlboro from 1991 to 2005. When tobacco advertising was banned in the European Union after July 31, 2005, the Masters lost its sponsorship. The race was sponsored by BP Ultimate took from 2006 to 2007, RTL in 2008, Tango in 2009 and RTL again in 2010.

Results

Year Winner Runner-up Third place Pole position Fastest lap
1991 United Kingdom David Coulthard Spain Jordi Gené Netherlands Marcel Albers Brazil Rubens Barrichello Brazil Rubens Barrichello
1992 Portugal Pedro Lamy Portugal Diogo Castro Santos Brazil Gil de Ferran United Kingdom Kelvin Burt United Kingdom Kelvin Burt
1993 Netherlands Jos Verstappen Italy Paolo Coloni Germany Michael Krumm Netherlands Jos Verstappen Germany Michael Krumm
1994 United Kingdom Gareth Rees Germany Jörg Müller Germany Sascha Maassen Germany Jörg Müller Germany Sascha Maassen
1995[2] Argentina Norberto Fontana Germany Ralf Schumacher Brazil Hélio Castroneves Argentina Norberto Fontana Germany Ralf Schumacher
1996 Belgium Kurt Mollekens United Kingdom Jonny Kane Germany Nick Heidfeld Belgium Kurt Mollekens Belgium Kurt Mollekens
1997 Netherlands Tom Coronel France Sébastien Philippe Australia Mark Webber France Sébastien Philippe France Sébastien Philippe
1998 Belgium David Saelens Brazil Enrique Bernoldi Brazil Mario Haberfeld Belgium David Saelens France David Terrien
1999 United Kingdom Marc Hynes Germany Thomas Mutsch South Africa Etienne van der Linde Germany Thomas Mutsch United Kingdom Marc Hynes
2000 France Jonathan Cochet United Kingdom Ben Collins South Africa Tomas Scheckter France Jonathan Cochet France Jonathan Cochet
2001 Japan Takuma Sato Germany André Lotterer United Kingdom Anthony Davidson Japan Takuma Sato Japan Takuma Sato
2002 Brazil Fabio Carbone France Olivier Pla France Tristan Gommendy Brazil Fabio Carbone France Bruce Jouanny
2003 Austria Christian Klien Brazil Nelson Angelo Piquet Australia Ryan Briscoe Brazil Nelson Angelo Piquet Australia Ryan Briscoe
2004 France Alexandre Prémat France Eric Salignon United Kingdom Adam Carroll France Alexandre Prémat France Eric Salignon
2005 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Germany Adrian Sutil Brazil Lucas di Grassi United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton
2006 United Kingdom Paul di Resta Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Switzerland Sébastien Buemi Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Netherlands Giedo van der Garde
2007 Germany Nico Hülkenberg France Yann Clairay France Jean Karl Vernay France Romain Grosjean United Kingdom James Jakes
2008 France Jules Bianchi Germany Nico Hülkenberg United Kingdom Jon Lancaster Germany Nico Hülkenberg United Kingdom Max Chilton
2009 Finland Valtteri Bottas Finland Mika Mäki Monaco Stefano Coletti Finland Valtteri Bottas Finland Valtteri Bottas
2010 Finland Valtteri Bottas United Kingdom Alexander Sims Germany Marco Wittmann United Kingdom Alexander Sims France Jean-Éric Vergne
2011 Sweden Felix Rosenqvist Germany Marco Wittmann Denmark Kevin Magnussen Spain Roberto Merhi Sweden Felix Rosenqvist

References