Masters of Formula 3

Masters of Formula 3
Circuit Park Zandvoort
Race information
Number of times held24
First held1991
Last held2016
Most wins (drivers)Finland V. Bottas (2)
Sweden F. Rosenqvist (2)
Most wins (constructors)Dallara (22)                          
Circuit length4.307 km (2.676 miles)
Race length107.675 km (66.90 miles)
Laps25
Last race (2016)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

The Masters of Formula 3 was 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 Three 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 3 Euro Series 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 31 July 2005, the Masters lost its sponsorship.[2] The race was sponsored by BP Ultimate took from 2006 to 2007, RTL in 2008, Tango in 2009 and RTL again in 2010.

For the first time since its creation the series took a one-year break in 2017 due to calendar changes on the circuit and FIA Formula 3 European Championship regulations which prohibits any racing activity prior the round on the same circuit.[3] But the race did not return in 2018, which made the 2016 race the final race of the event.

Results

[edit]
List of Masters of Formula 3 winners[4]
Year Winner Entrant Chassis – Engine Main Series Race Track Circuit Map
1991 United Kingdom David Coulthard United Kingdom Paul Stewart Racing Ralt RT35-Mugen-Honda British Formula 3 Championship Circuit Zandvoort
1992 Portugal Pedro Lamy Germany Opel Team WTS Reynard 923-Opel German Formula Three Championship
1993 Netherlands Jos Verstappen Germany Opel Team WTS Dallara F393-Opel German Formula Three Championship
1994 United Kingdom Gareth Rees United Kingdom Alan Docking Racing Dallara F394-Mugen-Honda British Formula 3 Championship
1995 Argentina Norberto Fontana[5] Switzerland KMS Dallara F395-Opel German Formula Three Championship
1996 Belgium Kurt Mollekens United Kingdom Alan Docking Racing Dallara F396-Mugen-Honda British Formula 3 Championship
1997 Netherlands Tom Coronel United Kingdom Alan Docking Racing Dallara F397-Toyota All-Japan Formula Three Championship
1998 Belgium David Saelens France ASM Fina Dallara F396-Renault French Formula Three Championship
1999 United Kingdom Marc Hynes United Kingdom Manor Motorsport Dallara F399-Mugen-Honda British Formula 3 Championship
2000 France Jonathan Cochet France Signature Competition Dallara F399-Renault French Formula Three Championship
2001 Japan Takuma Sato United Kingdom Carlin Motorsport Dallara F301-Mugen-Honda British Formula 3 Championship
2002 Brazil Fabio Carbone United Kingdom Fortec Motorsport Dallara F302-Renault British Formula 3 Championship
2003 Austria Christian Klien Germany ADAC Berlin Brandenburg Dallara F302-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series
2004 France Alexandre Prémat France ASM Formule 3 Dallara F304-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series
2005 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ASM Formule 3 Dallara F305-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series
2006 United Kingdom Paul di Resta France ASM Formule 3 Dallara F305-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series
2007 Germany Nico Hülkenberg France ASM Formule 3 Dallara F305-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series Circuit Zolder
2008 France Jules Bianchi France ART Grand Prix Dallara F308-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series
2009 Finland Valtteri Bottas France ART Grand Prix Dallara F308-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series Circuit Zandvoort
2010 Finland Valtteri Bottas France ART Grand Prix Dallara F308-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series
2011 Sweden Felix Rosenqvist Germany Mücke Motorsport Dallara F308-Mercedes Formula 3 Euro Series
2012 Spain Daniel Juncadella Italy Prema Powerteam Dallara F312-Mercedes FIA Formula 3 European Championship
2013 Sweden Felix Rosenqvist Germany KFZ‐Teile24 Mücke Motorsport Dallara F312-Mercedes FIA Formula 3 European Championship
2014 Netherlands Max Verstappen Germany Motopark Dallara F311-Volkswagen FIA Formula 3 European Championship
2015 Italy Antonio Giovinazzi United Kingdom Jagonya Ayam with Carlin Dallara F315-Volkswagen FIA Formula 3 European Championship
2016 Sweden Joel Eriksson Germany Motopark Dallara F316-Volkswagen FIA Formula 3 European Championship

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Masters to return to Zandvoort". autosport.com. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  2. ^ "Marlboro Masters F3 Race Gets New Name". Autoweek. 5 March 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  3. ^ Simmons, Marcus (21 April 2017). "Masters of F3 race won't be held in 2017". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Formel 3 Sieger Masters of Formula 3" [Formula 3 Winners Masters of Formula 3] (in German). Formel 3 Guide. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  5. ^ "August 1995 Data". Teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
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