British Formula 3 is back (2014)

[BtccLee]

According to Motorsport News twitter account, British Formula 3 will return as a 6 round championship next year, with all rounds in the UK except a race at Spa. I imagine it will support British GT as it did in its previous years...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109001 confirms it. Retaking current engines as well...

[kipper]

It seems a sensible move and one hopes it serves as the first step into building British F3 back into the sort of championship it should be.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

As far as I can see the FIA just ignored the British F3 teams and organisers' interests to just make their European F3 series better. It's a huge shame. Up until 2012, the British series was in better shape than the European one.

Using existing engines can only increase the line-up. The National Class surely is the big winner of this, if there is really a winner at all.

[Richard B]

Good news for British fans and British motorsport

[Juntos]

Better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick. Over-ambition almost killed BF3.

[jungle_007]

Fingers crossed for some full & stable grids next year

[gomick]

Could always make it cheaper & run the older cars (national class) as a springboard to the European Series - more likely to get a full grid if its the older cars?

[edenrace]

Older cars are allowed and have been for a number of years

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

I'm pretty sure they're just expanding the amount of cars that can enter the current 'National Class' and make the series run with solely National Class runners.

[edenrace]

Wrong...some teams will use 308 chassis as they have them others will use the 312...performance virtualy identical just slight advantages depending on circuits but drivers make a bigger difference

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by edenrace

Wrong...some teams will use 308 chassis as they have them others will use the 312...performance virtualy identical just slight advantages depending on circuits but drivers make a bigger difference

So what about the National Class then? Still available?

And the drivers being the difference can only be good. Watching Valterri Bottas have 0 points and run in 15th constantly is so annoying, because he's up there at the top.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

So what about the National Class then? Still available?

My interpretation of the various articles on the subject is that the National Class will remain with the same cars/engine rules as is currently the case.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by kipper

My interpretation of the various articles on the subject is that the National Class will remain with the same cars/engine rules as is currently the case.

That's good. Surely the grid sizes in National Class will increase for next season. And one of the German F3 teams has already stated their interest in the 'new' series.

[gomick]

Just have the 1 class ffs...

[edenrace]

Not possible to have one class unless you want to ban the Euro Open cars and pre 2008 cars. These can make the series viable . Interest in the new format is very high so hopefully grids of 15 to 20 should be easily
possible

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

National Class is a great idea - it allows drivers with less experience (and smaller budgets) to go racing in older, (relatively) cheaper machinery and get some results and get noticed. I know that the National Class has had nowhere near the class of drivers that the International Class has (Kotaro Sakurai or Felipe Nasr eh?) but this should help British F3 survive.

Meanwhile, does anyone else think the same as me - the loss of Formula Renault UK in 2012 left British F3 with less emerging British talents? They've all gone to mainland Europe or in some cases America now - Jack Hawksworth, Matt Parry, Jack Aitken, etc

[EastonNeston]

Sadly we are left with formulas below F3 that are only raced in the UK.
Hopefully the introduction of F Renault 1600 will go part of the way to resolving that situation, as the cars can also be raced internationally.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

I know that the National Class has had nowhere near the class of drivers that the International Class has (Kotaro Sakurai or Felipe Nasr eh?) but this should help British F3 survive.

To a certain extent, I'd disagree that the quality of the National Class hasn't been very good. For instance, the likes of Gary Paffett, Robert Doornbos, Karun Chandhok, Ernesto Viso and Sergio Perez are all graduates of National Class F3.

[bella]

you forgot adam carroll!

as per what the others have said, i think the national class is a *vital* part of british f3. anyone wanting to move up to the main class the following year can familiarise themselves with the teams and make better decisions about their future, and that in turn keeps them within the same grid for longer. it's good for the main class teams because they can offer a lower cost alternative in the same environment and with the same people which is a positive thing for younger drivers, especially the foreign lads moving over here. consistency and all that. it's a similar car so they don't have to start all over again when they move up to the bigger class, and they're familiar with the circuits so they don't waste budget and time doing that learning in the main class. for the teams it means the chassis (and their data) retain value a bit longer, and can be repurposed within the same team without faffing around with resale.

it also allows the smaller, more family based teams a chance to compete alongside the bigger name teams which provides a wider range of budget options. that means there's more chances for young engineers and mechanics to get work experience on bigger, slightly more complicated single seaters. and of course, more cars for the guys to race against, and more for us to watch too

so yeah. that.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by kipper

To a certain extent, I'd disagree that the quality of the National Class hasn't been very good. For instance, the likes of Gary Paffett, Robert Doornbos, Karun Chandhok, Ernesto Viso and Sergio Perez are all graduates of National Class F3.

Okay, in the last few seasons is what I meant. But the big boys run in the International Class. Will they go back to the old Rookie Class name for the National runners, because the new series won't be international...

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Will they go back to the old Rookie Class name for the National runners, because the new series won't be international...

I wouldn't have thought it would be a requisite. After all the National Class name was used for a number of years prior to the series venturing into Europe on a more regular basis.

[EastonNeston]

Class A & Class B worked well for years!

[kipper]

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

Class A & Class B worked well for years!

True and it has an appealing sense of simplicity.

[EastonNeston]

I also think that the Championship should be for the 'Jeremy Lord Trophy'.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

I also think that the Championship should be for the 'Jeremy Lord Trophy'.

I'm not sure if it should be for the championship (as the awards for this are long established), but it would be good to see an award in memory of Jeremy Lord.