The Force India Formula 1 racing team recently announced its driver line-up for the 2012 season. Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg have been chosen to represent the team next year. The 2011 champion Sebastian Vettel will also be sitting behind the Red Bull steering wheel.

What is interesting is that all three drivers came into F1 through F3 Series. Kang Min-jae wants to follow their path to the pinnacle of motor racing by competing in the F3 Euro Series.

The F3 Euro Series is single-seater formula racing for young drivers. Since its establishment in 2003, the series has produced many world-class F1 drivers, including Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

The Korean driver received the green light from Mucke Motorsport to join the renowned series next year after passing a driving test with the German racing team.

“I really want to become an F1 driver, and I believe I can,” Kang said.

While speaking over coffee in his racing team office in Seoul on Tuesday, his voice grew louder and more intense as he revealed his plans to become the first Korean F1 driver.

Kang believes the F3 Series is the fastest way to achieve his aim. And that’s why he flew all the way to Germany to test for Mucke, he said.

“I had researched, and sent emails with my CV to Mucke. I knew that Vettel was from the team, so I was delighted when they responded to my email.”

In October, the German racing team, which was looking for a new rookie driver for the 2012 season, gave him a trial at the Hockenheimring race track.

“They gave me just one day of testing. I was so desperate to give my best shot, but it wasn’t easy,” he said.

Kang sipped his coffee before saying: “All of a sudden I was sitting in the F3 car, and it felt far heavier and much more powerful than any other car I had driven.”

Also, the weather was not cooperating. As soon as he started the circuit the temperature dropped and it started to rain. And he could not finish the test race because he ran out of fuel.

Nonetheless, the Korean driver coped with the challenge and enjoyed his first experience driving an F3 car.

“After the test, I had a meeting with the team officials. And they said they wanted me to sign a contract for 2012. It was like a dream come true,” Kang said.

But now the problem, said his manager Kim Hyung-chul, is the sponsorship.

“It costs at least 1 billion won ($870,500) to have a full-season in Europe, so it’s almost impossible without sponsorship. We’re still looking for sponsors to help his race,” said Kim, the director of POS racing team.

Kang admitted that he finds it hard to convince people of his potential.

“Some people laugh when I say ‘I want to become an F1 driver.’ And some say I’m too late for that, but, look, Michael Schumacher is still driving, so why can’t I?” he said.

Kang, who decided to become a racer after watching Schumacher, first drove a racing kart at the age of 15, and soon won a national competition.

With his continuing success in karting, he started to drive much faster and more dangerous touring cars. And he proved his natural talent by winning the Super Class 2000 series title in 2009.

Kang said he could have just stayed here and enjoyed a successful career, but instead he opted to follow his dream.

“I’ll never be a F1 driver if I stay here. I want to drive in Europe, competing with the world’s top-class drivers,” Kang said.

He knows that the success in Euro Series will provide a passport to his dream race, the F1. Each year the top-placed drivers get a Formula 1 test organized by renowned racing teams such as Red Bull and Mercedes GP.

The 2012 F3 European Series will kick off on April 27 featuring nine events across four countries, including Germany, Austria, the Netherland and Spain. But Kang wants to move to Germany as soon as possible to have more time to prepare.

“I really want to become an F1 driver. But first of all, I need to be in Europe, so hopefully I will find a sponsor before that,” he added.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)