The Future of F3

[EastonNeston]

I remember there been similar promises of industrial units, a hotel etc for Snetterton when plans to redevelop that we're first announced. None have been built so far.

Whilst Cadwell Park is a wonderful circuit, I do wonder if the infrastructure in the area and the very rural location of the circuit will enable it to attract large crowds.

[bella]

define large? don't they manage a fair crowd for the british superbikes?

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

Whilst Cadwell Park is a wonderful circuit, I do wonder if the infrastructure in the area and the very rural location of the circuit will enable it to attract large crowds.

It won't be the fault of the circuit or the infrastructure if BF3 can't attract large crowds at Cadwell... unfortunately the series can't attract large crowds anywhere it visits.

[barnettracing]

Also, Cadwell Park in its current guise hosts the British Superbike Championship, an event that probably gets more crowd than three BF3 meetings combined. So, the circuit could certainly host the crowd numbers expected.

[chunterer]

So Quique Mansilla's 30 year old F3 lap record would get to be broken?!!!

Imagine that.....

[jondownunder]

Not sure of the best thread for this, but a British F3 calendar change has seen their solo round at Paul Ricard replaced by joining the F3 Euro Series field at the Norisring FIA European F3 round...

http://www.formula3.co/news/norisrin...tish-formula-3

Will be great to have a decent sized field at the Norisring. Wonder what the British F3 teams & drivers will make of now having to run to F3ES specification at an unfamiliar circuit though?

[JohnMiller]

Instead of on one of the best circuits too. Seems strange.

[bella]

the norisring is one of the most awesome venues in europe if you ask me so that's good news. the history, the layout, and the crowds... it's pretty brilliant. nuts, but brilliant.

good move.

[jondownunder]

Purely from a spectator/TV viewer POV, a full grid at the Norisring is way more mouth-watering than 14 cars spread out over the vast parking lot of Paul Ricard.

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

I remember there been similar promises of industrial units, a hotel etc for Snetterton when plans to redevelop that we're first announced. None have been built so far.

Whilst Cadwell Park is a wonderful circuit, I do wonder if the infrastructure in the area and the very rural location of the circuit will enable it to attract large crowds.

The Snetterton plan has always been a long term one, in phases. Build the new track first, attract clubs and weekday trackday people to increase income on the new layouts, phase 2 was to be the industrial units. But I guess the downturn and continued economic gloom has halted those plans a bit until the economy improves...and the A11 is dualled which starts next January, but it is still the plan. Can't see a problem with attracting crowds to Cadwell, as has been said, 50,000+ go to the Superbikes. F3 though..is not exciting enough to attract people, processional, that won't increase the gate anywhere near. Look at the F3 crowds at most races..abysmal. Norisring, what a strange decision. It really is time to rethink the British F3 championship in my view and have a single European series and pool all competitors & series together. I understand going to Monza, Spa,..drivers want to sample F1 tracks. Or is DTM ( Norisring ) now seen as a step up?
The British Formula 3 Championship at the Norisring...how weird.

[ivanalesi]

Sounds a bit like a trial of some sort, like "OK guys, let's work together." It's better to have 1 strong championship than 2 weak ones, right?

[EastonNeston]

I wonder if SRO will reimburse the teams for any additional costs incurred with this late change?

[edenrace]

I can confirm that the teams will not be out of pocket and SRO have behaved impeccably during the negotiations.......its good for F3 to show that they can have big grids. Dallara have sold 45 of the new 312 chassis this year so far.

[Valker]

So we will see Cooper Tires British F3 running on Hankook tyres

[strider]

Originally Posted by bella

the norisring is one of the most awesome venues in europe if you ask me so that's good news. the history, the layout, and the crowds... it's pretty brilliant. nuts, but brilliant.

good move.

How did I know you would say pretty much exactly that? Not so sure about the history, though, as the Norisring is a street circuit in Nuremberg, on the former Nazi party rally grounds, but the racing is indeed epic.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

I understand going to Monza, Spa,..drivers want to sample F1 tracks. Or is DTM ( Norisring ) now seen as a step up

For most DTM, non F1 circuits (e.g. Valencia, Oschersleben and Lausitz), the answer would be no. However, the Norisring is a bit different due to the distinctive nature of the circuit and its history.

[Richard B]

Wasn't planning to go Ricard but...the Norisring is a track I've always wanted to visit, planning now

[bella]

Originally Posted by strider

How did I know you would say pretty much exactly that? Not so sure about the history, though, as the Norisring is a street circuit in Nuremberg, on the former Nazi party rally grounds, but the racing is indeed epic.

actually, i think the fact the germans can take that history, and that venue with all its associated unsavoury past, and make it a really great motor-racing venue is pretty fantastic. it's not disrespecting the memories of anything, if anything it's respecting the human effort taken to build it and all the nearby historical features by continuing to use it as a gathering place where *everyone*'s welcome to come and watch. it's a positive turnaround.

it's going to be a steep learning curve for the british teams though. there's definitely nothing like it on the calendar until now

[barnettracing]

Seeing as it is supposed to be British F3, couldn't they have tried to restart the Birmingham Superprix instead , although I admit, the Norisring is incredible.

[peebee2]

Seems a bit of an own goal moving away from Paul Ricard a couple of day before it is confirmed as being an F1 track again.

How is rich driver's Daddy going to feel when his son is not British F3 champ and he blames it on 10% of the races using a different tyre to the regulatons?

[bella]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Wasn't planning to go Ricard but...the Norisring is a track I've always wanted to visit, planning now

try and get on lufthansa indirect or air berlin direct to nuremberg, get the u-bahn to the centre and stay right near the main train station. then you can walk to the train, and get the train to the circuit. easy peasy

[strider]

Maybe it will be like Spa last year, where there was an overall result and a British F3 result.

[teabag]

have to agree with norisring being awesome! could be due to the 2 main engine manufacturers, mercedes and volkswagen, being german? and theres definitely a shortage of french interest in f3 at the moment!

[bella]

the french (with a few occasional exceptions) seem happy to tread the formula renault f4-2.0-3.5 path without the need for f3 in between which is a shame, but so be it. there's quite a few heading to f3 open though which i think if you place in in the 2.0 - 3.5 ladder fits very nicely - no silly budgets, you still get to play with an f3 car even if it's still subject to some fairly rigid regulations and then you go into big cars with some decent experience, and mostly on big-car relevant circuits too.

[Rob29]

e-mail just in from Motors TV;15 hrs live coverage of Pau GP meeting,May12-13 including F.Renault,F4,Mitjets,etc.Don't think I will have much time for F1 at boring Barcelona.