F3/F4 Algarve Winter Series canned
THE PROPOSED JOINT BRDC BRITISH Formula 3 and British Formula 4 Winter Series at the Algarve Circuit has been shelved owing to licensing issues with British F4, Autosport has learned.
The organisers of British F4 told teams last week that the Portuguese event could not happen. A statement sent to participants read: “The MSA [British motorsport’s governing body] have reviewed the proposal and informed us that no 15-year-olds may take part in an overseas event such as this outside the F4 championship. Without 15-yearolds, we do not believe that the Winter Series is viable for any of us to do.”
Drivers in some other countries are allowed to compete in foreign events under the age of 16, but the MSA blue book states that drivers cannot compete in an event that isn’t part of a championship. The event as a whole could go ahead, but British drivers under 16 would be unable to compete.
Oscar Piastri (Australia) and Logan Sargeant (USA), who were second and third in this year’s British F4 standings, competed successfully last winter in the United Arab Emirates F4 Championship as 15-year-olds because no such rules apply in their respective ASNS.
Carlin team boss Trevor Carlin, who along with Fortec Motorsport and Double R Racing has teams in both British F3 and British F4, was furious about the development. “It’s typical nonsensical bureaucracy getting in the way of motor racing,” said Carlin, who had three drivers for each of the two series. “That’s half a million quid that would have come in to the British motorsport industry.”
An MSA spokesperson said: “This is a matter not only for the event promoter and the MSA but also the Portuguese ASN and the FIA. If the proposed event was to go ahead, the clear and established regulations mean that those MSA Competition Licence holders aged under 16 would not be able to compete. To clarify, the MSA’S only involvement to date has been to highlight regulatory issues during informal discussions with the promoter of British F4.”
Giles Butterfield of Motorsport
Vision, organiser of BRDC F3, said that an F3 winter series could still go ahead, although it won’t be at Algarve.
“The project only ever stacked up as a joint venture,” said Butterfield.
“The licensing frustrations that seem to have affected F4 also impact on us.
It’s disappointing and frustrating.
“We’re going to see what the teams want to do and what there is an appetite for. The Portimao or overseas idea was a response to what the teams wanted. If there’s an appetite for something else we’ll consider it. It’s too early to say yet.”