Formula 3 organiser announces plans for 2019 series
Organisers of the European Formula 3 championship have confirmed it will run an international single-seater series next year.
Formel 3 Vermarktungs, who has run the series on behalf of the FIA since 2012, has revealed plans for a new championship, which will run on the DTM support series programme.
The move comes as the FIA prepares to switch to the new International Formula 3 next season, a championship which is supposed to be a merger between the current F3 series and F1 support championship GP3.
“Over the years, our championship has become established as Europe’s most important junior race series,” said Walter Mertes, Formel 2 Vermarktungs CEO.
“The highly professional event platform of the DTM enables the drivers to develop themselves in many aspects, both on and off the track. On the support package of popular events at challenging circuits, they can showcase their skills and to recommend themselves for the next steps in motorsport.
“The large number of competitors who have graduated to professional motorsport categories like DTM and Formula 1 underlines the success of our concept. We are delighted that the series will be cooperating with the DTM again next year.”
Many regulations will continue unchanged, including the weekend format, and the current generation F3 cars will be used.
The age limit of 25 years, maximum of four seasons in the championship and the banning of past champions from competing have been abolished.
It’s understood a number of existing teams have shown interest in the new series, but the super license points available haven’t been confirmed.