THE TALENT Volkswagen in Formula 3 FACTORY. 1979 – 2018 Foreword 2|3 Dear Media Representative, A successful era is drawing to a close. After four decades, Volkswagen Motorsport is bidding farewell to Formula 3 – one of the most important and iconic junior classes in inter­ national motorsport, and one that is virtually indispensable for the stars of tomorrow. Volkswagen has always been aware of the importance of However, we will continue to show great commitment to promoting talented youngsters in motorsport. As such, it has promoting youngsters in motorsport in the future: at the consistently been involved in Formula 3 – and with great racetracks of this world, we have implemented a successful success: between 1979 and 1991, and since returning as an customer sport programme with the Golf GTI TCR since 2016. engine supplier in 2007, Volkswagen has won over 75 natio­ The TCR series offer talented young drivers an affordable nal and international titles in Formula 3 championships route into professional motorsport. From 2019, we will also around the world. Legends like Michael Schumacher, Bernd offer a car for customer use in the WRC 2 class on the rally Schneider and Tom Kristensen have all claimed titles as scene, in the form of the new Polo R5 GTI. Both concepts are Formula 3 drivers “powered by Volkswagen” and have gone all about motorsport with production­based cars – a strategy on to enjoy hugely successful careers in Formula 1, DTM and that Volkswagen is consciously pursuing, and one which in famous endurance races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. allows both the sporting competition and the development of future production models to benefit from each other. As of the 2019 season, Formula 3 is striking out in new dir­ ections. The previous regulations will no longer apply at the This farewell also signifies a new beginning and a focus on highest level, including regulations regarding the engines future goals. Join us in looking forward to exciting seasons at used. In the future, Formula 3 will operate with standard racetracks and rallies all over the world. chassis and engines. Sven Smeets Volkswagen Motorsport Director Contents 4|5 FOUR DECADES OF FORMULA 3 WITH VOLKSWAGEN POWER. 6 This is Formula 3 10 History 14 Volkswagen Engines in Formula 3 18 Big Names “powered by Volkswagen” 22 The Macau Grand Prix 28 Statistics 32 Volkswagen Customer Sport This is Formula 3 6|7 Charles Leclerc finished fourth in the 2015 FIA F3 European Championship with Volkswagen and Van Amersfoort Racing. The young man from Monaco will drive for Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1 in 2019. FIA FORMULA 3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP. GLOBAL It is seen as the “Gateway to Formula 1”: the Formula 3 Euro­ champions have progressed to the pinnacle of motor racing – the pean Championship, organised by the International Automobile latest example being Britain’s Lando Norris, who was crowned Federation FIA, allows the most talented youngsters to demon­ champion with the Carlin Team and Volkswagen Power in 2017 strate their racing skills on the international stage. The calendar and will drive for McLaren in Formula 1 in 2019. The FIA Formula SUCCESS includes various Grand Prix circuits, in order to systematically 3 European Championship was preceded by the Formula 3 Euro prepare the young drivers for Formula 1. The 2018 season Series, which was also instrumental in many illustrious careers. featured trips to Silverstone (GB), Spa­Francorchamps (B), Spielberg (A), Budapest (H) and the Hockenheimring (D). A con­ CONCEPT. cept that is paying dividends: many former Formula 3 European This is where it all begins. This is where the stars of the motor racing world are born. Few make it to the very top without it: Formula 3 is the best-known BRITISH FORMULA 3. “school” for rising talents – and no manufacturer can Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen and Rubens Barrichello have done it: they all point to such a long and extensive success story in this came through the British Formula 3 Championship at the start of their remark­ class as Volkswagen. able motorsport careers. This was once the most important “casting show” in the world for future Formula 1 superstars. Even today, those in the know sit up and take note when they hear the names of recent winners – the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Jean­Eric Vergne, Felipe Nasr – all of whom won with Volkswagen engines. The circuits used include many classic British racetracks: Oulton Park, Rockingham, Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Silverstone and Donington Park. Volkswagen returned to the iconic series in 2009, since when it has won five titles. ▶ Jack Harvey heads the field: the Volkswagen driver won the prestigious British Formula 3 Championship in 2012. This is Formula 3 8|9 Global success: Volkswagen driver Mitsunori Takaboshi was crowned Japanese Formula 3 Champion in 2017. GERMAN FORMULA 3. Nürburgring, Hockenheim, Zolder and, of course, the famous Avus John Nielsen was the first to make a lasting impression when he in Berlin: held between 1975 and 2002, the German Formula 3 won the title in 1982. Two years later, he added victory in the famous Championship attracted droves of fans into the grandstands at race in Macau. Many stars have come through German Formula 3: iconic racetracks. And when the action kicked off on race weekends, as well as Formula 1 greats like “Schumi” and Heinz­Harald Frentzen, Volkswagen was regularly in the thick of it. The Wolfsburg­based big names from the world of touring car racing have also earned manufacturer racked up 93 race wins in the popular development their spurs here, including Joachim Winkelhock, Tom Kristensen and series, with eight drivers being crowned Formula 3 champion with Marco Werner – all “powered by Volkswagen”. 270 Volkswagen engines between 1982 and 1991. Danish works driver KM/H TOP SPEED APPROX. Girl power: Japanese driver Ai Miura lines up in the Japanese F3 Championship with Volkswagen and the B­Max Racing Team. FORMULA 3 AROUND THE WORLD. The Formula 3 circus takes its show all over the world: a host of national series are held around the globe in accordance with Formula 3 regulations – including the Japanese Formula 3 Cham­ pionship, which was launched in 1979 and has allowed eventual stars like Tom Kristensen and Adrian Sutil to show what they are capable of. The Brazilians, who are renowned for their passion for motorsport, also have “their own” Formula 3 series. Central and Eastern European states including Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Aus­ tria, and the Czech Republic are brought together under the FIA “umbrella” in the Central European Zone Formula 3 Champion­ ship. — History 10|11 HOW IT ALL BEGAN. A beetle engine with a carburettor generating a Popular predecessor to Formula 3: Formula Vee good 34 PS in the boot: this is how Formula Vee and Super Vee provided the stage for thrilling racing in the 1960s and 1970s – with Volkswagen lined up for the first time at the Norisring in engines in the rear, of course. Nuremberg in 1966. Volkswagen entered the single-seater racing scene for young drivers in 1967. Formula Vee enjoyed rapidly increasing po- pularity, but was replaced in the 1970s by Formula 3, which took on the mantle of “talent showcase” for THE NEXT LEVEL. young drivers. The early experience gained in circuit In 1979, Volkswagen stepped up its commitment to the racing played into Volkswagen’s hands when they sub- next generation of motorsport stars and began supplying sequently entered Formula 3. engines for the German Formula 3 Championship. They were based on the engine in the Volkswagen Golf I GTI at the time and were soon the dominant force. By 1994, Volkswagen drivers had racked up 92 race wins and seven titles. Winning drivers included seven­time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, record DTM cham­ pion Bernd Schneider and nine­time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen. ▶ In the 1980s, Volkswagen engines soon established themselves as the dominant force in Formula 3. History 12|13 SUCCESSFUL ON THE THE COMEBACK. INTERNATIONAL STAGE. In 2007, Volkswagen returned to its successful Volkswagen drivers have won over 50 titles around appears in the lists of winners at Formula 3 classics: tradition as engine supplier for youngsters in the world – for example, in the fiercely­competitive ten times in Macao, including in 1990 with a young single­seaters and presented a newly­developed British Formula 3 Championship. Daniel Ricciardo Michael Schumacher, 2009 and 2010 with Edoardo two­litre engine with FSI technology for the For­ won in 2009, followed by Jean Eric Vergne in 2010. Mortara, and 2012 and 2016 with António Félix 580* mula 3 Euro Series at the Nürburgring. The large­ Both drivers went on to race in Formula 1. da Costa, who remains the only driver to win the KG MINIMUM WEIGHT scale production engine had an aluminium block “Monte Carlo of the East” twice. It goes without and generated about 210 PS. The first race wins Volkswagen has been involved in the prestigious saying that Volkswagen drivers have also enjoyed came the following season, before present­day FIA Formula 3 European Championship as an engine success at the street races in Monaco and Pau, DTM driver Edoardo Mortara claimed Volkswagen’s supplier since 2012. The name Volkswagen also France. — first title in 2010. 1 3 SIX SEASONS 2 UNDEFEATED … … for Volkswagen as engine supplier to the German 1 I’ve got the racing line: Max Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (A). ATS Formula 3 Cup, which was launched in 2008 as a modern successor to the German Formula 3 2 Jean­Eric Vergne clinched the coveted Championship. In 2009, the title went to Laurens title in the British Formula 3 champi­ onship with the Carlin team and Volks­ Vanthoor.