2008 Formula 3 Euro Series Explained

The 2008 Formula 3 Euro Series season was the sixth championship year of Europe's premier Formula Three series. The season was dominated by 21-year-old German Nico Hülkenberg, who won seven of the season's ten feature races amassing 76 of his total of 85 championship points on Saturday afternoons. He won the championship by 35.5 points from early frontrunner Edoardo Mortara as the 2007's rookie cup winner's season somewhat tailed off after the Norisring, scoring just 9.5 points in the final twelve races compared to Hülkenberg's 60. Jules Bianchi's strong finish to the season, including a win in the final race at Hockenheim and coupled with Renger van der Zande's fifth place and Mika Mäki's ninth place, it allowed the 2008 Ultimate Masters winner to finish third in the championship, a point ahead of both van der Zande and Mäki.

Drivers and teams

2008 Entry List[1] Team No Driver Rookie Chassis Engine Rounds ART Grand Prix 1 Nico Hülkenberg F308/009 Mercedes All 2 James Jakes F308/049 All 24 Jules Bianchi F308/026 All 25 Jon Lancaster F308/070 All Mücke Motorsport 3 Christian Vietoris F308/050 Mercedes All 4 Erik Janiš F308/042 All 26 Mika Mäki F308/005 All Manor Motorsport 5 Sam Bird F308/036 Mercedes All 6 Niall Breen F308/001 1–8 28 Koudai Tsukakoshi F308/059 All 29 Kazuya Oshima F308/046 All Signature-Plus 7 Edoardo Mortara F308/073 Volkswagen All 8 Franck Mailleux F308/057 All 30 Jean-Karl Vernay F308/033 All 31 Stefano Coletti F308/011 1–2 35 Robert Wickens 3–6, 8–10 Prema Powerteam 9 nowrap Renger van der Zande F308/015 Mercedes All 10 Charlie Kimball F308/047 1–3 23 Dani Clos F308/031 All 31 Stefano Coletti F308/047 4–10 Jo Zeller Racing 14 Michael Klein F308/044 Mercedes 1–4 19 Tom Dillmann 6 HBR Motorsport 15 Daniel Campos-Hull F308/052 Mercedes All 27 Basil Shaaban F308/021 All R.C. Motorsport powered by Volkswagen 17 Maximilian Götz F308/077 Volkswagen 1–4 18 Martin Plowman F308/051 1–7 32 Jens Klingmann F308/032 All 33 Cong Fu Cheng F308/010 3–10 41 Brendon Hartley F308/077 6 43 Peter Elkmann F308/051 8 44 Nelson Panciatici 9 45 Frédéric Vervisch 10 SG Formula 19 Tom Dillmann F308/014 Mercedes 1–3 20 Henkie Waldschmidt F308/029 All 21 Richard Philippe F308/014 8–10 34 Yann Clairay F308/072 All 40 Daniel Ricciardo F308/014 6 Carlin Motorsport 21 Richard Philippe F308/055 Mercedes 1–7 22 Rodolfo González F308/074 1–9 41 Brendon Hartley F308/055 8–10 46 Oliver Oakes F308/074 10 Barazi-Epsilon 42 Stéphane Richelmi F308/094 Mercedes 8–10

Driver changes

Changed Teams

• Yann Clairay: Signature-Plus → SG Formula
• Dani Clos: Signature-Plus → Prema Powerteam
• Tom Dillmann: ASM Formule 3 → SG Formula
• James Jakes: Manor Motorsport → ART Grand Prix
• Franck Mailleux: Manor Motorsport → Signature-Plus

Entering/Re-Entering Formula 3 Euro Series

• Jules Bianchi: French Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (SG Formula) → ART Grand Prix
• Sam Bird: British Formula 3 Championship (Carlin Motorsport) → Manor Motorsport
• Niall Breen: British Formula 3 Championship (Carlin Motorsport) → Manor Motorsport
• Daniel Campos-Hull: Formula BMW ADAC (Eifelland Racing) → HBR Motorsport
• Cong Fu Cheng: British Formula 3 Championship National Class (Performance Racing Europe AB) → RC Motorsport
• Stefano Coletti: Italian Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (Epsilon Euskadi) → Signature-Plus
• Peter Elkmann: Sabbatical → RC Motorsport
• Rodolfo González: British Formula 3 Championship (T-Sport) → Carlin Motorsport
• Erik Janiš: FIA GT3 European Championship (S-Berg Racing) → Mücke Motorsport
• Brendon Hartley: Italian Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (Epsilon Red Bull Team) → RC Motorsport
• Charlie Kimball: Formula Renault 3.5 Series (Victory Engineering) → Prema Powerteam
• Jens Klingmann: Formula BMW ADAC (Eifelland Racing) → RC Motorsport
• Michael Klein: German Formula Three Championship Throphy Class (HS Technik Motorsport) → Jo Zeller Racing
• Jon Lancaster: French Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (SG Formula) → ART Grand Prix
• Mika Mäki: Italian Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (Epsilon Red Bull Team) → Mücke Motorsport
• Oliver Oakes: Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (Motopark Academy) → Carlin Motorsport
• Kazuya Oshima: All-Japan Formula Three Championship (Toyota Team Tom's) → Manor Motorsport
• Nelson Panciatici: French Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (SG Formula) → RC Motorsport
• Richard Philippe: Formula Renault 3.5 Series (Fortec Motorsport) → Carlin Motorsport
• Martin Plowman: Italian Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (Prema Powerteam) → RC Motorsport
• Stéphane Richelmi: Italian Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (Thierry Boutsen Racing) → Barazi-Epsilon
• Daniel Ricciardo: Italian Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (RP Motorsport) → SG Formula
• Koudai Tsukakoshi: All-Japan Formula Three Championship (Honda Team Real) → Manor Motorsport
• Christian Vietoris: German Formula Three Championship (Josef Kaufmann Racing) → Mücke Motorsport
• Frédéric Vervisch: German Formula Three Championship (JB Motorsport) → RC Motorsport
• Henkie Waldschmidt: Italian Formula Renault Championship & Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (Prema Powerteam) → SG Formula
• Robert Wickens: Atlantic Championship (Red Bull/Team Forsythe) → Signature-Plus

Leaving Formula 3 Euro Series

• Sergey Afanasyev: HBR Motorsport → International Formula Master (JD Motorsport)
• Cyndie Allemann: Manor Motorsport → Firestone Indy Lights (American Spirit Racing)
• Sébastien Buemi: ASL Mücke Motorsport → GP2 Series (Trust Team Arden)
• Yelmer Buurman: Manor Motorsport → GP2 Series (Trust Team Arden)
• Carlo van Dam: RC Motorsport → All-Japan Formula Three Championship (Petronas Team Tom's)
• Michael Devaney: Ultimate Motorsport → British Formula 3 Championship (Ultimate Motorsport)
• Romain Grosjean: ASM Formule 3 → GP2 Series (ART Grand Prix)
• Esteban Guerrieri: Ultimate Motorsport → Formula Renault 3.5 Series (Ultimate Signature)
• Euan Hankey: HS Technik Motorsport → Sabbatical
• Michael Herck: Bas Leinders Junior Racing Team → GP2 Series (David Price Racing)
• Marco Holzer: AM-Holzer Rennsport → Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (UPS Porsche Junior Team)
• Kamui Kobayashi: ASM Formule 3 → GP2 Series (DAMS)
• Michael Patrizi: Prema Powerteam → V8 Supercars (Ford Rising Stars Racing)
• Edoardo Piscopo: ASL Mücke Motorsport → Italian Formula Three Championship (Team Ghinzani)
• Filip Salaquarda: HBR Motorsport → International Formula Master (Team ISR)
• Tim Sandtler: Jo Zeller Racing → International Formula Master (Team ISR)
• Harald Schlegelmilch: HS Technik Motorsport → International Formula Master (Trident Racing)
• Jonathan Summerton: RC Motorsport → Atlantic Championship (Newman Wachs Racing)

Calendar

Round		Circuit	Date	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Winning Driver	Winning Team	Winning Rookie
1	R1	Hockenheimring	12 April	Nico Hülkenberg	Mika Mäki	Mika Mäki	Mücke Motorsport	Mika Mäki
	R2		13 April		Dani Clos	nowrap	Renger van der Zande	nowrap	Prema Powerteam	Erik Janiš
2	R1	Mugello Circuit	3 May	Nico Hülkenberg	Christian Vietoris	Nico Hülkenberg	nowrap	ART Grand Prix	Jules Bianchi
	R2		4 May		Mika Mäki	Mika Mäki	Mücke Motorsport	Mika Mäki
3	R1	Pau Circuit	31 May	James Jakes	James Jakes	James Jakes	ART Grand Prix	Jon Lancaster
	R2		1 June		Rodolfo González	Edoardo Mortara	nowrap	Signature-Plus	Jon Lancaster
4	R1	Norisring, Nuremberg	28 June	Nico Hülkenberg	Nico Hülkenberg	Nico Hülkenberg	ART Grand Prix	Jon Lancaster
	R2		29 June		James Jakes	Christian Vietoris	Mücke Motorsport	Robert Wickens
5	R1	Circuit Park Zandvoort	12 July	Nico Hülkenberg	Nico Hülkenberg	Nico Hülkenberg	ART Grand Prix	Mika Mäki
	R2		13 July		Nico Hülkenberg	Renger van der Zande	Prema Powerteam	Mika Mäki
6	R1	Nürburgring	26 July	nowrap	Christian Vietoris	Nico Hülkenberg	Nico Hülkenberg	ART Grand Prix	Jules Bianchi
	R2		27 July		Nico Hülkenberg	Jon Lancaster	ART Grand Prix	Jon Lancaster
7	R1	Brands Hatch	30 August	Jules Bianchi	Jules Bianchi	Nico Hülkenberg	ART Grand Prix	Jon Lancaster
	R2		31 August		Christian Vietoris	Franck Mailleux	Signature-Plus	nowrap	Henkie Waldschmidt
8	R1	Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona	nowrap	20 September	Nico Hülkenberg	nowrap	Henkie Waldschmidt	Nico Hülkenberg	ART Grand Prix	Erik Janiš
	R2	21 September		Jon Lancaster	Kazuya Oshima	Manor Motorsport	Jules Bianchi
9	R1	Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans	4 October	Jules Bianchi	Nico Hülkenberg	Jules Bianchi	ART Grand Prix	Jules Bianchi
	R2		5 October		Yann Clairay	Robert Wickens	Signature-Plus	Robert Wickens
10	R1	Hockenheimring	25 October	nowrap	Nico Hülkenberg	nowrap	Nico Hülkenberg	nowrap	Nico Hülkenberg	ART Grand Prix	Mika Mäki
	R2		26 October		Jules Bianchi	Jules Bianchi	ART Grand Prix	Jules Bianchi

Season standings

Drivers Standings

• Points are awarded as follows:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	PP
Race 1	10	8	6	5	4	3	2	1	1
Race 2	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	0

Note: In the second races at the Norisring, the Bugatti Circuit and the October Hockenheim meeting, due to insufficient distance covered, half points were awarded.

Pos Driver HOC1 MUG PAU NOR ZAN NÜR BRH CAT LMS HOC2 Pts 1 Nico Hülkenberg Ret 24† 1 5 Ret 16 1 Ret 1 13 1 4 1 5 1 Ret 24 8 1 3 85 2 Edoardo Mortara 3 3 4 3 2 1 4 3 Ret 21 Ret 23 4 4 9 Ret 9 14 12 6 49.5 3 Jules Bianchi Ret 13 3 4 Ret 26† Ret 9 3 9 2 3 22† 18 Ret 3 1 17 7 1 47 4 8 1 5 20 8 2 10 5 7 1 5 Ret 6 3 24 10 18 25 2 5 46 5 Mika Mäki 1 23† 6 1 Ret 15 Ret 18 2 5 4 Ret 20 16 23† 13 3 20 3 9 46 6 Christian Vietoris 7 2 28† 19 5 4 6 1 13 11 Ret Ret 5 Ret 3 2 28† 10 EX Ret 36 7 Koudai Tsukakoshi 13 9 2 7 11† 18 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 2 8 Ret 24† 4 4 6 2 36 8 Jean-Karl Vernay 5 22† 25 Ret Ret 14 3 4 6 4 13 7 8 2 17 11 5 3 5 4 35 9 Yann Clairay 11 5 7 2 Ret 13 Ret 19 5 2 14 6 3 6 4 5 22 16 13 10 33 10 Franck Mailleux 4 4 11 10 4 5 18 15 11 3 18 9 7 1 12 Ret 23 21 17 13 27 11 Sam Bird 10 6 14 8 Ret 11 14 8 4 6 22 19 Ret 19 2 18 2 11 16 Ret 23 12 Jon Lancaster Ret DNS 23 25 3 7 5 Ret Ret 24† 7 1 9 10 10 22 12 Ret Ret 20 19 13 James Jakes 12 11 12 15 1 6 25 13 10 7 24† 22 21† 17 5 4 13 5 11 Ret 19 14 Dani Clos Ret 7 8 9 6 3 21 Ret 15 15 Ret Ret 16 14 6 16 6 2 9 11 16.5 15 Robert Wickens 9 8 7 2 8 Ret 12 16 Ret 14 7 1 23 8 10.5 16 Niall Breen 19 19 9 6 13† Ret 24† 17 9 Ret 8 2 DSQ 20 16 15 8 17 Charlie Kimball 2 Ret 17 Ret Ret 23 8 18 Tom Dillmann NC 15 16 27† Ret 25† 3 5 8 19 Kazuya Oshima Ret 20 26† 18 10 10 13 7 14 8 11 20 Ret 21 8 1 21 12 Ret 19 7 20 Stefano Coletti 18 21 21 11 11 6 19 22† 9 Ret 19 25† 15 Ret 19 9 4 Ret 6.5 21 Erik Janiš 9 10 10 16 Ret 12 8 22 12 10 Ret 12 12 12 7 7 14 13 8 7 5 22 Maximilian Götz 6 8 22 22 Ret Ret Ret 20 3 23 Michael Klein 21 16 19 12 7 9 19 12 2 24 Rodolfo González 15 12 18 13 Ret 21 12 Ret 24 20 21 25 17 15 20 19 17 6 0.5 25 Daniel Campos-Hull 14 14 27† 21 Ret 19 17 11 23 14 20 8 13 13 Ret 17 10 7 14 Ret 0 26 Henkie Waldschmidt Ret Ret 13 26† Ret 17 9 Ret 17 23† 15 17 10 7 Ret 12 20 DNS 10 Ret 0 27 Jens Klingmann Ret Ret 24 24 Ret 20 15 10 21 18 16 10 11 11 11 8 27 15 22 16 0 28 Richard Philippe 16 17 15 17 12† Ret 22 16 16 12 10 18 14 24 19 9 11 Ret 18 18 0 29 Cong Fu Cheng Ret 22 16 14 18 16 23 13 15 9 21 20 16 24 15 12 0 30 Basil Shaaban 20 18 20 14 Ret 24 20 21† 22 19 19 24† Ret 23 22 23 26 19 20 17 0 31 Martin Plowman 17 Ret Ret 23 Ret 27† 23† Ret 20 17 17 21 18 22 0 guest drivers ineligible for championship points Daniel Ricciardo 6 15 0 Brendon Hartley Ret 14 14 6 8 22 Ret 14 0 Peter Elkmann 13 21 0 Nelson Panciatici 15 18 0 Oliver Oakes Ret 15 0 Stéphane Richelmi 18 Ret 25 23 21 21† 0 Frédéric Vervisch 19 Ret 0 Pos Driver HOC1 MUG PAU NOR ZAN NÜR BRH CAT LMS HOC2 Pts

† — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

• Pole-winners in bold; race 1 pole-winners earn one point (not awarded at Pau or Brands).
• Drivers achieving fastest lap in italics. No points awarded.

Rookie Cup

Rookie drivers are only eligible for the Rookie Cup title if they have not previously competed in a national or international Formula 3 championship.

Pos	Driver	HOC1		MUG		PAU		NOR		ZAN		NÜR		BRH		CAT		LMS		HOC2		Pts
1	Erik Janiš	9	10	10	16	Ret	12	8	22	12	10	Ret	12	12	12	7	7	14	13	8	7	78
2	Mika Mäki	1	Ret	6	1	Ret	15	Ret	18	2	5	4	Ret	20	16	23	13	3	20	3	9	76.5
3	Jules Bianchi	Ret	13	3	4	Ret	26	Ret	9	3	9	2	3	22	18	Ret	3	1	17	7	1	75.5
4	Jon Lancaster	Ret	DNS	23	25	3	7	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	1	9	10	10	22	12	Ret	Ret	20	66
5	Richard Philippe	16	17	15	17	Ret	Ret	22	16	16	12	10	18	14	24	19	9	11	Ret	18	18	49
6	Robert Wickens					9	8	7	2	8	Ret	12	16			Ret	14	7	1	23	8	45
7	Stefano Coletti	18	21	21	11			11	6	19	Ret	9	Ret	19	25	15	Ret	19	9	4	Ret	42.5
8	Daniel Campos-Hull	14	14	Ret	21	Ret	19	17	11	23	14	20	8	13	13	Ret	17	10	7	14	Ret	37.5
9	Henkie Waldschmidt	Ret	Ret	13	26	Ret	17	9	Ret	17	Ret	15	17	10	7	Ret	12	20	DNS	10	Ret	37
10	Jens Klingmann	Ret	Ret	24	24	Ret	20	15	10	21	18	16	10	11	11	11	8	27	15	22	16	32.5
11	Martin Plowman	17	Ret	Ret	23	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	20	17	17	21	18	22							8
Pos	Driver	HOC1		MUG		PAU		NOR		ZAN		NÜR		BRH		CAT		LMS		HOC2		Pts

Team's standings

	Nation	Points
1	ART Grand Prix	159
2	Signature-Plus	110.5
3	Mücke Motorsport	88
4	Prema Powerteam	80
5	Manor Motorsport	78.5
6	SG Formula	37
7	Jo Zeller Racing	11
8	R.C. Motorsport powered by Volkswagen	4
9	Carlin Motorsport	1.5
10	HBR Motorsport	0

Nations Cup

	Nation	Points
1		140
2		119
3		64
4		49.5
5		48
6		47
7		43
8		17.5
9		11.5
10		9
11		8
12		6.5
13		5
14		0.5

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2008 Entry List . PDF . formel3guide.com. 2009-10-14. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924014729/http://www.formel3guide.com/images/starter/2008-starter-es.pdf . 2015-09-24 .