British Formula 3 International Series: Difference between revisions

British Formula 3 International Series
Category	Single seaters
Country	United Kingdom
Inaugural season	1951
Folded	2014
Drivers	20
Teams	6
Constructors	Dallara
Engine suppliers	Mercedes HWA; Volkswagen
Tyre suppliers	Cooper Tires
Last Drivers' champion	Martin Cao
Official website	www.formula3.co

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The British Formula Three Championship was an international motor racing series that took place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It was a junior-level feeder formula that used small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its final official title was the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series. Notable former champions included Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, Rubens Barrichello, Takuma Sato, Daniel Ricciardo and Hélio Castroneves.

History

The first Formula Three championship to take place in the UK was the Autosport F3 championship held in 1951, which was won by Eric Brandon. By 1954, it had evolved into a national-level series and was organised by the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC).^[1] This was the 500cc period of Formula Three, which was active in the UK and other countries until 1959, at which point Formula Three was adapted into Formula Junior. In this period, there were often two or three series running concurrently and a single national series had yet to be firmly established.^[2]

The FIA reintroduced Formula Three in 1964 using a one-litre engine formula, and there were two F3 championships held in the UK that year. This was not the last occasion of two or more F3 championships running concurrently in the post-1964 era: from 1970 to 1973, there were three regional series (the Lombard North, John Player, and Forward Trust championships) and there were normally two series between then and 1978, with many drivers running in both.^[1] From 1979 onwards, there would be a single championship as the BARC and BRDC combined their series into the Vandervell British F3 Championship, which was later renamed for sponsorship reasons to the Marlboro British F3 Championship and then the Lucas British F3 Championship.^{[citation needed]}

In 1974, the engine capacity was raised to two litres, which remained the engine formula all the way until the championship's demise some 40 years later. In 1984, the series adopted a B class for competitors with older chassis, which helped grid sizes to grow rapidly in the 1980s, renamed in 2000 as the Scholarship class and later the National class.^{[citation needed]} In 2004, the organisation of the series was taken over by SRO, which began to run the series alongside the British GT Championship. Five years later, the series declined an invitation to join the support bill of the British Touring Car Championship, which attracted larger crowds than the British F3/GT meetings run by SRO.^[3]

However, rising costs in the late 2000s as a result of the arrival of big-spending engine manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen and hosting rounds abroad, combined with the revival of an FIA-backed European Formula 3 Championship in 2012, starved the British series of grid numbers, which were down to the mid-teens by 2012. Facing a shortfall of entries in 2013, the calendar was cut from 10 to just four meetings in a bid to save the series.^[4] The following year saw the calendar back up to seven meetings, but grids remained small, with some races attracting as few as five cars. In October 2014, it was announced that the 2014 season would be the final season of the British Formula Three Championship after a planned merger with the German Formula Three Championship fell through.^[5]

Equipment

Like most Formula Three championships, competitors in British F3 were permitted to use any eligible chassis, but in practice few competitors deviated from the Dallara after the Italian marque's arrival in 1993. Since then, TOM'S, Mygale and Lola have been among those to take on the might of the Italian marque, largely without success. Prior to Dallara's domination, Ralt and Reynard were the pacesetting chassis, with March being the chassis of choice for much of the 1970s.^{[citation needed]}

Two engine manufacturers – AMG-Mercedes (tuned by H.W.A) and Volkswagen – were represented on a full-time basis at the time of the series' demise. The Mugen-Honda engine (tuned by Neil Brown Engineering) was the dominant powerplant of the 1990s and the early-to-mid 2000s, prior to the arrival of Mercedes in 2006, although other manufacturers, including Toyota, Vauxhall/Opel, Renault and Mitsubishi also enjoyed success in the past.^{[citation needed]}

All entrants in the series had to use control tyres from a single supplier. Since 1982, these were manufactured by Avon Tyres, which from the 2009 season onwards were re-branded as Cooper Tires, as Cooper became the championship's official title sponsor.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ ^a ^b British F3 Champions Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine From motorsportsetc.com. Retrieved on 4 September 2007.
^ Formula 3 Story Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine From clarinet.fi. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
^ "Gow: F3 had agreed to BTCC move". crash.net. 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
^ Simmons, Marcus. "British Formula 3 slashes 2013 calendar to four events". Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
^ Simmons, Marcus. "'End of the road' for British Formula 3 as German tie-up plan fails". Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.

External links

[F3champions-1] British F3 Champions Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine From motorsportsetc.com. Retrieved on 4 September 2007.

[2] Formula 3 Story Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine From clarinet.fi. Retrieved 5 September 2007.

[3] "Gow: F3 had agreed to BTCC move". crash.net. 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2018.

[4] Simmons, Marcus. "British Formula 3 slashes 2013 calendar to four events". Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.

[5] Simmons, Marcus. "'End of the road' for British Formula 3 as German tie-up plan fails". Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.

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+{{Short description|Auto racing championship in the United Kingdom}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2013}}
+{{Distinguish|BRDC British Formula 3 Championship}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
 {{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
 {{Infobox motorsport championship
@@ Line 21: / Line 23: @@
 }}
-The '''British Formula Three Championship''', officially named the '''BRDC British Formula 3 Championship''', is an national [[Auto racing|motor racing]] series that takes place in the [[United Kingdom]], and previously with a small number of events held in mainland [[Europe]]. It is a junior-level [[Formula racing|feeder formula]] that uses small [[Open wheel car|single seater]] non-[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] [[Formula 4]] chassis, previously run with [[Formula Three]] chassis. The series was previously knows as the '''Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series''' before folding in 2014. Notable former champions included [[Jim Clark]], [[Jackie Stewart]], [[Emerson Fittipaldi]], [[Nelson Piquet]], [[Ayrton Senna]], [[Mika Häkkinen]], [[Rubens Barrichello]] and [[Daniel Ricciardo]].
+The '''British Formula Three Championship''' was an international [[Auto racing|motor racing]] series that took place primarily in the [[United Kingdom]] with a small number of events in mainland [[Europe]]. It was a junior-level [[Formula racing|feeder formula]] that used small [[Open wheel car|single seater]] [[Formula Three]] chassis. Its final official title was the '''Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series'''. Notable former champions included [[Jim Clark]], [[Jackie Stewart]], [[Emerson Fittipaldi]], [[Nelson Piquet]], [[Ayrton Senna]], [[Mika Häkkinen]], [[Rubens Barrichello]], [[Takuma Sato]], [[Daniel Ricciardo]] and [[Hélio Castroneves]].
 ==History==
-The first Formula Three championship to take place in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] was the ''Autosport F3'' championship held in 1951, which was won by [[Eric Brandon]]. By 1954, it had evolved into a national-level series and was organised by the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC).<ref name="F3champions">[http://www.motorsportsetc.com/champs/gbr_f3.htm British F3 Champions] From ''motorsportsetc.com.'' Retrieved on 4 September 2007.</ref> This was the 500cc period of Formula Three, which was active in the UK and other countries until 1959, at which point Formula Three was adapted into Formula Junior. In this period, there were often two or three series running concurrently and a single national series had yet to be firmly established.<ref>[http://www.clarinet.fi/%7Espitkane/f3story.htm#FORMULA%20%A03%20STORY Formula 3 Story] From ''clarinet.fi.'' Retrieved 5 September 2007.</ref>
+The first Formula Three championship to take place in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] was the ''Autosport F3'' championship held in 1951, which was won by [[Eric Brandon]]. By 1954, it had evolved into a national-level series and was organised by the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC).<ref name="F3champions">[http://www.motorsportsetc.com/champs/gbr_f3.htm British F3 Champions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928145925/http://www.motorsportsetc.com/champs/gbr_f3.htm |date=28 September 2007 }} From ''motorsportsetc.com.'' Retrieved on 4 September 2007.</ref> This was the 500cc period of Formula Three, which was active in the UK and other countries until 1959, at which point Formula Three was adapted into Formula Junior. In this period, there were often two or three series running concurrently and a single national series had yet to be firmly established.<ref>[http://www.clarinet.fi/%7Espitkane/f3story.htm#FORMULA%20%A03%20STORY Formula 3 Story] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225100/http://www.clarinet.fi/~spitkane/f3story.htm |date=27 September 2007 }} From ''clarinet.fi.'' Retrieved 5 September 2007.</ref>
 The [[FIA]] reintroduced Formula Three in 1964 using a one-litre engine formula, and there were two F3 championships held in the UK that year. This was not the last occasion of two or more F3 championships running concurrently in the post-1964 era: from 1970 to 1973, there were three regional series (the ''Lombard North'', ''John Player'', and ''Forward Trust'' championships) and there were normally two series between then and 1978, with many drivers running in both.<ref name="F3champions"/> From 1979 onwards, there would be a single championship as the BARC and BRDC combined their series into the ''Vandervell British F3 Championship'', which was later renamed for sponsorship reasons to the ''Marlboro British F3 Championship'' and then the ''Lucas British F3 Championship''.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
-In 1974, the engine capacity was raised to two litres, which remained the engine formula all the way until the championship's demise some 40 years later. In 1984, the series adopted a B class for competitors with older chassis, which helped grid sizes to grow rapidly in the 1980s, renamed in 2000 as the Scholarship class and later the National class.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} In 2004, the organisation of the series was taken over by [[Stéphane Ratel Organisation|SRO]], which began to run the series alongside the [[British GT Championship]]. Five years later, the series declined an invitation to join the support bill of the [[British Touring Car Championship]], which attracted larger crowds than the British F3/GT meetings run by SRO.<ref>http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/11100/1/gow-f3-had-agreed-to-btcc-move.html</ref>
+In 1974, the engine capacity was raised to two litres, which remained the engine formula all the way until the championship's demise some 40 years later. In 1984, the series adopted a B class for competitors with older chassis, which helped grid sizes to grow rapidly in the 1980s, renamed in 2000 as the Scholarship class and later the National class.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} In 2004, the organisation of the series was taken over by [[Stéphane Ratel Organisation|SRO]], which began to run the series alongside the [[British GT Championship]]. Five years later, the series declined an invitation to join the support bill of the [[British Touring Car Championship]], which attracted larger crowds than the British F3/GT meetings run by SRO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/11100/1/gow-f3-had-agreed-to-btcc-move.html|title=Gow: F3 had agreed to BTCC move.|date=10 June 2008|website=crash.net|access-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235941/http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/11100/1/gow-f3-had-agreed-to-btcc-move.html|archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref>
-However, rising costs in the late 2000s as a result of the arrival of big-spending engine manufacturers such as [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Volkswagen]] and hosting rounds abroad, combined with the revival of an FIA-backed [[European Formula 3 Championship]] in 2012, starved the British series of grid numbers, which were down to the mid-teens by 2012. Facing a shortfall of entries in 2013, the calendar was cut from 10 to just four meetings in a bid to save the series.<ref>http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105307</ref> The following year saw the calendar back up to seven meetings, but grids remained small, with some races attracting as few as five cars. In October 2014, it was announced that the 2014 season would be the final season of the British Formula Three Championship after a planned merger with the [[German Formula Three Championship]] fell through.<ref>http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116404</ref>
+However, rising costs in the late 2000s as a result of the arrival of big-spending engine manufacturers such as [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Volkswagen]] and hosting rounds abroad, combined with the revival of an FIA-backed [[European Formula 3 Championship]] in 2012, starved the British series of grid numbers, which were down to the mid-teens by 2012. Facing a shortfall of entries in 2013, the calendar was cut from 10 to just four meetings in a bid to save the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105307|title=British Formula 3 slashes 2013 calendar to four events|last=Simmons|first=Marcus|access-date=18 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405061500/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105307|archive-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> The following year saw the calendar back up to seven meetings, but grids remained small, with some races attracting as few as five cars. In October 2014, it was announced that the 2014 season would be the final season of the British Formula Three Championship after a planned merger with the [[German Formula Three Championship]] fell through.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116404|title='End of the road' for British Formula 3 as German tie-up plan fails|last=Simmons|first=Marcus|access-date=18 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405071414/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116404|archive-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>
-The championship was revived in March 2016 after the FIA and [[Motor Sports Association|MSA]] reached an agreement to re-brand the [[BRDC British Formula 4 Championship]] as the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship.
 ==Equipment==
-Like most [[Formula Three]] championships, competitors in British F3 were permitted to use any eligible chassis, but in practice few competitors ever deviated from the [[Dallara]] since the Italian marque's arrival in 1993. Since then, [[TOM'S]], [[Mygale]] and [[Lola Cars|Lola]] have been among those to take on the might of the Italian marque, largely without success. Prior to Dallara's domination, [[Ralt]] and [[Reynard]] were the pacesetting chassis, with [[March Engineering|March]] being the chassis of choice for much of the 1970s.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
+Like most [[Formula Three]] championships, competitors in British F3 were permitted to use any eligible chassis, but in practice few competitors deviated from the [[Dallara]] after the Italian marque's arrival in 1993. Since then, [[TOM'S]], [[Mygale]] and [[Lola Cars|Lola]] have been among those to take on the might of the Italian marque, largely without success. Prior to Dallara's domination, [[Ralt]] and [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]] were the pacesetting chassis, with [[March Engineering|March]] being the chassis of choice for much of the 1970s.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
 Two engine manufacturers&nbsp;– [[AMG-Mercedes]] (tuned by H.W.A) and Volkswagen – were represented on a full-time basis at the time of the series' demise. The [[Mugen Motorsports|Mugen-Honda]] engine (tuned by Neil Brown Engineering) was the dominant powerplant of the 1990s and the early-to-mid 2000s, prior to the arrival of Mercedes in 2006, although other manufacturers, including [[Toyota]], [[Vauxhall Motors|Vauxhall]]/[[Opel]], [[Renault]] and [[Mitsubishi]] also enjoyed success in the past.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
 All entrants in the series had to use control tyres from a single supplier. Since 1982, these were manufactured by Avon Tyres, which from the 2009 season onwards were re-branded as Cooper Tires, as Cooper became the championship's official title sponsor.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
-==Return==
-On 23rd March 2016, the FIA and MSA revealed to the [[FIA World Motor Sport Council]] that an agreement had been reached the day prior to rebrand the [[BRDC Formula 4 Championship]] in order to reflect the increased pace of the new car designed for the 2016 season, and to fill the void left after the British Formula 3 Championship folded in 2014.<ref>[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123427 BRDC Formula 4's British Formula 3 rebrand goes ahead for 2016] – Autosport, 23 March 2016</ref>
-===New car===
-The BRDC British Formula Three Championship notably does not use a FIA [[Formula Three|Formula 3]] car, instead using a car based on the [[Formula 4]] specification that is elevated to the pace of F3 cars. The car, the F4-016, is designed by Italian manufacturer [[Tatuus]] to the F3 safety regulations including side impact panels, front and rear carbon impact structures, wheel tethers and extractable seat. The car also uses a unique Sadev limited slip differential.<ref>[http://www.formula4.com/msv-f4-016.aspx The Tatuus-Cosworth BRDC British F3 Car] – BRDC, 26 March 2016</ref>
-The cars are around the same pace as the previous FIA F3 specification car used prior to the series folding in 2014. However, the laptimes for current F3 cars have become around two seconds faster since then due to new engine regulations released for the 2014 racing season.<ref>[http://www.formula4.com/msv-f4-016.aspx The Tatuus-Cosworth BRDC British F3 Car] – BRDC, 26 March 2016</ref>
-{| class="wikitable"
-|-
-!colspan=2|[[Tatuus]]-[[Cosworth]] F4-016
-|-
-| Constructor || [[Tatuus]]
-|-
-| Engine || 2.0L [[Cosworth]]
-|-
-| [[Lubrication]] || [[Dry sump]]
-|-
-| [[Horsepower]] || 230&nbsp;bhp
-|-
-| [[Engine Control Unit|Engine management]] || [[Cosworth]]
-|-
-| [[Transmission (mechanics)|Transmission]] || Sadev 6-speed [[sequential]]
-|-
-| [[Suspension (vehicle)|Suspension]] || [[Double wishbone]] [[Pushrod]]
-|-
-| [[Chassis]] || [[Carbon fibers| Carbon-fibre]] [[monocoque]]
-|-
-| Tires || [[Pirelli]]
-|-
-| [[Brakes]]|| [[AP Racing]] 4-piston [[Disc brake#Calipers|calipers]]
-|-
-| [[Wheelbase]] || 2750&nbsp;mm
-|-
-| Front track || 1600&nbsp;mm
-|-
-| Rear track || 1500&nbsp;mm
-|-
-| Weight || 495&nbsp;kg
-|}
 ==See also==
@@ Line 93: / Line 50: @@
 ==External links==
-*[http://www.formula3.co/ Official British F3 International website]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110815174609/http://www.formula3.co/ Official British F3 International website]
 *[http://www.forix.com/8w/6thgear/champs.html#GBF3 British Formula 3 Championship at forix.com]
@@ Line 102: / Line 59: @@
 [[Category:1951 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
 [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1951]]
-[[Category:Recurring events disestablished in 2014]]
+[[Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2014]]
 [[Category:Defunct auto racing series]]
 [[Category:Formula Three series]]
 [[Category:National championships in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:2014 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Defunct sports competitions in the United Kingdom]]

v t e Motorsport in the UK
International	Formula racing Formula One (British Grand Prix, European Grand Prix) Formula E (London ePrix) A1GP Superleague Formula (SF round UK) Sports car racing FIA WEC (6 Hours of Silverstone) ELMS Blancpain GT (Endurance Cup, World Challenge Europe) IGTO 24H Series (24H Silverstone) FIA GT1 Championship (RAC Tourist Trophy) Touring car racing FIA WTCC (WTCC Race of UK) 24H TCE Series (24H Silverstone) Stock car racing NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (American Speedfest) Rallying FIA WRC (Rally GB) FIA WRX (World RX of Great Britain) Motorcycling MotoGP (British motorcycle Grand Prix) WSBK (Donington Park) Motorcycle speedway Speedway Grand Prix (Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain) Radio-controlled racing IFMAR Worlds (1:12 Elec. Track, 1:10 Elec. Off-Road, 1:8 IC Off-Road) EFRA Euros
Open Wheel	BRDC British Formula 3 Monoposto Racing Club F4 British Championship MSV Formula 3 Cup British Formula One Championship British Formula 3000 British Formula 3 Formula Ford Walter Hayes Trophy Formula Renault UK Formula BMW Formula Palmer Audi
Saloon/Sports Car	British Touring Car Championship British GT Championship Britcar Ginetta GT4 Supercup Ginetta GT5 Challenge Ginetta Junior Championship Kumho BMW Championship MaX5 Racing Championship Renault Clio Cup Pickup Truck Racing Porsche Carrera Cup GB TVR Tuscan Challenge Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship BRDC Sportscar Championship SEAT Cupra Championship
Motorcycle	British Superbike Championship British Supersport Championship Isle of Man TT North West 200 Thruxton 500
Rally	British Rally Championship British Rallycross Championship Scottish Rally Championship
Hill Climb	British Hill Climb Championship Goodwood Festival of Speed
Endurance	Britcar (Silverstone Britcar 24-Hour) • Willhire 24 Hour • 2CV 24 Hour Race
Karting	British Schools Karting Championship British Universities Karting Championship Formula A ICA Junior ICA
Stock Car (Full/Short Oval)	ASCAR Racing Series BriSCA F1 BriSCA F2 Banger racing National Hot Rods Superstox V8 Hotstox
Grass Track	Autograss Grasstrack Speedway Lawn mower racing
Drifting	European Drift Championship British Drift Championship JDM Allstars
Historics	Goodwood Revival Oulton Park Gold Cup Silverstone Classic VSCC
Motorcycle speedway	British Speedway Championship British Speedway Under 21 Championship British Speedway Under 18 Championship Speedway Elite League Elite League Knockout Cup Craven Shield Speedway Elite League Riders' Championship Elite League Pairs Championship Speedway Premier League Premier League Knockout Cup Speedway Premier Trophy Speedway Premier League Riders' Championship Speedway Premier League Pairs Championship Speedway Premier League Four-Team Championship Speedway Conference League Speedway Conference League Riders' Championship Speedway Conference League Four-Team Championship
R/C racing	BRCA National Championships
Defunct championships / races are indicated in italics