Hockenheim, 26 th April 2013 - Whatever happens in the races in the next round of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, one thing is for sure: it will be the biggest crowd that Indonesian Sean Gelael has ever raced in front of.

Hockenheim, which has been a host circuit for the German Grand Prix since 1970, is the first of seven consecutive European F3 rounds supporting the DTM – Germany’s enormously popular Touring Car series.

It is traditional for Hockenheim, where the track effectively runs through a stadium section overlooked by enormous grandstands, to draw DTM crowds in excess of 100,000 people – more than most Grands Prix attract!

This is because it is fought out by famous European racing stars, driving muscle-bound, powerful Touring Cars based on the Mercedes C-Coupe, Audi RS5 and BMW M3. These three manufacturers put so many resources into the DTM that a higher percentage of drivers here are being paid a salary to race than in Formula 1, where some drivers have to bring sponsorship to teams.

Not only that, but Mercedes and Audi’s sister manufacturer Volkswagen put a lot of support into Formula 3. Gelael and his Double R Racing team-mates drive Dallara racing cars powered by Mercedes engines.

So it’s no wonder that the FIA F3 European Championship is proving so popular this year, with 16-year-old Sean taking on an enormous field of 30 top-class up-and-coming stars from around the world. The championship is a shop window for talent, with the big bosses from Mercedes, Audi/VW, BMW and also Porsche, which runs its popular Carrera Cup at the same events, all taking a keen interest. Such an interest that 15 of the 22 well-paid professional drivers in this season’s DTM were previously top Formula 3 drivers.

“This is going to be a big event,” says Sean, “and I’m really looking forward to racing at Hockenheim, although I know it will be difficult because I have never driven there before.”

And here is the main problem for Gelael, as the youngest driver in his rookie F3 season: he is new to all these circuits that most of his rivals know well. Not only that, but during the first two race weekends at Monza and Silverstone there was a lot of rain that further hampered his hopes of building up vital experience of the tracks. Still, he has done an impressive job to be classified as a finisher in all six races and to be running in the midfield against drivers who have been on the scene for much longer.

“The weather has been amazing,” added Sean. “Even at Monza in Italy, which is supposed to be a warm country, we never had a consistent weekend, and at Silverstone in England you can never rely on it staying dry! Now I am hoping that the weather will stay good so we can learn the car some more – that is the most critical thing for me and will be the key for me making progress.”

Apart from its fantastic heritage and fan-friendly stadium, there is another reason why Hockenheim draws such large crowds: with its long straights and tight corners, the racing is always spectacular and incidents are almost guaranteed. Gelael has a 14^th place to his credit at Monza, and was running 12^th at Silverstone before a spin, so he is getting ready to knock on the door of scoring points, for which you must finish in the top 10. If he can stay out of trouble, this landmark could be possible at Hockenheim, and what better atmosphere to do that in?