Volkswagen claim too many Formula 3 Euroseries teams have shown an interest in switching to their engines for 2008 following their encouraging mid-season debut this year.

The German manufacturer returned to single-seater competition earlier this year for the first time since 1991, immediately making an impression by scoring a sixth place on its race debut at the Nurburgring in the hands of Maximilian Gotz.

Although it was a result that Gotz, together with Jonathan Summerton, Carlo van Dam and Marco Holzer who also used the engine, would be unable to repeat, the impression has been enough as to prompt several teams' interest.

So much so, that Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen claims he is having to turn away potential customers because they only have the capacity to supply two or three teams.

“We'd like to have two or three teams contesting the Formula 3 Euro Series season, with our goal being a total of eight cars. As there still is some homework we have to execute, eight cars currently represent our capacity limit. R.C. Motorsport has already been confirmed and we hope to soon be able to announce the other teams.”

With Signature-Plus anticipated to be one of the teams to defect from Mercedes, Volkswagen's programme is intended to provide a stepping-stone for young drivers to the group's DTM and sportscar projects, just as it has done with their German rivals.

“In early November, we conducted a trial with a total of twelve drivers, representing a mix of rookies and experienced Formula 3 drivers. We would love to also see this mix of newcomers and old hands at the wheel of the VW powered cars, in 2008, but at the end of the day it's up to the teams to select their drivers.”