PSM Racing Line on target for points.

Nicolas Kiesa and Tony Schmidt looked on schedule to score the teams first points of the season at the new Hockenheim circuit for round 9 of the FIA Formula 3000 Championship.

With both drivers having a difficult qualifying session Nicolas and Tony line up 16th and 17th respectively. Both drivers made a good start with Tony gaining the most and ended the first lap in 10th position whilst Nicolas was first delayed on the first lap as two cars spun in front of him leaving him in 14th position.

From then on Tony showed he could run the pace circulating in 10th position and on lap 9 passed Alex Muller for 9th, then disaster struck for Tony, starting lap 10 he lost 5th gear and had to retire to the pits, an end of an impressive race for the young German.

Meanwhile Nicolas was pushing hard, passing Rob Nguyen, Ricardo Mauricio on successive laps and on lap 11 he was set the third fastest lap and looked to pass Alex Muller who was in 9th position, however unbeknown to the team Nicolas had been struggling with the steering from lap 3.

The steering arm had come lose and with each lap the car was getting more difficult to drive and was becoming very slow in a straight line, even at this stage Nicolas was able to pass Muller in the Stadium only to be re-passed on the straight due to the lack of straight line speed.

Nicolas entered the pits on lap fourteen to retire from the race, however once again he showed he had the speed and the race craft to pass cars cleanly and safely.

This was a disappointing end to the day for both PSM Racing Line drivers, it was a race that should have seen them both in the points.

"Everything was going so well, even when the problem started I could still set competitive times, but in the end the car became so unpredictable and dangerous I had to call it a day." said a disappointed Nicolas.

For Schmidt there was also troubles: "I was running on the pace and felt comfortable with the car, then for no apparent reason I lost 5th gear and that was the end," he explained. "It's a shame as this was my home race but now I know I have the race pace.

The next race is in Budapest on 17th August where the team hope to have some luck on their side.