BR DC BRITISH F 3 RETAINS CURRENT CAR FOR 2019
The BRDC British Formula 3 Championship will keep its current car for next year amid uncertainty surrounding the FIA’S Regional F3 concept.
Motorsport Vision, which operates the championship, had explored the possibility of becoming an FIA Regional F3 series and switching to a new halo-fitted car for 2019.
But with the FIA yet to make a decision and time running out for teams to prepare for next season, MSV has made the decision to keep the current Tatuus-cosworth car that was only introduced in 2016.
Giles Butterfield, MSV’S group operations and engineering manager, said: “It’s unclear how F3 Regional is going to develop in Europe even though we’ve been talking to the FIA about the concept for two years or more.
“We have made the decision because we think it’s the best thing for the teams and the championship.
“The teams can now make plans for winter testing and next season.”
MN’S sister-publication Autosport understands that the FIA will vote imminently on two proposals with one becoming Europe’s Regional Formula 3 series in 2019.
One bid is from Renault Sport – which plans to replace the traditional Formula Renault Eurocup – while the other is from Italian Formula 4 Championship promoter WSK.
Only one will be selected as the governing body does not want two Regional F3 series going up against each other until one is established.
Not becoming a regional series will likely mean that British F3 will lose the right to call itself Formula 3.
“It’s not certain yet [on the name] we don’t know if its 100 per cent sure [if we can’t use the F3 name],” added Butterfield. “In the next eight, nine, 10 months we’ll evaluate what we will do in 2020. We should have a really strong grid next year. The driving ability in the championship this year is at a very high level.
“The British F3/british GT partnership with SRO works really well and we want to continue it. We’ll be looking to announce a 2019 calendar shortly. We’re very happy to be carrying on [with our current car].”