F3 Euroseries news

Renger van der Zande best Mercedes-Benz Junior

Virtually unnoticed, Renger van der Zande (Prema Powerteam) has worked his way up to third position in the Formula 3 Euro Series rankings. The Dutch has got just two points less on his tally than the current runner-up, Mika Mäki (Mücke Motorsport), thus being the best Mercedes-Benz Junior on the Formula 3 Euro Series grid.

Van der Zande made a good start into the 2008 season. By finishing eighth in the first round of the season kick-off at the Hockenheimring, the Prema driver secured pole position for round two. There, he made perfect use of his pole and crossed the finish line as winner.

At Mugello, van der Zande again succeeded in scoring points. In the Saturday round of the home event for his Italian team he finished fifth. In the Sunday round, however, the Dutchman failed to score for the first time in 2008. The reason: battery problems had forced him to start from the pit-lane.

On the challenging and demanding street circuit of Pau, located in Southern France, the young gun from Nijmegen kept on delivering. He has scored points in every Saturday round contested to date. In Pau, the 22-year old finished eighth, thus adding another point to his tally. A particularly fine result as points seemed to be out of his reach, following the qualifying session. He started the race from 24th grid position and during the course of the 29-lap event, he even collided with Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix), thus losing several positions. Still, van der Zande kept his cool and benefited from the mistakes made by other drivers. A matured approach that helped him to gain position by position and finish eighth, at the end of the day.

Thanks to the reverse grid format, finishing eight in the Saturday round meant pole position on Sunday, for the Dutchman - just as it had been the case at Hockenheim. This time, he had no chance of winning as Edoardo Mortara (Signature-Plus) raced in a class of his own, in Pau. Still, van der Zande defeated his closest rivals, Dani Clos and Christian Vietoris, to finish runner-up and move up to third championship position in the most competitive young-gun series of the world.

more news

• 02 Nov.
  • Rosenzweig tests for Fortec
• 25 Oct.
  • Vernay wins chaotic last race of the season
  • Photos: Sunday in Hockenheim
• 24 Oct.
  • Photos: Saturday in Hockenheim
  • Bianchi wins as ART takes teams' title
• 23 Oct.
  • Photos: Friday in Hockenheim
  • Bianchi on pole at Hockenheim
  • Vernay fastest in Hockenheim practice
• 20 Oct.
  • DAMS confirms Vietoris and Piscopo
  • Bortolotti joins Carlin for Hockenheim finale
• 17 Oct.
  • Bird joins ART for GP2 Asia Series
• 13 Oct.
  • Bianchi joins GP2 with ART
• 11 Oct.
  • Bianchi claims title with win at Dijon-Prenois
  • Photos: Sunday at Dijon
• 10 Oct.
  • Vietoris wins to keep championship alive
• 09 Oct.
  • Photos: Friday at Dijon
  • Bianchi on pole in France
  • ART leads first Dijon practice
• 08 Oct.
  • Bianchi not distracted by title prospects
• 20 Sep.
  • Van der Zande wins second Barcelona race
• 19 Sep.
  • Photos: Saturday in Barcelona
  • Bianchi claims another win in Spain
• 18 Sep.
  • Photos: Friday in Barcelona
  • Bianchi on pole in Barcelona
  • Tandy fastest in first Barcelona session
• 15 Sep.
  • Van der Zande returns to F3 Euroseries
• 08 Sep.
  • Bird: Brands doesn't love me!
• 06 Sep.
  • Hartley and Carlin celebrate maiden win
  • Photos: Sunday at Brands Hatch
• 05 Sep.
  • Mäki wins delayed first race at Brands Hatch
  • Photos: Saturday at Brands Hatch
  • Race 1 stopped for Bianchi and Geronimi crash
• 04 Sep.
  • Bottas confident after Friday
  • Photos: Friday at Brands Hatch
  • Bottas takes pole as Bianchi slides off
  • Bianchi leads ART 1-2 in Brands practice
  • Coletti unable to drive at Brands
• 01 Sep.
  • Sandtler joins Prema for Brands
  • Sims heading home on a high
• 18 Aug.
  • Coletti replaces Valsecchi at Durango

Homepage