FIA wants older F3 championships to drop the name

[NaBUru38]

Oh, dear, these guys are getting paranoic:

National Formula 3 championships in Europe - including the British - have been warned by the FIA that they may not be able to use the 'F3' name, AUTOSPORT understands.

Sources indicate that the MSA received a letter before Christmas in which the FIA expressed surprise that it endorses the use of the 'F3' name, because its championship does not conform to current F3 regulations.

It is understood that the DMSB, which sanctions the German F3 Cup, has received a similar communication.


Frits van Amersfoort believes that the FIA is attempting to force all championships to adopt the new rules. "They are trying to get everything under one umbrella and I think that's important," he said, "but I can't understand why people with older cars and engines can't call themselves F3.


"It is vital that the British and the German series (pictured) can keep the name 'F3' - it's the most important thing the series have.


The Spanish-sanctioned European F3 Open, which uses spec Toyota engines, has already opted for a name change that will be announced on Friday February 14. Jesus Pareja explained that he had decided not to challenge the FIA, despite a long-standing tacit agreement with the governing body to use the F3 name.

(I meant "older")

[ivanalesi]

They are trying to "motivate" the championships to adopt the new engine rules. It's their brand name, so it's not surprising. Everything should be clear for next year's Macau.

[ptclaus98]

Didnt all the f3 organizations agree to this reg change?

[edenrace]

The regulations are made by the FIA, they do not ask for any advice or comments. The concept of the engine is good but to change initially is expensive so let us wait until the new engines have run for a year or so.

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

The most absurd thing about this, if you had to take this "rule" to the letter, the European championship and Macau GP wouldn't have been allowed to use the "F3" moniker in 2013, since they weren't using the latest-spec engines that the Japanese were already using at the time...

[Alessio]

So by next year there will only be 2 "F3" championships remaining...Japan and European...

[S griffin]

I thought the FIA was an F3 supporter?

[NaBUru38]

It seems that FIA only supports FIA F3.

[Juntos]

British F3 and German F3 series want to be F3 but keep running with classic cars. What about F3 European Open? Pareja's gang turn it into a F3.2 category. FIA to support the real F3 championships only.

[RF_Racer]

What happens to the F3 cup? they would have to drop the name. May be call it Super Monoposto 2000?

[GolddustMini]

3F cup?

FIA clearly think nitpicking is a good way to fix all the problems in single seater motorsport....

[kipper]

Originally Posted by RF_Racer

What happens to the F3 cup? they would have to drop the name. May be call it Super Monoposto 2000?

As I understand it, international series (such as British F3 or the German F3 Cup) have to be registered with the FIA and as a consequence, they get an influence over the name. National competitions only have to be registered with the MSA, meaning that this request should not have an impact (and by extension the Classic, Historic and 500cc F3 competitions).

[PabloTeK]

Originally Posted by kipper

As I understand it, international series (such as British F3 or the German F3 Cup) have to be registered with the FIA and as a consequence, they get an influence over the name. National competitions only have to be registered with the MSA, meaning that this request should not have an impact (and by extension the Classic, Historic and 500cc F3 competitions).

I thought British F3 was a national series this year?

[kipper]

Originally Posted by PabloTeK

I thought British F3 was a national series this year?

The Championship needs to be authorised by the FIA due to its International status and foreign rounds.

[JohnMiller]

Originally Posted by kipper

The Championship needs to be authorised by the FIA due to its International status and foreign rounds.

Nope, it is a National Series now but an International Permit is preferred to avoid these silly new track limits rules on National Motorsport.

[TimRTC]

How silly, sounds more like something Bernie would say about events like F1 Stock Car and F1 Powerboat racing.

I really doubt there is any confusion, anyone who follows F3 will know what the different series offer.

[mattt]

Midweek Motorsport ‏@specutainment 6h
"@RacecarEngineer: @specutainment @radiolemans Confirmed to me earlier by SRO - British F3 will be called British F3 in 2014." #mwm

https://twitter.com/specutainment/st...23562832527360

So SRO are ignoring the FIAs directive, hopefully the other ones will aswell and the FIA will have to accept it

[jondownunder]

Good for them. Two fingers up to Berger and his cronies. People should stand up to bullies.

[porsche962fan]

didn't you all learn what FIA stands for ?

Fools
In
Action

[TimRTC]

Can't the British and other affected series just allow entries from current spec cars in an A class, running the other cars in a 'national class', just as British F3 did until 2012.

No-one might show up for the top spec class, but if the regulations will theoretically allow it then surely that is all that is needed.

[ascarracinguk]

Why don't they just call it Formula Three?

[Go_For_Pole]

Clever logo conversion

[NaBUru38]

That's the cheapest rebranded logo I've ever seen!

[andrewc]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

That's the cheapest rebranded logo I've ever seen!

Same as when Alfa launched the 159 as the successor to the 156

[S griffin]

When the FIA said that they were going to sort out the motor racing ladder and try and save F3 it was seen as the right move and one that was well received. But I fear the FIA has only made it worse. I could go on, but let's just stick to F3. We've already lost the great Italian F3 and now it seems that other F3 series will have to name change, including the British which has lots of history. Madness.