End of the summer break: the hunt for leader Mortara starts

Track length:    3.629 kilometres
Lap record F3ES: 1:22.744 minutes / Lewis Hamilton 2005
Distance: Sat:   22 laps / Sun: 29 laps
Winners 2009:    Jules Bianchi / Alexander Sims

Edoardo Mortara (I, Signature, Dallara F308 Volkswagen) Credit: Euro F3 Series

In the Eifel, the Formula 3 Euro Series season reaches its half-way point this weekend. The unofficial title of 'half time champion' can't be taken away from Edoardo Mortara (Signature), as the Geneva-based Italian comes to the 3.629 kilometres long Nürburgring with a margin of 15 points. However, his rivals are after the 23-year old, who is the only driver to have scored points in every race so far this season.

Marco Wittmann (Signature), Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix), Alexander Sims (ART Grand Prix) and Roberto Merhi (Mücke Motorsport) are trailing Mortara in second to fifth place in the drivers' standings. Williams F1 test driver Bottas takes upon the coming weekend boosted by his maiden victory in the Euro Series which he scored at the Norisring five weeks ago. Meanwhile, Alexander Sims has particularly fond memories of the Nürburgring: last year, he scored his first-ever race win in the Formula 3 Euro Series there as a rookie driver with a Mücke Motorsport-entered Dallara-Mercedes. Back then, Mika Mäki (Motopark Academy) joined him on the podium. In the Eifel, the Finn will be making his comeback in the Euro Series after an absence of half a year, just like Christopher Zanella (Motopark Academy). Both drivers will be competing with a Dallara-Volkswagen for the Motopark Academy team.

Laurens Vanthoor (Signature): "For me, the Nürburgring is a special track. First of all, it is close to Belgium, where I live, and secondly, I won an early title in the German F3 Cup there last year. So far, this season hasn't been as good as 2009 for me. In the first few races, I had bad luck, but I also made mistakes. However, I think that I am on the right way. There are still ten races remaining and a lot of things can still happen."

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