Kirchhofer pulls plug on F3 drive

GP3 racer Marvin Kirchhofer has pulled the plug on his parallel Formula 3 European Championship program with EuroInternational at the eleventh hour.

The Italian team's boss Antonio Ferrari said that Kirchhofer notified the team by email last Sunday that he would not compete in this weekend's round at Hockenheim because of the difficulties in readjusting his driving style from an F3 car to his GP3 machine, which is his priority this season. The German missed the opening F3 round at Silverstone due to a clashing GP3 test, but he was clear to compete in nine of the remaining 10 events. He took part in the pre-race Silverstone test, which he ended in eighth place.

EuroInternational made no announcement of the situation, as the team was hoping that Kirchhofer would change his mind.

Ferrari told AUTOSPORT: "Nothing personal against Marvin, who has a fantastic talent, but as a team owner I have never heard anything like this. Now we have another setback, and we need to find an alternative.

"I need somebody fast – I have money for the car; I have sponsorship for it.

"We had 20 guests coming here, so this is a very embarrassing situation. I need to give Mercedes [the team's engine supplier, which was understood to be backing Kirchhofer] a good driver, because they have helped me a lot."

EuroInternational therefore continues with one car at Hockenheim for Danish F3 rookie Nicolas Beer, who has qualified 18th for the opening race of the weekend.

Originally on Autosport.com