Formula 3: New start for Jenzer and Scherer
The Spanish GP will see the start of the FIA Formula 3 series, which has evolved from GP3. Jenzer Motorsport will field three cars, with Fabio Scherer from the Sauber Junior Team the only Swiss in the field. The former GP3 series will become FIA Formula 3 from 2019. The chassis will continue to come from Dallara, the tires from Pirelli and the [...]
The former GP3 series will become FIA Formula 3 from 2019. The chassis will continue to come from Dallara, the tires from Pirelli and the 3.4-liter V6 engine with around 380 hp (at 8000 rpm) from Mecachrome. Among the ten selected teams with 30 drivers from 19 nations (average age only 19.13 years) is Jenzer Motorsport, which has been involved in GP3 since the beginning in 2010.
Great expectations for the little Japanese
Andreas Jenzer is fielding three newcomers in his race cars: Andreas Estner, Artem Petrov and Yuki Tsunoda. Only the Russian has Formula 3 experience, but he failed to make an impression in his debut season at Van Amersfoort in 2018.
The German Elster is still a blank slate. Tsunoda is a promise for the future: The Formula 4 champion from Japan is sponsored by Honda and Red Bull and impressed in the tests. The team boss is convinced that the little Japanese driver will be able to compete at the front straight away.
Andreas Jenzer: "Even during the tests in Abu Dhabi, when he sat in such a powerful GP3 car for the first time, he made no indication that this series was out of his league."
Fabio Scherer in the Sauber Junior Team
In addition to Jenzer, the Sauber Junior Team by Charouz also has a Swiss connection. Although the team races under Czech banner (with the support of Sauber Motorsport), Fabio Scherer is the only Swiss in one of the three cockpits.
In 2018, the Lucerne native, who lives in Engelberg, attracted attention with good performances in the Formula 3 European Championship with the discarded naturally aspirated two-liter engines. His leading laps and second place in the Spa 24 Hours and fourth place on the Pau street circuit were outstanding.
But the bottom line is that the season of the former Swiss karting champion was not consistent enough. That is set to change.
Fabio Scherer: "I think I should be able to finish in the top ten. If you finish 7th or 8th in the first race, you'll be on the front row of the grid in the second race. That would be very good, of course."
Enormous power density
The 19-year-old from central Switzerland is aware that the power density will be enormous.
Fabio Scherer: "This is one of the strongest fields I've ever experienced. The competition is probably even tougher than in Formula 2. There are about eight drivers who can win the title. So it's going to be very close, but it's exactly this competitive situation that drives me on. It's great that I can take part in this championship."
His teammates are Briton Raoul Hyman and German Lirim Zendeli, the champion from ADAC Formula 4 2018.
Quickly find your way back into race mode
After a seven-month break from racing - the longest ever in his career - Scherer doesn't have much time to settle in. A 45-minute practice session on Friday morning is followed by the half-hour qualifying session in the evening. Both races, each lasting a maximum of 40 minutes at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, will take place at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
