Setting the scene for Korea

The first time I covered a race for AUTOSPORT featuring Romain Grosjean was in June 2007 - an F3 Euro Series event at the spectacular Norisring circuit in Germany.

He was already building a formidable name for himself, having won the French Formula Renault title two years earlier and shown flashes of speed during his maiden F3 campaign in 2006.

Earlier that month, he had claimed his first victory in the F3 Euro Series at Brands Hatch, having moved to the crack ASM F3 team (later renamed ART). He qualified fourth for the first race of the weekend in what was a strong field. The three drivers who had outpaced him were Sebastien Buemi, Nico Hulkenberg and Kamui Kobayashi. Grosjean went on to win a rain-affected two-part race on aggregate. And here's how he did it, according to the report on this very website.

"Kobayashi led at the start from third on the grid after Grosjean's attempt to pass Buemi at the first corner forced them both wide and gave the Japanese ASM driver a clear lead. Kobayashi led, with Nico Hulkenberg, Grosjean and Buemi tracking him as the first four pulled away at the front.

"First to hit trouble was Hulkenberg, who crashed out of the race when Grosjean forced him onto the dirt off the inside of the track on the run to the hairpin. Hulkenberg spun, and was fortunate not to collect Kobayashi as he flew across the track at the first corner.

"The rain then struck, and on lap 24 Grosjean lost it in the wet and hit Kobayashi in the left-hander of the Esses. Kobayashi spun, while Grosjean continued in the lead ahead of Buemi."