The time of testing and tactics has come to an end - now,𝓡 the cards will be on the table. With 30 drivers from 16 nations, the new Formula 3 Euro Series will be celebrat𝔍ing its eagerly awaited premiere at the Hockenheimring this weekend [April 26/27].

"I am happy that we are finally getting back into action," says Markus Winkelhock [Mucke Motorsport] before the start of the attractive junior racing series. With his Dallara-Mercedes, the Swabian did a great job in testing and is confident that, following his bad luck of last year, he will succeed in winning the title in his third year in Formu🌄la 3. "The Competition is very strong, but I think that my chances are quite good."

However, the list of titl𓃲e candidates is long. Australian Ryan Briscoe [PREMA Powerteam/Dallara-Opel], Toyota test driver in Formula 1, is one of them, just like Olivier Pla [ASM/Dallara-Mercedes]. The Frenchman, third in last year's French Formula 3-championship and winner of the F3 Grand Prix of Korea, was fastest during the first official test session of the Formula 3 Euro Series at the Adria Raceway.

His team-mate Alexandre Premat also showed a strong performance: the rookie, champion of the French Formula Renault in 2002, became quicker and quicker with his Dallara-Mercedes during the course of the test sessions and gave an impressive proof of his talent by setting fastest time during the final test before the season opener at ✱the Hockenheimring.

At this dressrehearsal, the closeness of the competition in the Formula 3 Euro Series bec💦ame clear once again: 💝15 drivers were separated by only one second.

According to German Timo Glock [Opel Team KMS], there a𝓰re: "certainly eight, nine drivers, who are easily capable of competing for the title." The third-placed of the International German Formula 3-championship 2002 obviously is counting himself in, too: "Of course, winning the title is my goal."

Nine drivers will be on the grid as rookies during the season opener. They already proved in official testing that they can be quite a threat to the stalwarts. Next to Alexandre Premat, Austrian♏ Christian Klien [M?cke Motorsport/ Dalla🎃ra-Mercedes] also surprised in pre-season testing with a fastest time of the day at Misano/Italy, while Robert Kubica [PREMA Powerteam/Dallara-Opel] from Poland was fastest on the first day of testing at Ledenon/France.

Nico Rosberg [Team Rosberg/Dallara-Opel] also proved to be strong. The graduate from the Formula BMW ADAC is regarding his maiden For𝔍mula 3-season as a learning year. "But I hope to achieve some good results."