Lausitz: Volkswagen preview

Volkswagen drivers set for further momentum after successful opener

Wolfsburg (22 May 2009). The season opener marked by a race win was a perfect success and now the seven Formula 3 drivers want to add further momentum to their showing with Volkswagen Power: During the next DTM weekend at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz (29-31 May) the Formula 3 Euro Series will start to races three and four of the season. The 26 young drivers in the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup will even experience a double-header at the EuroSpeedway: They will contest two races within the space of 15 hours.

Formula 3 Euro Series: Jean Karl Vernay shoots for top of leaderboard

With a victory clinched by Jean Karl Vernay Volkswagen managed an excellent start to the new Formula 3 Euro Series season. The Frenchman won Sunday's race at the Hockenheim season opener and now ranks in second place of the standings. It is clear that the driver from the Signature team wants to pick up further momentum at the EuroSpeedway. "Of course such a start to the season gives an extra dose of motivation. I'd like to use that to pick up exactly where I left off at Hockenheim next weekend," says the 21-year-old.

A total of seven drivers start from the Formula 3 Euro Series grid with Volkswagen Power. Whereas Vernay's team-mate Mika Maki (FIN) was also happy about his two fourth places clinched at Hockenheim and the newly founded Kolles & Heinz Union team delivered a successful debut as well, the drivers from Carlin Motorsport left Hockenheim empty-handed. Brendon Hartley (NZ) in particular wants to turn this situation around as quickly as possible. "Hockenheim is history. I'm strictly looking ahead and want to attack again at the EuroSpeedway," says the New Zealander who, in addition to his Formula 3 racing commitments, also serves as a spare driver for the Red Bull Formula 1 team.

"The first race weekend of the year already showed how competitive the Formula 3 field will be," says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "We wholeheartedly tackle this tough competition and Hockenheim has shown that we're well set to do so with the Volkswagen engine. We look forward to the next battle."

ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup: from the scales into the cockpit

If the 27 youngsters in the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup just come close at the EuroSpeedway to where they left off at Hockenheim, fans in the Lausitz region can look forward to spectacular motorsport: In a turbulent race packed with overtaking manoeuvres and nail-biting fights for positions Maciek Steinhof (PL) decided the season opener in his favour. At the EuroSpeedway, the young drivers will even compete twice: at the last race on Saturday evening and at the opening race on Sunday morning - 15 laps twice within the space of just 15 hours.

Before the motorsport talents from six nations even had a chance to think about the apex of turns, racing lines or optimal inflation pressure at the Hockenheim season opener they had to get in line to be weighed in. In full racing gear the 24 gentlemen and two ladies had to have their weight recorded, down to half a kilogram. The weigh-in did not serve to point out possible dietary deficits to the young racers, though - the key word is equality of opportunity.

This equality has been one of the key factors accounting for the excellent reputation which Volkswagen's touring car school has enjoyed for more than a decade. In addition to identical technology and central preparation of the 150-hp Cup Polo cars, this includes a swapping of the cars between the drivers before each event. Unlike in kart racing where it is still permitted, the stringent and time-tested regulations even exclude a weight advantage: 80 kilograms, including the helmet, fireproof suit and the HANS system have been set as the base weight for each contender - those who weigh less than that will have compensatory ballast placed under the driver's seat.

As a result, David Jahn has a big chunk installed in his Polo car number 22 each weekend. Tipping the scales at 56 kilograms, the 18-year-old from Germany is the light-weight in the field. Only the Swede Sandra Oscarsson weighs less than Jahn. A total of 21 drivers have to pick up additional weight, the remainder are above the nominal level. Only Nico Schilling hit a bull's eye with exactly 80 kilos. Time will tell whether he will maintain this ideal weight - another weight check will be performed during the season.

TV schedule, EuroSpeedway
Saturday, 30 May 2009
14.30 - 15.00, ARD, F3ES race 1 (summary)
18.20 - 18.30, n-tv, F3ES race 1 (summary)
20.00 - 21.00, DSF, F3ES race 1 (summary)

Sunday, 31 May 2009
15.15 - 15.20, ARD, F3ES race 2 (short report)
10.30 - 11.10, n-tv, F3ES race 2 (live report)
20.00 - 21.00, DSF, F3ES and Polo Cup (short reports)

Tuesday, 2 June 2009
16.05 - 16.30, n-tv, F3ES and Polo Cup (short reports)

-credit: vw