Race cars: New FIA Formula 3 replaces GP3
NEW PYRAMIDE IN FORMULA SPORTS The Motor Sport World Council of the International Automobile Federation has approved the concept of a new FIA Formula 3 Championship. GP3 and the Formula 3 European Championship will no longer exist from 2019. This also affects Jenzer Motorsport from Lyss. Andreas Jenzer had been in the loop for a long time, and now the team boss from Lyss has received written confirmation. The GP3 [...]
Andreas Jenzer had been in the loop for a long time, and now the team boss from Lyss has received written confirmation. The GP3 Series will only exist in 2018, after which it will be replaced by the new International FIA Formula 3 Championship. What this means for him is not yet entirely clear.
An FIA pyramid from Formula 4 to Formula 1
As a result, from 2019 there will be a clearly quantified pyramid in Formula racing with FIA status, the foundation of which will be Formula 4 as the entry-level class. The next step will be the new Formula 3, followed by Formula 2 (which emerged from GP2 in 2017) and finally Formula 1. In the future, the premier class will be the only FIA formula with different chassis and engines.
The FIA promises to keep a tight rein on costs in the new Formula 3. Like Formula 2, it will run as part of the Formula 1 World Championship. Two races will continue to be held on each of nine to ten GP weekends.
Between Formula 4 and Formula 3, there will be regional Formula 3 championships with less powerful race cars. They will premiere as early as this year in Asia (with 270-hp 1.75-L turbocharged Alfa Romeo cars in new Tatuus chassis) and America.
The previous Formula 3 race cars with naturally aspirated two-liter engines have had their day. They will probably still be seen in national series and hillclimb racing.
Jenzer hopes for modified GP3 cars
The chassis, engine and tires of the new Formula 3 have not yet been determined. Andreas Jenzer hopes that these components - with modifications merely due to the new safety standards - will be taken over from GP3 (Dallara chassis with 3.4-liter V6 engines from AER and Pirelli tires).
Andreas Jenzer: "I hope that the new Formula 3 will remain financially efficient and that it will continue to be Dallara chassis. This would also have to be in the interest of the promoters. Because otherwise it would not only be difficult for us to finance three completely new race cars, but also for other teams, some of which only had to purchase new Formula 2 cars for this season. We have our sights firmly set on entering the new FIA Formula 3, but not at any price."
Jenzer Motorsport is the only team besides ART Grand Prix to have been involved in GP3 (since 2010) from the very beginning to the present day. Today's DTM Audi works driver Nico Müller finished the first season in third place overall and remains the most successful Jenzer junior to date. Last year, Jenzer Motorsport also finished third in the team standings.
The start of the 2018 GP3 season will take place from May 11 to 13 at the Spanish GP in Barcelona. Driving for Jenzer will be Tatiana Calderón (COL), David Beckmann (D) and Juan Manuel Correa (USA).
