[Mekola]

About 1966, it was determined, by FIA rules, that formula racing was distributed in four ranks of formula racing series:
- Formula 1
- Formula 2
- Formula 3
- Formula 4

But since the income of Formula 3000 to replace European F2 in 1985 and the replacement of Formula 4 to the Formula (automaker brand) in several European and American countries, made a kind of confussion about the stepping series. Formula 1 was only one and it was clear, also somehow the national and continental Formula 3 were, but F2-class and F4-class different series, or the series what supposed to claim that status, started to be blurred.

The income of one-make F2-spec series since F3000 itself in 1996, followed by all kinds of brief-created spec-formula series (there are several to name all them in this), were a success in the first of the first years, to decay or enter in decadence in the third or fourth year of their existence when the concept was no more a novelty, or after the purpose to see its very first champion(s) made it to Formula 1. You could see this story repeated several times, with several series, over the last twenty years.

The only F2 series that did the exception to this was Formula Nippon, that kept up to 2001 the possibility to see different chassis in the same series, and later allowed two different engine makers to spice up competition.

Now it seems the FIA wants a halt on that confussion, and mash-up the formula ladder back to F1-F2-F3-F4 ranks, as it was half a century ago.

Debate is open about the matter...