Dallara Mercedes drivers
Lewis Hamilton and Jamie Green both secured second place finishes as the 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series' season drew to a close at Hockenheim at the weekend.
Prior to the final round at Hockenheim,
Adrian Sutil had changed to ASM replacing Eric Salignon who was injured in a road accident. Maximilian Götz took over Sutil's Dallara Mercedes at Kolles Racing.
On a drying track on Saturday morning, Götz had qualified third fastest for the afternoon's race. Hamilton was fourth on the grid ahead of Sutil. The German improved to third on the opening lap, followed by Götz and Hamilton. On lap 14, Sutil had a coming together with Mücke Motorsport's Bruno Spengler at the hairpin and both drivers retired. That allowed Hamilton to come home second behind Nicolas Lapierre, with Charles Zwolsman third. Mücke's
Robert Kubica finished fourth whilst Götz ended up sixth scoring the first three points of his Formula 3 career.
For the seond time in his Formula 3 career, Sutil started from pole position for race two, and he accelerated into an immediate lead followed by race one winner Lapierre. On lap four, Sutil retired from first place after a safety switch was released by driving hard over one kerb which stalled the engine. Green improved from sixth on the grid to third after the opening lap. He attacked Lapierre on lap five, but the Frenchman maintained the lead until the chequered flag, forcing Green to settle for second with his team mate Prémat in fourth place. After an exciting battle,with Kubica, Hamilton finished sixth.
“A fantastic year with many highlights,” Green said afterwards. “It was great to win the title five races before the end of the season. I had hoped to win again here which unfortunately didn't come true, however, I'm satisfied with today's second place.”
Mercedes boss Norbert Haug was also pleased with the way the season had developed.
“A very successful and in sporting terms valuable season,” he said. “The ASM team did a great job winning seven races and the championship with Jamie Green, as well as the runner-up position with Alexandre Prémat. The Euro Series has proved its worth as a good stage for young talents. Mercedes-Benz feel obliged to support them and our Formula 3 engine developed from the C- and E-Class has proved its capabilities.”
