The path to Formula One following in Hamilton's slipstream

At the end of the 2010 season, the Formula 3 Euro Series produced a second Formula One champion in Sebastian Vettel, the youngest Formula One world champion ever. In 2008, ex-Formula 3 Euro Series champion, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, gained motor racing's finest accolade, the Formula One World Championship title. Since its inauguration in the 2003 season, the Formula 3 Euro Series has become a springboard for Formula One.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council intends giving Formula 3 additional kudos with the launch of a new competition – in 2011, six existing Formula 3 events will be replaced by the new FIA International Formula 3 Trophy. The three highest-placed drivers will qualify for a Formula One Super License, and perhaps one day will follow in Hamilton's footsteps. In order to be eligible for this new competition, drivers are required to have contested a full season in one of the Formula 3 championship series.

From a total of 27 starters in the 2010 Formula One season, 24 have contested at least one Formula 3 Series during their careers. Twelve of them have competed in the Formula 3 Euro Series, including reigning Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, former world champion Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg plus Nico HÃ¼lkenberg, Adrian Sutil and Robert Kubica.

Vettel, Hamilton and DTM's latest champion, Paul Di Resta, all competed in the Formula 3 Euro Series during the 2005 season. "My time with ASM Mercedes in the Formula 3 Euro Series was a very important period in my career," said Di Resta, who beat Vettel to the championship title in 2006. "Sebastian and I have had some amazing scraps, and I can't wait to continue our duels at some future date in Formula One."

Formula 3 team boss Peter MÃ¼cke: "The Formula 3 Euro Series is important for nurturing talent and plays quite a big role in preparing drivers for greater things in the world of motor racing. Any driver who can reach the upper echelons of this top-flight series is ready to meet those challenges." Born and bred in Berlin, Peter MÃ¼cke runs 'MÃ¼cke Motorsport', Germany's biggest private racing team, and has launched the Formula One careers of six of his protégés – including Sebastian Vettel.

The FIA Formula 3 Trophy opener takes place in early May 2011 during the Formula 3 Euro Series heats. It will form part of the DTM race weekend at the Hockenheimring. The first Formula 3 Euro Series race of the new season is on 1st April 2011 at Le Castellet in the South of France. The n-tv news channel transmitted live pictures of all the races in the Formula 3 Euro Series during the 2010 season. Broadcasts were featured by 72 stations in 167 countries.

Formula 3 Euro Series – 2011 Race Calendar

01.04. – 03.04.2011 – Circuit Paul Ricard
29.04. – 01.05.2011 – Hockenheimring
13.05. – 15.05.2011 – Zandvoort
03.06. – 05.06.2011 – Spielberg
01.07. – 03.07.2011 – Norisring
05.08. – 07.08.2011 – NÃ¼rburgring
09.09. – 11.09.2011 – Silverstone
30.09. – 02.10.2011 – Valencia
21.10. – 23.10.2011 – Hockenheimring

FIA Formula 3 Trophy – 2011 Races

1st May 2011 – Hockenheim
22nd May 2011 – Pau
31st July 2011 – Spa-Francorchamps
14th August 2011 – Zandvoort
20th November 2011 – Macao
27th November 2011 – Korea