Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) who lost his championship lead to Felix Rosenqvist (Prema Powerteam), at Portimão, travels to the Eifel to regain the lead, there. And behind the two experienced F3 drivers, Monaco’s Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing) – the best rookie on the grid – holds third championship position and waits for mistakes of the leaders. Furthermore, the Russian squad Team ArtLine Engineering will make their FIA Formula 3 European Championship debut, at ‘The Ring’. The squad will contest the three races with Latvia’s Harald Schlegelmilch at the wheel of their car.

Four drivers still may hope for winning the 2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship title and become the successor of Frenchman Esteban Ocon: Felix Rosenqvist, Antonio Giovinazzi, Charles Leclerc and Jake Dennis (Prema Powerteam). With six more races to be contested, the gap between championship leader Rosenqvist and Giovinazzi amounts to 34.5 points – and Leclerc follows another 19 points behind in third position. While Dennis’ deficit to Leclerc adds up to 15.5 points and to 69 points to his leading team-mate Rosenqvist. While there still is a total of 150 points to be scored, in the final two race meetings.

Antonio Giovinazzi and Felix Rosenqvist in particular have fond memories of the Nürburgring. While the Italian finished third in one of last year’s races and won another, his Swedish rival finished third in one of the rounds of the 2013 Nürburgring weekend. In the current season, both drivers already celebrated several FIA Formula 3 European Championship triumphs. Rosenqvist currently has got nine race wins under his belt and Giovinazzi won five rounds. Dennis secured six race wins and Leclerc crossed the finish line of four races as the winner.

In the Eifel, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship will welcome a new squad on its grid: Artline Engineering. The Russians will rely on the services of the experienced Latvian Formula 3 driver Harald Schlegelmilch and will contest the races with an own chassis – the ARTTech P315 – that will be powered by a Neil Brown Engineering engine. This means that the British manufacturer now supplies not only Julio Moreno (ThreeBond with T-Sport) but also a second FIA Formula 3 European Championship competitor with engines. Furthermore, Félix Serrallés (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) will make his FIA Formula 3 European Championship comeback. The Puerto Rican who already competed in the 2013 and 2014 seasons of the series will race the kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes #35.

The hosting country will be represented by the two German teams, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport and Motopark, as well as two German drivers: Markus Pommer (Motopark) and Nicolas Pohler (Double R Racing). While Pommer already has got a race win under his belt, Pohler is still waiting for his first major success. For him, the Nürburgring weekend represents the comeback following a recovery due to a broken arm.

Nicolas Pohler (Double R Racing): “I’m glad to be back after having been forced to miss out two race meetings due to my injury. Being forced to watch the action wasn’t nice but who knows if this break didn’t help me clearing my mind to be able to really go for it with fresh courage, now. My arm seems to be quite alright again and only hurts when I turn my hand quickly. But I shouldn’t have problems while driving. And my bruised ribs also have healed. I will travel to the Nürburgring in a very relaxed mood and without any special expectations. But I love to race in the Eifel as I have been there frequently when I was a child. I used to accompany my dad who sporadically raced in the VLN or the Nürburgring 24h Race.”