Bottas Wins Kumho-Shod Masters of Formula 3

Victory in the 19th Masters of Formula 3 race, fought out over the weekend of June 13 and 14, went to Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas. But the race, which returned to its ‘ancestral home’ of Zandvoort in the Netherlands after two years at Zolder, was also a victory of sorts for Kumho Tyres: The manufacturer supplied each and every tyre utilised in the meeting – about one thousand in total – continuing a support of the series that dates back to 2002.

This year, such talents as Bottas, Jules Bianchi (both from ART Grand Prix) and Mika Mäki (Signature) were expected to be the main contenders for laurels – Bianchi being the first Masters’ winner ever to defend his title. In fact he qualified quickest of all 36 Kumho shod runners. However, the stewards judged him to have obstructed four other competitors and he was dropped to sixth on the grid. Team-mate Bottas therefore started from pole position with a real chance of winning his first F3 race.

The Finn headed the race from the start and rapidly distanced himself from the rest of the field. “It was not as easy as it maybe seemed from the outside,” he explained. “I planned to lead from the start and to push for the first three laps.” Kumho notes that, thanks to the good set up of his Dallara-Mercedes and its perfectly warmed up tyres, Bottas had enough grip from the outset to put his plan into action.

Bottas is the first Finn ever to win the Masters. “Victory in this race is a major success, especially when you are the first driver of your country to achieve it,” concluded Bottas. Fellow countryman Mika Mäki’s second place ensured that Finland also won the Nations Cup. The podium was completed by Stefano Coletti (Prema Powerteam). Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix) and Alexander Sims (Mücke Motorsport) were fourth and fifth respectively, while homegrown driver Renger van der Zande (Hitech Racing) finished sixth.

To ensure all competitors started on an equal footing, Kumho provided a unique batch of tyres for the meeting of a completely different specification to those used in the F3 Euro Series. All cars must compete on ECSTA brand racing tyres in sizes 180/550R13 (front) and 240/570R13 (rear). Depending on the weather, either S700 (dry) slicks or W700 (wet) grooved tyres are fitted.

The company’s position as the official Masters of F3 tyre supplier will continue until at least 2011. Kumho is also the official tyre supplier to the F3 Euro Series, acknowledged by some to be the best and most challenging Formula 3 series in the world.