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Zandvoort,
July 21, 2004 - This year, again, all top drivers from the various
international Formula 3 championships will be taking part in the
Marlboro Masters of Formula 3. From August 6 till 8, the Circuit
Park Zandvoort will be hosting the 14th edition of this blue riband
event. The provisional entry list includes no less than 43 drivers
from 18 countries, including all the big names from the Formula
3 Euroseries and the British Formula 3 championship, plus participants
from the Italian and Spanish Formula 3 championships. Given the
long tradition of the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 as a stepping
stone for up-and-coming drivers, it can be expected that tomorrow's
Formula 1-drivers can be seen racing in this event. The Dutch involvement
includes the official Marlboro Masters of Formula 3-driver Giedo
van der Garde and Charles Zwolsman, both regulars from the Formula
3 Euroseries, Ferdiand Kool, who drives in the Spanish Formula 3
championship, and Ross Zwolsman.
With
25 drivers, the Formula 3 Euroseries provides the numerically strongest
fraction in the field of the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3. Of course,
the championship leader, British driver Jamie Green, has been entered,
as is his team-mate Alexandre Prémat and Nicolas Lapierre,
who is third in the standings. Nico Rosberg, the son of former F1-world
champion Keke Rosberg, is also on the entry list. At Zandvoort,
he will be facing the son of another world champion, Nelson Angelo
Piquet, who is leading the British Formula 3 championship from Adam
Carroll and James Rossiter.
The
leader of the Italian championship, Matteo Cressoni, will also be
racing at Zandvoort. He will be accompanied by stalwart Paolo Montin,
who is no longer regularly competing in Formula 3 this year, but
yet didn't want to miss out on the Masters. From a Dutch point of
view, the participation of Giedo van der Garde is an interesting
factor. The driver from Veenendaal, who is racing for the Opel Team
Signature Plus, will be showing the colours of the Marlboro Masters
of Formula 3 and intends to do well in his home event. Van der Garde,
who is also a member of the development programme of the Renault
Formula 1-team, is in his first season in Formula 3, doing quite
a good job in his debut year. Charles Zwolsman has been around in
Formula 3 somewhat longer, he is racing for the German Team Kolles.
The third Dutch driver on the entry list is Ferdinand Kool. For
the occasion, he landed a drive with the renowned British Alan Docking
Racing team, that has won the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 twice
in the past with Gareth Rees and Kurt Mollekens.
Spectacular
demonstrations with legendary drivers in Formula 1 Ferraris
The 2 days demonstration programme during the Marlboro Masters of
Formula 3 looks set to provide plenty of spectacular action, too.
No less than four world championship winning Ferrari Formula 1 cars
can be seen in action. The cars will be driven by former Ferrari
works-drivers Jacky Ickx, among others six times' winner of the
Le Mans 24 Hours, and René Arnoux. Jan Lammers and John Bosch
will also be driving a Ferrari. Moreover, German Christian Pfeiffer
will provide a stunt show with Ducati motorcycles. The programme
also includes races in other categories: the Euro GT Series, Formula
Renault, the ID&T Clio Renault Sport Cup, the Pearle Alfa 147
GTA Challenge and the SEAT Cupra Cup will each have their own race
at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3.
Two
days of action with one ticket
Traditionally, Sunday is 'race day' during the Marlboro Masters
of Formula 3, but, just like in 2003, the Saturday is also a day
not to be missed. The entire Formula 3 programme with three practice
sessions, qualifying sessions, warm-up and the race all takes place
in two days.
This means that not only do the Formula 3 drivers have to get to
know the track and find the right set-up on Saturday, they also
have to set a quick lap time. This means plenty of action on Saturday,
which is almost completely occupied by Formula 3 and the spectacular
demonstrations mentioned above. Tickets for the Marlboro Masters
of Formula 3 can be ordered at the more than 1,000 sales points
of Ticket Box, including Primera and Free Record Shop (see www.ticketbox.nl
or call 0900-9393 (0.45 Euro/min) for locations). Tickets for the
outside enclosures are € 19 in pre-sale and € 22 during
the event at the gates of the Circuit Park Zandvoort. Tickets give
access both on Saturday, August 7, and on Sunday, August 8. A combined
dunes/paddock/main grand stand ticket is € 60 for two days
and includes a numbered grand stand seat. The paddock ticket for
Saturday and Sunday is new. It costs € 40 and is only available
in limited numbers. On Friday, August 6, admission costs €
7 for all locations, paddock included. Every visitor gets the full
colour event programme for free.
Follow
the action at home on SBS6
Anyone who is not able to be at Zandvoort to watch the unique action
during the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 is obviously missing out
on a whole lot, but at least has an alternative: the experienced
crew of SBS6 Autosport will be bringing the action to your home
live. Part of the programme is live coverage of the Formula 3 race
and extensive round-ups of all the other races, backgrounds, interviews
and features.
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