2016 Formula 3.5 V8 (formerly Renault!) Silly Season

[Alex K]

Matt, do you remember not long ago we had 40 year old driver in GP3, we had gentleman drivers in Formula 1, IndyCar, it happens quite often in top NASCAR racing series.... and? It is one more entry. If he does not get in anyone's way, if he qualifies for the race, why not? It is quality entry list still, we some real talent out there, but being honest, if there was another gentleman driver, a businessman who would want to try his luck, let him do it. Until they do not interfere with racing, keep them on the circuit.

IMO, if it was me, I'd rather race tin-tops, GTs but if he wishes to try his luck in single seaters?!

Auto GP is dead, it's been dead for years.

[Alessio]

Gentlemen drivers bring money to a team, puts an additional car on the grid and may free up funds to have a quality driver in the second car for 'driver coaching'. Where is the problem? Cipriani is not the fastest man around yet he was competent when it came to AutoGP..

And as far I see it, the quality of the grid is no worse than most similar level single seater series. It maybe has taken a drop from previous years but there are still there some quality drivers who could have a future. Think to the early years of AutoGP where grids were circa 15/16 cars yet the likes of Romain Grosjean, Luca Filippi and the likes were running the show.

[10TENTHS]

Originally Posted by Alessio

And as far I see it, the quality of the grid is no worse than most similar level single seater series.

It's below GP3 and GP2. Arguably below Indy Lights as well given where Stoneman and Rosenqvist are as of the third race. Ed Jones won in a stronger F3 Open series grid than Baptista.

Vaxiviere
Deletraz
Dillmann
Baptista
Orudzhev
Panis
Celis Jr
Nissany
Binder
Kanamaru
Atoev

There's no depth to the current field beyond the top 3-4 at most. GP3 has lured the talent (Aitken, Leclerc, Dennis, de Vries, Hughes etc). I would pit any of the GP2 ART and Prema drivers favourably against what we have so far here.

[ivanalesi]

This is a grid to save 3.5 for this season, it's obviously not good enough in terms of quality. It depends on the teams and organizers how strong it will be in 2017.
Will it be saved back to the old grid quality with Bianchi, Frijns & Bird fighting for the title or will it go the Auto GP route?
Remember the first season in Auto GP was equally "good"... there was Grosjean, Pantano etc. at the top. But it all went progressively down from there.

The car is still very relevant, still fast... but remember, it's a Dallara. Currently 3.5 isn't blessed by neither FOM or FIA and they are important customers to Dallara! The new F2 will be effectively FOM & FIA together vs 3.5... everyone can imagine the sort of politics that might develop.

[Mekola]

Originally Posted by Alessio

Gentlemen drivers bring money to a team, puts an additional car on the grid and may free up funds to have a quality driver in the second car for 'driver coaching'. Where is the problem? Cipriani is not the fastest man around yet he was competent when it came to AutoGP..

And as far I see it, the quality of the grid is no worse than most similar level single seater series. It maybe has taken a drop from previous years but there are still there some quality drivers who could have a future. Think to the early years of AutoGP where grids were circa 15/16 cars yet the likes of Romain Grosjean, Luca Filippi and the likes were running the show.

I've suggested Facu Regalia for the other Durango car due to his 2015 links with Auto GP even winning a race, but now Regalia is commited to Top Race V6 silhouette tin-tops in Argentina this year.

[WSR Fan]

Entry list for this weekend's test at Motorland Aragon has been released on Twitter...

No Strakka Racing present, Visser alongside Kanamaru at Teo Martin and Isaakyan takes Atoev's place at SMP Racing, who is rumoured to have been dropped from the SMP fold.

Still just one car for Durango too so in total there are 15 cars this weekend.

Johnny Cecotto Jr. has been confirmed at RP Motorsport also.