/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn-tor.buminteractif.com%2Ffanf1%2F2026%2F03%2F13_2219696427_6a49e539e587-1-scaled.jpg)
During the offseason, FanF1 invites you to revisit the early careers of current and former drivers. This time, we look back at Romain Grosjean and the second round of the 2007 French F3 Euro Series at Nogaro.
Before reaching Formula 1, Romain Grosjean followed the usual path through the junior formulas. He made his debut in Formula Renault in 2004, then moved on to the F3 Euroseries in 2006, where he finished 13th in his first season. In 2007, he joined the reigning champions, ASM Formula 3, a single-make series dominated by Mercedes engines where driver skill is paramount. He also participated in the Renault driver development program.
The 2007 field was exceptionally strong. Among the French entrants were Grosjean, newcomers Franck Mailleux, Jean-Karl Vernay, Yann Clairay, and Tom Dillmann. The rest of the field included future stars such as Kamui Kobayashi, Nico Hülkenberg, Cyndie Allemann, Sébastien Buemi, and Edoardo Mortara.
The penultimate round took place at Nogaro as part of the FIA GT weekend. The format was simple: a qualifying session determined the starting grid for Race 1, with the top eight scoring points and the pole sitter earning an extra point. Race 2 the following day started in the order of finish of Race 1, with the top eight reversed, and only the top six places scoring points. On September 29, Grosjean had a perfect day, taking pole position, the win, and the fastest lap in the race, a classic hat trick. In Race 2, with a reverse grid, he started eighth, overtook three rivals, and finished fifth. The victory went to his biggest rival of the season, Sébastien Buemi, while Kamui Kobayashi and Nico Hülkenberg completed the podium. The championship finale took place at Hockenheim. Grosjean again took pole position and set the fastest lap, finishing second in Race 1 and third in Race 2. These results secured him the title, 11 points ahead of Buemi in second and 34 points ahead of Hülkenberg in third. With four pole positions, seven fastest laps, and six wins, he dominated all statistical categories and won the championship in commanding fashion. This triumph earned him a place in the 2008 GP2 series, the final step before Formula 1.
