VW Launches New Formula 3 Engine

By Anthony Fontanelle

The new Volkswagen Formula 3 engine has made its successful racing début during the DTM weekend at the Nürburgring.

In the Formula 3 Euro Series race on Saturday, Maximilian Götz in his Dallara F306 VW from Team RC Motorsport finished sixth thus immediately accumulating points in the début race. Additionally, on Sunday, Götz claimed ninth place, thus finishing in the top ten for the second time. During the practice, Götz and teammate Jonathan Summerton, with positions 8 and 13 respectively, have already etched a stimulating and positive start for the German team.

Götz, 21, has nothing but good things to say about the two-liter engine that produces 210 horsepower. "The tests had suggested what potential the engine has but now we know much better where Volkswagen stands compared to the competition: We’re very close already,” he told Paddock Talk.

In the first race, Götz advanced from grid position eight to sixth place. "A perfect début and a great reward for everyone involved in this project," he said. Götz started the race on Sunday from third place – the top eight in the first race start to the second event in reverse order. "After the start I hit the brakes too late, which cost me five places. After that, I was able to keep the pace of the experienced drivers very well."

For Summerton, the 19-year-old driver who finished in 15th position, the DTM weekend in the Eifel did not go according to plan. "In the first race I was hit after the start. My car was damaged in the incident and, as a result, very difficult to drive,” the American summed up the event after finishing in 18th place. The start to the second race was similar to the first one: "I was hit again, this time the rear wing was damaged. Nevertheless, my car had very good balance and my laps were fast and consistent,” he said.

"We’re highly satisfied with the début of our new Formula 3 engine. It’s competitive straight from the start. This was also proved by our fastest race lap, we were separated from the absolute best time by merely three tenths of a second. A big compliment to our engineers, teams and drivers who made this good start possible by working so intensively," said Kris Nissen, the VW motorsport director. "Our goal is to equip six racing cars with our engines next year and to contest all races of the Formula 3 Euro Series. The results of this season’s events give us the opportunity to assess where we stand and to pursue the engine’s evolution for 2008."

A third Dallara "powered by Volkswagen" driven by Marco Holzer, 19, is fielded by Team AM Holzer Rennsport. "Our weekend wasn’t off to an optimum start. But the collaboration with Volkswagen is paying off: in the end, we came up with a good set-up,” said Rennsport who occupied places 20 and 14.

With the launch of the powerful 210-hp engine mated to trusted race parts such as the VW strut and radiator, the team is expected to generate equally-powerful performance.

Separately, VW is showing its complete motorsport lineup in the Eifel. Aside from the races of the Formula 3 Euro Series – in which the Wolfsburg-based automaker is making its comeback – and the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup, the other racing projects are represented at the Nürburgring as well. According to the Paddock Talk, the Golf GTI, which clinched class victory and the spectacular eighth place overall in the 24h-race in June, and the Race Touareg, which will be fielded by Volkswagen in January in the 2008 Dakar Rally, are on display.