For Daniel Juncadella, the season got off to a good start. The Spaniard won two of the three races during the Formula 3 Euro Series season opener at Hockenheim and is now leading the drivers’standings. His compatriot Carlos Sainz jr. is second ahead of Swede Felix Rosenqvist. On eight weekends, the Formula 3 Euro series is racing together with the DTM. International top drivers have started their career here. Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel raced these single-seaters in the past, just like former champion Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg. DTM drivers like Bruno Spengler or Jamie Green also honed their skills in this category.The Formula 3 Euro Series was founded in 2003 after the amalgamation of the German and French Formula 3 championships and “has been the stepping stone into Formula 1 for half of the drivers”, reveals series’manager Christoph Hewer. The young guns in the Formula 3 Euro Series have to be at least 17 years old. Then, they learn the secrets of racing better than in almost every other category. Christoph Hewer explains the secret of the success: “We aren’t a control category, the teams have a lot of opportunities to develop their cars, for instance with the suspension, the chassis or the brakes. Like this, drivers can learn how the general concept works from the very beginning.”From this year, premium manufacturer Hankook is supporting the world’s strongest and toughest junior racing series with the Ventus Race competition tyres. “We are delighted that we can help these highly talented young drivers to improve with our know-how. For many international top-level drivers, the Formula 3 Euro Series was the beginning of a great career, and supporting young talents has always been important for us”, says Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook motorsport director for Europe, explaining the involvement of the DTM’s exclusive tyre partner in the Formula 3 Euro Series from now on as well. For the drivers and teams, co-operation with the premium manufacturer has proven to be spot-on after the first racing weekend already. Daniel Juncadella enthused: “The tyres are responding perfectly under braking, traction is great as well. Driving with them is simply fun.”Series’manager Hewer adds: “With Hankook, we have found a tyre partner who provides us with tyres that are both fast and consistent. This gives the young drivers the necessary safety in the race.”The next Formula 3 Euro Series event is during the DTM weekend at Brand Hatch on May 19th and 20th.