The concept of a unified European Formula Three series dates to 1975, when the five-race F3 European Cup was staged at Monaco, the Nürburgring, Anderstorp, Monza, and Croix-en-Ternois. Australian Larry Perkins won that inaugural title in a Ralt-Ford. The Cup expanded into a ten-round European F3 Championship that ran from 1976 to 1984, producing champions including Riccardo Patrese (1976), Alain Prost (1979), and Michele Alboreto (1980).
The modern Formula 3 Euro Series was inaugurated in 2003 through a partnership between the French motorsport authority (FFSA) and the German motorsport authority (DMSB). The merger ended the standalone French Formula Three Championship; Germany effectively retained a lower-tier national series, the Recaro Formel 3 Cup, for teams that chose not to participate in the new Euro Series. Organisation and promotion of the championship was handled by ITR, which also ran the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.
Each season comprised ten events held at European circuits, with approximately half the calendar at German venues and the remainder in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, and Spain. Most rounds were shared with the DTM. The format featured two races per weekend, with the grid for the second race set by reversing the top eight positions from race one. From 2004 onwards, the Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort was included as a championship round.
Points in the first race were awarded to the top eight finishers, with ten points for a win. The shorter second race awarded points to the top six, with six points for a win. A bonus point was given for pole position in qualifying.
The series used FIA-sanctioned Formula Three regulations: multiple chassis builders were permitted, with Italian manufacturer Dallara dominant throughout the championship's existence. Engine suppliers at launch included Mercedes-Benz (produced by HWA), Opel (produced by Spiess), and Toyota (produced by TOM's). Renault and Mugen-Honda engines were also used by smaller numbers of teams. As Mercedes-powered entries — particularly those run by ASM Formule 3 — accumulated success, their market share grew substantially. By 2007 Volkswagen had also entered the series.
Tyre usage was restricted to three sets per car per race weekend. Testing was limited to ten days per driver per season from 2006.
The inaugural season attracted the leading teams from the merged French and German championships. Ryan Briscoe of Australia, driving a Dallara-Opel for Prema Powerteam, won the Drivers' Championship in a closely fought campaign in which wins were shared among eight drivers, six teams, and three engine manufacturers. Three drivers from the 2003 field — Robert Kubica, Timo Glock, and Nico Rosberg — subsequently competed in Formula One.
Mercedes-backed ASM Formule 3 established dominance in 2004. Jamie Green of Great Britain won the Drivers' title, achieving seven race wins and seven further podiums. Green graduated to the DTM with Mercedes backing.
The 2005 championship was dominated by Lewis Hamilton of Britain, then a McLaren-Mercedes protégé. Hamilton achieved a record fifteen race wins from twenty starts, along with thirteen pole positions and ten fastest laps. He graduated to GP2, won that championship in his rookie year, and went on to claim the 2008 Formula One World Championship with McLaren. Sebastian Vettel, competing in 2005, finished as the highest-placed rookie.
Paul di Resta took the 2006 championship with ASM and Mercedes, with Vettel as runner-up. Romain Grosjean won in 2007, Nico Hülkenberg in 2008, and Jules Bianchi in 2009. All four subsequently competed in Formula One. Di Resta raced for Force India; Grosjean drove for Renault, Lotus, and Haas across a long F1 career.
In 2012 the FIA announced the series would be discontinued and folded into the new FIA Formula 3 European Championship from 2013 onwards. At the time of its closure the Euro Series had established itself as one of Europe's most important junior championships over its ten-year existence.
Gallery · 2 related images
