Budapest/Hungary, 3rd June 2018 – Julian Hanses from Hilden, Germany, is one of 13 newcomers in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. His father first sat him in a kart at the age of five, and Julian was immediately bitten by the motor racing bug. “At first, I used to go karting every holiday. Over the course of time, motorsport became increasingly important in my life. I could be found at a racetrack every weekend. Last year, I decided to become a professional racing driver,” says the 20-year-old.
The young driver won the ADAC Kart Masters in 2014, after which he joined the impressive field in the Formula 4 series, in which he lined up alongside Mick Schumacher – son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher. Julian Hanses: “That switch was a big change for me, but the step up from Formula 4 to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship is far bigger and tougher. The aerodynamics are different, you brake later, the cornering speeds are far greater, and the opposition is really strong. As such, I am proud to have finished in the top ten in only the second race of my rookie season, when I finished seventh in Pau.”
Premium tyre maker Hankook’s race tyres are helping the rookie as he finds his feet in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. “The Hankook tyres allow me to focus fully on the race, as they are incredibly consistent and predictable. That is very important for me as a rookie. I can push hard and drive at the limit right up to the final lap. It is fun to drive on the Hankook race tyres, and is really making it easier for me as I start out in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship,” says the young German.
Unlike many of his colleagues, the 20-year-old is not necessarily aiming for a seat in a Formula 1 car. Hanses is realistic and knows that you not only need talent, but also a lot of hard work and a great deal of luck if you are to race in the pinnacle of motorsport. “You cannot focus too hard on one thing, otherwise other doors will close. If you don’t have the speed in one series, you just have to try elsewhere. I want to become a professional racing driver. That would be a dream come true for me.”
