Formula Three , also called Formula 3 , abbreviated as F3 , is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing . The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers.
56-585: The Tatuus F4-T014 is a junior formula racing car introduced in 2014 by Italian manufacturer Tatuus . The basic chassis is also used in the Tatuus MSV F4-016 , Tatuus USF-17 and the Tatuus PM-18 . The Tatuus F4-T014 was the first racing car homologated according to the FIA Formula 4 rules. The car was first used in the 2014 Italian F4 Championship , won by Lance Stroll . As of 2015
112-533: A 2.0L Mazda engine. The USF2000 chassis is also the base car for the Pro Mazda chassis. The Pro Mazda car features the most powerful engine of all F4 based cars, a 2.0L Mazda MZR-PM18A. The engine, developed by Elite Engines , produces 275hp. Mazda factory driver Joel Miller was selected to test drive both the USF-17 and PM-18. The entire car, with modifications, can be used in all three USAC-sanctioned tiers of
168-410: A 250 hp Honda K20A engine . A1 Grand Prix ( A1GP ) was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport". Also, the series attracted equal numbers of (former or future) Formula One drivers and IndyCar Series drivers. The concept
224-719: A cheap point of entry for lesser funded teams and drivers. Formula Three cars are monocoque chassis , using slick racing tyres and wings . Currently, Dallara manufactures the overwhelming majority of F3 cars, though Mygale , Lola (formerly in partnership with Dome of Japan), Arttech , and SLC also have a limited output. In many smaller or amateur F3 racing series older cars are frequently seen. Usually these series are divided into two or more classes, to allow more participation. Engines in FIA Formula 3 are all 3.4- litre , 6-cylinder naturally aspirated spec engines. Engines in others Formula 3 series must be built from
280-434: A choice of chassis or engines and the control or "spec" formula that relies on a single supplier for chassis and engines. Formula Three is an example of an open formula, while Formula BMW is a control formula. There are also some exceptions on these two forms like Formula Ford where there is an open chassis formula but a restricted single brand engine formula. While Formula One is the most expensive form of motorsport in
336-411: A driver to earn up to €2.2 million over the course of the season. This was all done to give drivers a chance to earn a living from motorsport. By 2011, the link with football was fading with more than half the teams no longer associated with football teams, The later races of the season did not take place, and no further seasons were organised. See: Formula Challenge Japan Formula Asia V6 (Renault)
392-481: A much more important role. Occasionally the term “wings and slicks racing” is used to distinguish the faster categories. In the process of reviving Grand Prix racing after the end of World War II, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile 's Commission Sportive Internationale was responsible for defining the standardised regulations of Formula One (F1) in 1946. The first race to be run to
448-678: A new addition to the Road to Indy pathway, sanctioned by USAC in 2022, it is the equivalent to Formula 4. Super Formula , previously known as Formula Nippon , is the premier level of Japanese formula racing. It began as the Japanese Formula 2000 series in 1973 and continued to use Formula Two regulations after European Formula Two had ended in 1984. In 1987 the series switched to the Formula 3000 standard so that Japanese and European regulations paralleled one another again. However, in 1996,
504-461: A number of controversial rule changes that brought the series out of alignment with similar SCCA classes, which led to a reduction in participation and the end of the series in 2006. In 2010, the series returned under the leadership of Andersen with the intent to return F2000 to its status as a feeder formula for higher open wheel racing classes in the United States . The USF Juniors is
560-732: A production model block ( stock block ), and often must be sealed by race or series organizers, so no private tuning can be carried out. Honda engines (prepared by Mugen ) have perennially been popular, as have engines produced by Volkswagen , Alfa Romeo , or Renault . Currently the HWA-tuned Mercedes and the Volkswagen engines dominate the British and European series, with Mugen, TOM'S – Toyota , Opel , and Fiat being used by some teams. Complete regulations: "fia.com" (PDF) . (1213 kiB ) Until
616-487: A restricted air intake were introduced. The 1971–73 seasons were contested with these cars, as aerodynamics started to become important. Two-litre engine rules were introduced for 1974, still with restricted air intakes. Today engine regulations remain basically unchanged in F3, a remarkable case of stability in racing regulations. As the likes of Lotus and Brabham faded from F3 to concentrate on Formula One, F3 constructors of
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#1732802128754672-403: A statistical point of view, Parker was the most successful F3 driver. Although coming to motor racing late in life (at age 41 in 1949), he won a total of 126 F3 races altogether, and was described by Motor Sport magazine (in his 1998 obituary) as "the most successful Formula 3 driver in history". Although Stirling Moss was already a star by 1953, Parker beat him more than any other driver, and
728-454: A three-year life-cycle, with only minor annual updates. It was agreed however to extend the life-cycle of the current F308 to four years to assist teams; this chassis however, has been replaced in 2012 with the new F312 chassis, intended to be run until 2017. Most F3 championships, most notably the British series, offer a secondary class for cars from the previous life-cycle in order to provide
784-582: Is an open-wheel racing car category intended for junior drivers. There is no global championship, but rather individual nations or regions can host their own championships in compliance with a universal set of rules and specifications. The category was created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)—the International sanctioning and administrative body for motorsport—as an entry-level category for young drivers, bridging
840-466: Is known for major non-championship races typically including entries from the national series, the best-known of which is the FIA Formula 3 World Cup (previously known as FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup) at Macau . The first Formula Three Grand Prix of Macau was held in 1983 and won by Ayrton Senna . Michael Schumacher , David Coulthard , Ralf Schumacher , and Takuma Sato have also won there. The Formula Three Grand Prix of Macau traditionally marks
896-530: Is the top feeder series for the IndyCar Series , similar to F1 's relationship with Formula 2 . The original Indy Lights (known as "American Racing Series") acted as a developmental circuit for CART from 1986 to 2001 . The current series was founded in 2002 by IndyCar. The USF Pro 2000 Championship formally known as Indy Pro 2000 Championship has been an officially sanctioned development series since 2011, when it became governed by IndyCar, although
952-668: The F4 British Championship ) was launched by MotorSport Vision using the RFR MSV F4-013 chassis. Tatuus adapted the Tatuus F4-014 chassis to a more powerful Cosworth - Duratec engine. The car was first used in the 2015 BRDC Formula 4 Autumn Trophy won by Ben Barnicoat . The engine used has 70 hp more than the Formula 4 spec version, making the car 10 seconds a lap quicker at most circuits. Besides
1008-481: The IndyCar Series and the Super Formula Championship . Lower categories such as Formula Three and Formula Two are described as junior formulae , lower formulae or feeder formulae , referring to their position below top-level series like Formula One on their respective career ladders of single-seater motor racing. There are two primary forms of racing formula: the open formula that allows
1064-637: The Second World War ; British motorsport after the war picked up slowly, partly due to petrol rationing which continued for a number of years and home-built 500 cc cars engines were intended to be accessible to the "impecunious enthusiast". The second post-war motor race in Britain was organised by the VSCC in July 1947 at RAF Gransden Lodge, 500cc cars being the only post-war class to run that day. Three of
1120-433: The 1970s included Alpine , Lola , March, Modus , GRD , Ralt , and Ensign . By the start of the 1980s however, Formula Three had evolved well beyond its humble beginnings to something closely resembling the modern formula. It was seen as the main training ground for future Formula One drivers, many of them bypassing Formula Two to go straight into Grand Prix racing. The chassis became increasingly sophisticated, mirroring
1176-500: The British Formula 3 championship. Perhaps the most curious of all was the small All-Japan Formula Three Championship . Although few drivers spent a significant amount of time there, future stars such as Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve scored victories there. An Asian series was established in 2001 and grew to produce past A1 drivers for Indonesia and Australia. In addition to the many national series, Formula Three
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#17328021287541232-773: The Euroseries 3000. In 2010, the first-generation A1 Grand Prix cars replaced the Lola F3000 chassis and the Auto GP name was adopted. Formula Three Formula Three (adopted by the FIA in 1950) evolved from postwar auto racing , with lightweight tube-frame chassis powered by 500 cc motorcycle engines (notably Nortons and JAP speedway). The 500 cc formula originally evolved in 1946 from low-cost "special" racing organised by enthusiasts in Bristol , England, just before
1288-505: The F1 events format. It was created to take over from the various F3 championships around the world after the FIA deemed that the title "Formula 3" would be exclusively used by the series that runs on F1 weekends known previously as GP3. Each championship corresponds to one specific region: Asia, Americas, Europe, India, Japan, Middle East and Oceania (New Zealand). FIA Formula 4 , also called FIA F4,
1344-473: The International Formula 3000 series became a one-make format to reduce costs and the Japanese Formula broke away, changing the series' name to Formula Nippon. Formula Nippon featured chassis supplied by Lola , Reynard and G-Force until 2001 and 2002 when G-Force and Reynard withdrew, while Mugen - Honda supplied most engines. In 2006, the regulations were changed drastically – the chassis
1400-620: The Italian Formula 3000 series. At first, nearly all races were held in Italy, but the series expanded throughout Europe quickly. In 2001 the series became European Formula 3000 and in 2004 Superfund became the title sponsor, planning to set up the Formula Superfund series. However, the funding was pulled and the series was cancelled. Therefore, Coloni Motorsport re-established the Italian Formula 3000 and expanded this in 2006 to
1456-745: The Road to Indy, from USF Juniors (JR-23), to USF2000 (USF-22), to Pro 2000 (PRO-22). Formula racing Formula racing , also known as open-wheel racing in North America, is any of several forms of open-wheeled single-seater motorsport . The origin of the term lies in the nomenclature that was adopted by the FIA for all of its post- World War II single-seater regulations, or formulae. The best known of these formulae are Formula One , Formula E , Formula Two , Formula Three , regional Formula Three and Formula Four . Common usage of "formula racing" encompasses other single-seater series, including
1512-462: The cars, although many cars ran with smaller engines. International Formula Master , a.k.a. Formula Super 2000 , was conceived as a competitor for Formula Three . It started in 2005 as the 3000 Pro Series , organised by Peroni Promotion. MTC Organisation took over in 2006 and turned it into a support series for the WTCC . Drivers used second-hand Formula 2000 cars made by Tatuus that were powered by
1568-698: The championship was intended by the FIA to serve as an R&D platform for the electric vehicle and promote interest in EVs and sustainability. The series races predominately on temporary circuits in cities such as New York , Hong Kong , Zürich , Berlin , Rome , and Paris in events known as "ePrix". In order to cap costs but maintain technological development, the series uses a spec chassis and battery that must be used by all entrants, with competing teams permitted to design and build their own motors, inverter and rear suspension. The series has gained significant traction in recent years. The FIA Formula 2 Championship
1624-692: The chassis is also used in the ADAC Formula 4 and the SMP F4 Championship . The Italian manufacturer also got competition with Mygale and Dome entering the FIA Formula 4 market in separate championships. In 2016 Tatuus expanded further supplying the proven chassis to the Spanish and UAE championships. All Tatuus Formula 4 chassis are powered by the Abarth 1.4L inline 4 engine. The BRDC Formula 4 Championship (not to be confused with
1680-580: The early Formula One regulations was a non-championship Grand Prix in Turin in September 1946. The first officially recognised Formula One season was held in 1947 and the World Championship for Drivers was inaugurated in 1950 . Formula E is the highest class of competition for single-seat, electrically powered racing cars , which held its inaugural season in 2014–15 . Conceived in 2012,
1736-683: The end of the Formula Three season, with drivers from almost every national series participating. Other major races include the Pau Grand Prix (from 1999 to 2006), the Masters of Formula 3 (traditionally held at Zandvoort ), and the Korea Super Prix at Changwon . These events give fans in locations not visited by other major series a way to experience major international racing. The Monaco F3 Grand Prix held until 1997
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1792-468: The gap between karting and Formula 3. The series is a part of the FIA Global Pathway. The IndyCar Series is the premier level of formula racing in North America . The sport, in general, traces its roots as far back as 1905. The current series, founded by then- Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George , began in 1996 as the "Indy Racing League" (IRL). In 2008 , the series merged with
1848-601: The income this generated enabled the company to develop into the senior categories. Other notable marques included Kieft , JBS and Emeryson in England, and Effyh, Monopoletta and Scampolo in Europe. John Cooper, along with most other 500 builders, decided to place the engine in the middle of the car, driving the rear wheels. This was mostly due to the practical limitations imposed by chain drive but it gave these cars exceptionally good handling characteristics which eventually led to
1904-573: The launch of the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2019, there has never been a World Championship for Formula Three. In the 1970s and into the 1980s the European Formula Three Championship and British Formula 3 Championship (once one series had emerged from the competing British series in the 1970s) were the most prominent, with a number of future Formula One champions coming from them. France, Germany, and Italy also had important Formula Three series, but interest in these
1960-399: The mid-1980s and the national series became correspondingly more important. For 2003, French and German F3 , both suffering from a lack of competitive entrants, merged to recreate the Formula 3 Euro Series . Brazil's SudAm Formula Three Championship , which now has the most powerful engine of all Formula Three series, was known for producing excellent drivers who polished their skills in
2016-458: The mid-1980s replacing traditional aluminium or steel monocoque structures. Dallara however, after an unsuccessful Formula One project, focussed their attention on the formula in the early nineties and obliterated all the other marques with their F393. Within a couple of years, the chassis was considered a prerequisite to competitiveness, and today Dallara chassis are ubiquitous to the formula. In order to keep costs down, their chassis have had
2072-418: The mid-engined revolution in single-seater racing. The 500cc formula was the usual route into motor racing through the early and mid-1950s (and stars like Stirling Moss continued to enter selected F3 events even during their GP careers). Other notable 500 cc Formula 3 drivers include Stuart Lewis-Evans , Ivor Bueb , Jim Russell , Peter Collins , Don Parker , Ken Tyrrell , and Bernie Ecclestone . From
2128-562: The more powerful engine, the MSV version also has more aero adjustable components. Tatuus was announced as the sole chassis supplier for the USF2000 in October 2015. The Tatuus USF-17 replaced the ageing Van Diemen DP08, a tube chassis racecar in use since 2008. To cope with the added risk of racing on oval circuits the car was updated with zylon side intrusion panels. The car is powered by
2184-502: The more senior formulae – ground effects were briefly used in the early 1980s but were banned, in line with other FIA single-seater formulae; carbon fibre chassis started to be introduced from the mid-1980s. Historically, March (up to 1981), Ralt (up to the early 1990s) and Reynard (1985–1992) had been the main chassis manufacturers in two-litre F3, with Martini fairly strong in France; Reynard pioneered use of carbon fibre in
2240-556: The original series started in 1991 as the Star Mazda Championship . Drivers currently use Tatuus IP-22 cars. The USF2000 Championship formally known as U.S. F2000 National Championship is an American variation of the Formula Ford . The series was initially founded by Dan Andersen and Mike Foschi in 1990 and regularly fielded over 60 entries per race. In 2001, the series was sold to Jon Baytos who introduced
2296-466: The rival Champ Car World Series , formerly known as CART, to form the IndyCar Series. A typical IndyCar season contains races on a mixture of natural terrain road courses, temporary street circuits, small ovals (also known as short tracks ), and larger, high-speed ovals (also known as superspeedways ); including the historic Indianapolis 500 . Indy NXT , previously known as Indy Lights ,
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2352-536: The same way that GP2 was rebranded as Formula 2 in 2017. The series' first drivers' champion was Robert Shwartzman driving for Prema Racing , who also won the Constructors' Championship for that year. At the end of the year, the FIA Formula 3 World Cup takes place during the Macau Grand Prix as a non-championship, season-ending event. Formula Regional is the last category that takes place outside
2408-422: The seven entrants were non-starters, and, of the four runners, all but one retired on the first lap, leaving Eric Brandon in his Cooper Prototype (T2) trailing round to a virtual walk-over at an average speed of 55.79 mph (89.79 km/h), though his best lap (which was the fastest recorded for any 500) was 65.38 mph (105.22 km/h). Cooper came to dominate the formula with mass-produced cars, and
2464-572: The world, not all formula series are high-cost professional events. Some formulas are intended for juniors and amateurs, including categories such as Formula 1000 and Formula Vee are among the least expensive forms of circuit racing. Most contemporary formula categories allow the use of racing slicks , and extensive use of wings and Ground effects to increase cornering speeds. However, there are popular amateur categories such as Formula Ford and Formula Vee which do not, and consequently have much slower cornering speeds and in which “drafting” plays
2520-489: Was Formula 3 Champion in 1952, again in 1953, and in 1954 he only lost the title by a half-point. He took the title for a third time in 1959. 500cc Formula Three declined at an international level during the late 1950s, although it continued at a national level into the early 60s, being eclipsed by Formula Junior for 1000 or 1100 cc cars (on a sliding scale of weights). A one-litre Formula Three category for four-cylinder carburetted cars, with heavily tuned production engines,
2576-524: Was also present as the series employed a system based on a group stage to knock-out format used in some football tournaments. Another unique feature of Superleague Formula was the Super Final, a five-lap shootout between the six best drivers of a weekend. In 2010, the series offered the biggest prize fund in European motorsport with the champion set to earn €1 million. In theory, it would be possible for
2632-445: Was created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 1985 to become the final step for drivers before entering Formula One . Formula Two had become too expensive and was dominated by works-run cars with factory engines. Formula 3000 offered quicker, cheaper, more open racing. The series began as an open formula, but in 1986 tyres were standardized, followed by engines and chassis in 1996 . The series ran until 2004 and
2688-405: Was founded by Sheikh Al Maktoum of Dubai in 2004, but sold to the FIA in 2005. The races were held in the traditional Formula One off-season, the northern hemisphere winter. Between 2005 and 2009 29 countries from five continents participated. Using 750 hp V12 engines , Superleague Formula introduced team sponsorship by association football clubs. In qualifying, the link with football
2744-472: Was introduced in 2017 by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore following the rebranding of the long-term F1 feeder series – GP2 Series . Designed to make racing affordable and to make it the perfect training ground for life in F1, F2 has made it mandatory for all of the teams to use the same chassis, engine, and tyre supplier. In 2019, the GP3 Series was replaced by international Formula 3, just in
2800-447: Was launched in 2006 to give Southeast Asian -based drivers a chance to progress from karting through junior single-seaters to international motorsport. Karun Chandhok , for example, won the 2006 championship and was rewarded with a test in a World Series by Renault car at Paul Ricard . Drivers ran with Tatuus chassis, a Renault 3.5L V6 engine and Michelin tyres. The Auto GP World Series' roots can be traced back to 1999 and
2856-561: Was not unusual for some Formula One events to include a number of F2 entries in the same field and the entries in the World Championship seasons of 1952–53 comprised exclusively F2 cars for reasons of cost. F2 had a patchy history until the inauguration of the European Formula Two Championship in 1967. F2 was an open formula that allowed the use of any chassis that met the prescribed regulations; it
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#17328021287542912-457: Was originally subsidiary to national formulae – Formula Renault in France and Formula Super Vee in Germany. These nations eventually drifted towards Formula Three. The Italian series tended to attract older drivers who moved straight across from karting whereas in other nations drivers typically graduated to F3 after a couple of years in minor categories. The European series died out in
2968-803: Was reintroduced in 1964 based on the Formula Junior rules and ran to 1970. These engines (a short-stroke unit based on the Ford Anglia with a special 2- valve Cosworth or Holbay OHV down-draught head , initially pioneered by Brian Hart, being by far the most efficient and popular) tended to rev very highly and were popularly known as "screamers"; F3 races tended to involve large packs of slipstreaming cars. The "screamer" years were dominated by Brabham , Lotus and Tecno , with March beginning in 1970. Early one-litre F3 chassis tended to descend from Formula Junior designs but quickly evolved. For 1971 new regulations allowing 1600 cc engines with
3024-406: Was replaced and engines were now provided by Toyota and Honda . The engines had the same specifications as those used in the 2005 IndyCar Series . Formula series from the 21st century that could be categorised between Tier 1 and Tier 5 (see top of page), but are now defunct, are described below. The Formula Two regulations were first defined in 1947 as a form of B-class below Formula One. It
3080-480: Was replaced in 2005 by the GP2 Series . Formula 5000 (or F5000 ) was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula. The '5000' denomination comes from the maximum 5.0 litre engine capacity allowed in
3136-506: Was well supported during the 1970s, with chassis from Tecno , March Engineering , Toleman , Ralt , Matra and others. The European championship ran continually until the creation of its successor, Formula 3000 , in 1985. In 2008 it was announced by the FIA that Formula Two would return in 2009 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship . This series was discontinued after the 2012 season. The Formula 3000
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