From a lingering threat of disqualification to victory and a new lap record – last year’s FIA Formula 3 European Championship round at Germany’s Norisring had it all for Felix Rosenqvist. Just days on from the events of Spa, the series now returns to the streets of Nuremberg for its 2014 gathering, with Rosenqvist eager to get back to winning ways as the season reaches its halfway point between the barriers of “Franconian Monaco”…
Flashback: the previous round
FIA F3 European Championship: Spa-Francorchamps (Round 5)
20-22/6
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- Rosenqvist loses podium to last-lap technical glitch
- Video: Felix reflects on weekend at Spa
- Gallery: the best pictures from Belgium
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- EXTRA (text): Norisring 2013 – emotions run high on streets of Nuremberg
- EXTRA (video): Felix’s thoughts on 2013 Norisring drama
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LAYOUT
Length: 2.300 km
Opened: 1947
Lap record, F3: 48.306s (Felix Rosenqvist, 2013)
2013 results (Felix): 2/2/1
Race duration: 35 minutes
With just four corners and a lap half the length of most other, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion of the Norisring being quite a straightforward circuit.
Nothing, however, could be more wrong.
The former parade streets around the 360-metre “Steintribüne” grandstand feature the bumpiest tarmac of the year, with grip levels not being helped by an array of painted traffic lines on the track surface. The layout is dominated by two tight hairpins – one at each end – making traction and braking the two most important parameters in car set-up.
Sticking with the aspect of braking, slowing the cars down in an effective way will be one of the most significant challenges for the drivers, with heavy braking zones made even more difficult by twisting entries to the corners. The Norisring puts a premium on mechanical grip, as opposed to the aerodynamic performance required by more traditional venues.
The room for mistakes (the DTM meeting sees about 100 concrete walls and three layers of Armco barriers installed around the track) is highly limited – particularly in the fast Esses on the back of the circuit. The Nuremberg streets require drivers to slowly build their confidence between the walls, making a trouble-free practice session on Friday vital for the acclimatisation process.
FELIX’S PERSPECTIVE:
“Getting back behind the wheel just a couple of days after the last race at Spa, where we didn’t fulfil our true potential, feels great. It’s about time we start to win races again, and I think the Norisring will suit us well. It’s a street circuit, just like Pau where we managed to win earlier this year, and it’s important to have a car that’s stable under braking. I will probably never forget the events that transpired in Nuremberg last year; it was the most emotional weekend of my career to date, and at the end of it all, it also turned out to be one of my best. I finished on the podium in each of the races, won the final one and set a new lap record, so I know what we’re capable of going into this weekend. I’m more motivated than ever right now, and I will do whatever it takes to get us back to the front of the field where we belong.”
TIME TABLE
All times local (GMT+02:00)
Friday 27 June
Free Practice 1: 12.45 (40 minutes)
Free Practice 2: 13.30 (40 minutes)
Qualifying 1: 17.40 (20 minutes)
Saturday 28 June
Race 1: 10.40 (35 minutes)
Qualifying 2: 16.10 (20 minutes)
Sunday 29 June
Race 2: 11.00 (35 minutes)
Race 3: 15.30 (35 minutes)
HOW IT WORKS – AN FIA F3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK GUIDE
Each round of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship is made up of three races, all of which are of equal length (35 minutes) and importance for the outcome in the title chase. The points structure mirrors that in use in Formula 1, running to the 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 system (with the top ten finishers in each race scoring points).
The grid for all three races is set in the two qualifying sessions. For Race 1, the starting order is established by the outright results of Qualifying 1, while the subsequent second qualifying session forms the grid for Race 2. For Race 3, the grid will be based on each driver’s second-fastest lap in Qualifying 2.
CALENDAR
The full 2014 calendar can be viewed here.
ENTRY LIST
FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2014 – teams and drivers
HOW TO FOLLOW FELIX THIS WEEKEND
WEBSITE
As always, www.felixracing.se will be fully updated throughout the weekend, with reports from each of the sessions that take place. The website is the central hub of information for everything that goes on both on and off the track, and will also feature other relevant news, pictures and videos.
TV
All three races at the event will be streamed LIVE at www.fiaf3europe.com, with a link set to appear in the slider field at the top of the www.felixracing.se start page. In addition to the real-time broadcasts, a new-for-2014 agreement will also see Eurosport produce a magazine-style wrap-up show to be aired on the Tuesday following each round.
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SOCIAL MEDIA
The interaction with fans and followers will principally involve Felix Racing’s official Facebook Fan Page, where supporters can discuss all the goings-on and post potential questions to Felix. Tweets will also be forthcoming through Felix’s own Twitter account (@FRosenqvist).