Pascal Wehrlein and Mans Grenhagen took the number of drivers committed to the 2013 FIA European F3 Championship to fifteen yesterday.
After taking one victory in 2012, Wehrlein is staying with the tried and trusted Mücke Motorsport for a further year in the belief they will guide him to the title.
This is to be the 18-year-old’s second campaign in Europe’s leading Formula 3 series {note 1} and is confident Mücke can help achieve the title.
“I am really looking forward to take the next step with Mücke Motorsport. Especially at the second half of last year’s season we have been the strongest team,” said Wehrlein. He added “it sure will be an advantage to enter the new season with a well-rehearsed team.“
Wehrlein continues to be supported by the influential ADAC Stiftung Sport and Deutsche Post Speed Academy – a connection that has endured since the 18-year-old contested since his time in Formula Masters {note 2}.
This campaign also marks a solid step for Mücke, as they expand their full-season programme to three cars for the first since 2009; however it is believed an option for a fourth entry is still available. So far Mitchell Gilbert and Roy Nissany have been confirmed alongside Wehrlein.
Grenhagen, meanwhile, will be making his debut with Van Amersfoort Racing following a positive European F3 Open season in 2012.
Driving for EmiliodeVillota Motorsport, the Swede finished 3rd in the mostly Spanish-based series, taking three wins and five podiums along the way, although he remained some distance behind runner-up Gianmarco Raimondo and champion Niccolò Schirò.
It was an impressive season-long run by Grenhagen in what was only his third season of racing. After a difficult year racing Formula Abarth in 2011, the 19-year-old found his feet in the Dallara F312 chassis last year and he is keen to maintain the pace of progress.
“Last season I found the pleasure in racing again and I am hungry to compete in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. I choose for Van Amersfoort Racing because of their experience and successes in Formula 3. My goal is to continue the strong form of 2012. I want to be in top 5 at the end of the season.”
There is little doubt, however, that the European Championship is a huge step up from the F3 Open Series and any success Grenhagen achieves may come down to his level preparation.
Grenhagen will be partnered at Van Amersfoort by recent signing Dennis van de Laar, although, like Mucke, the Dutch squad are negotiating with other drivers to possibly run an extra machine full-time.
{note 1}
Wehrlein was also a classified competitor in the F3 Euro Series, which ran in conjunction with eight of the European Championship’s ten events. In a tight campaign, Wehrlein claimed the runner-up spot to the double champion Daniel Juncadella, ending the season only fourteen points adrift of his Spanish rival.
{note 2}
After finishing 6th overall in 2010 with Berlin-Brandenburg (an additional wing of Mücke Motorsport), Wehrlein won the ADAC Formula Masters a year later, holding Emil Bernstorff at bay through the final round in the Hockenheimring.
2013 FIA European Formula 3 grid (as of February 14th)
Carlin: TBA TBA
(possible 3rd driver)
EuroInternational: Tom Blomqvist TBA
Fortec: Pipo Derani Felix Serralles
TBA TBA
Jo Zeller Racing: TBA TBA
ma-con Motorsport: Andre Rudersdorf
Mucke Motorsport: Mitchell Gilbert Roy Nissany
Pascal Wehrlein (possible 4th driver)
Prema Powerteam: Lucas Auer Eddie Cheever III
Alex Lynn Raffaele Marciello
ThreeBond with T-Sport: Will Buller Spike Goddard
URD Rennsport: TBA
Van Amersfoort: Dennis van de Laar Mans Grenhagen,
(possible 3rd driver)
