Formula 3's third overseas trip of the season was to the 3.071km temporary circuit in Bucharest, laid out around the huge Palace of Parliament. It was Stefan's first experience of racing on a street circuit. "It was really amazing to drive around the streets of the capital and around the Palace," he said afterwards. "The streets are quite wide and there are long straights and slow corners, but it's very bumpy and it took a lot of getting used to."

Stefan got off to a good start, posting the second best National Class time in Friday practice and confident that there was more to come. Saturday, though, proved a disappointment. In the first qualifying session, Stefan's initial attempts to go for pole were hampered by traffic. He then got caught out by the uneven track, hitting a bump and spinning out of the session. He ended up only fifth quickest.

In race one on Saturday afternoon, Stefan made a good getaway and ran at a reasonable pace over the first few laps. But on lap five, after Steven Guerrero hit the wall, Stefan tangled with Philip Major before tagging the back of Kristjan Einar's car. He was able to return to the pits, but a bent wishbone forced him to retire from the race.

Stefan returned to the track on Sunday having learnt from Saturday's mistakes and determined to put them right. In the morning's qualifying session for race two he was again unable to find space in the traffic to get in a really quick lap and he qualified fourth, but the day was to have a happy ending.

When the lights went out for race two, Stefan made his best start of the year and on the first lap overtook both Guerrero and Jay Bridger to take second place. Feeling very comfortable in the car, he chased down National Class leader Hywel Lloyd, sitting behind him until a collision further up the field brought out the safety car on lap eight. Seeing his opportunity to get past when the race went green again, Stefan applied pressure and, a lap later, went round the outside of Lloyd into the second chicane. He then held on for seven more laps to take the chequered flag and clinch his fourth win of the season.

That success rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable first visit to Bucharest for Stefan, both on and off the track. "I loved the city and the people," he said. "The atmosphere was great and it was a really enjoyable circuit. I hope I get a chance to go back there next year!"

For now, though, there's the F3 season finale at Donington in October to look forward to. Stefan may not have a chance of winning the championship - Bridger wrapped up the title in Bucharest - but he's hoping for further success on one of his favourite circuits.