British F3 Silly Season 2012

[strider]

Originally Posted by davyboy

In the past a plum seat in a good team was exactly that, primarily because teams ran just two cars. Demand would outstrip supply. Carlin decided to expand to meet the demand and ended up last year running 6 cars. It's not unreasonable to believe that most well heeled drivers would want a Carlin seat, be that based on hype or fact. It follows therefore that, unchecked, Carlin could potentially have continued to expand - this year 8 cars, next year 10 cars, then 12 the year after and so on. It's not inconceivable to believe that eventually they would have a monopoly and the other teams would cease to exist. In order to protect their own viability, the other teams want Carlin limited to a lower [than 6] number of cars next year than this.

o Should all teams be limited to fielding just 2 cars ? Would that improve the racing or the health of the series ?
o Should Carlin [or anyone else] be allowed to run as many cars as they like ? Would/is that damaging the series ?
o Should BF3 go 'communist' like F2 and have the entire series run by one outfit ?

Forget about recessions or economic crises. These are the important questions of our time

You don't seem to be aware that Carlin have agreed to reduce their entry to five cars next year - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95285

In answer to your specific questions:

o This year 6 teams have entered BF3 on a regular basis and regularly fielded 20/20 car. On that basis it would clearly not improve the health of the series to limit each of them to 2 cars..
o No. As stated, Carlin have already to a reduction to five cars. It might be an idea to impose that as a limit in the regulations from now on.
o Absolutely not. See bella's post above. It would be a disaster.

A few other relevant facts. Next year the International Class teams have to buy new chassis. The year after there is a brand new engine, so there is major expenditure ahead.

If teams want to keep their existing cars they can, but would have to run in the National Class and use the control NBE Mugen-Honda engine. Their contracts with Mercedes and VW will probably expire at the end of the season and the NBE deal is much less expensive. I think that next year there will be a major increase in the National Class numbers. I know of one team that intends to switch and there are said to be Formula Ford teams that would rather switch to the National Class than buy the new FFord car.

Hope that helps.

[davyboy]

Ah, I was asking hypothetical questions there. I am aware of the state of affairs as of Thursday this week. Nonetheless a lesson in egg sucking is always enjoyable

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by bella

apart from the total false start that is "formula 2", are there any where you really can win from a team who occupied the last few rows of the grid the previous season? honest question.

I don't know about teams occupying the last few rows but when Alx Danielsson won FR 3.5 in 2006 it was in a brand new team where the other drivers pretty much didn't produce any results neither that year or the next.

[strider]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Ah, I was asking hypothetical questions there. I am aware of the state of affairs as of Thursday this week. Nonetheless a lesson in egg sucking is always enjoyable

Understood, but you asked and I replied. I still wouldn't treat that article in Autsport as gospel either. I've had several phone calls about it from teams. The feeling is that the journalist in question was out to make a name for himself more than anything else.

[Richard B]

As Strider says above "there are said to be Formula Ford teams that would rather switch to the National Class than buy the new FFord car". I spoke to one team owner at Silverstone who was certainly interested in F3 next year.
Furthermore there were a couple of previous F3 team owners seen in the paddock/SRO unit and I can't believe they were there for a free coffee... Once the Carlin issue is settled, (and it appears to be heading that way), I think we will see more teams next year.

[strider]

I've only just spotted a small piece in Autosport this week saying that Carlos Sainz Jr is headed for British F3 next year, probably with Carlin, who for the moment are only saying it is very likely.

I think once the squabbling has died down, which has a lot to do to someone who doesn't run a team himself but thought he saw an opportunity for personal glory and a journalist who thought he'd make a name for himself regardless of the consequences, then everything will be fine.

[bella]

sainz jnr confirmed in the eurocup race 2 press conference at barcelona that he'd be racing with carlin next year, yes. hopefully the other current red bull junior daniil kvyat will be going with him too, he's just as competitive as sainz.

[strider]

That's good. Also pleased to hear from Alex Lynn on TV today that he'll be moving up to BF3 and that the details should be confirmed in the next week.

[strider]

This is one of those announcements that doesn't get me very excited, but Pipo Derani is to switch from Double R Racing to Fortec Motorsport for next season, so from one Mercedes team to another. At least it shows that drivers are looking at teams other than Carlin.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95503

[Richard B]

Another 2012 signing for Fortec, Alex Lynn the reigning Formula Renault UK Champion.
Full story at:
http://www.formula3.co/news/team-new...ortec-for-2012

[EastonNeston]

It's very good to see that two drivers have committed to Fortec, and British F3 so early.

[strider]

Interesting tweet from Double R Racing tonight: "A good day of testing. No official timing. William Buller 'very' competitive!"

[Go_For_Pole]

3rd year driver... 3*600k = 1,8 million

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

3rd year driver... 3*600k = 1,8 million

It's a ridiculous amount of money for what it is.

[EastonNeston]

With his 3rd team as well!
Surely there are benfits to be gained from teh continuity of a long term relationship with a team.

[strider]

If you don't find the success you expect with one team, you look for another. Don't forget that Buller won the Macau FBMW race a couple of years comfortably from Felipe Nasr, who was his team-mate.

As for the figures, I haven't seen the contracts, so don't know how much is involved.

[bella]

probably, but if you discover you don't mesh with an engineer or perhaps they don't have the right knowledge you need to develop, then it's fair you'd want to move on.

course if you used pre-season testing correctly in the first place you'd not have that issue.

(comments general and not specific to this situation. but you should have enough common sense to know that already)

[EastonNeston]

Probably fair to say that whoever buller drives for gets a very good rate for test days at Rockingham!

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

Probably fair to say that whoever buller drives for gets a very good rate for test days at Rockingham!

At least it seems fair to be sharing the debts around.

[EastonNeston]

Just annouced that Scott Pye has signed with Fortec, subject to funding.

[strider]

If Buller signs with Double R, that'll be a direct swap and I know who I think has come out of it better.

[cg7aa]

Originally Posted by davyboy

It's a ridiculous amount of money for what it is.

As a motorsport commentator once cynically remarked "you never see a poor F3 team owner"!

[EastonNeston]

I can think of several exceptions to that statement.

[ptclaus98]

Funny how this turned into a British F3 2012 thread.

[strider]

I think it's probably because what happens to British F3 will probably determine the future of F3. The F3ES is a shadow of its former self, but I think that if some of the better teams are prepared to join BF3 at selected rounds, i.e. the FIA ones, all will be well.