FIA Formula 3 European Championship explained

Category:Single seaters
Country/Region:Europe
Inaugural2:2012
Folded:2018
Drivers:27 (regularly 21 including wildcard and replacement)
Teams:7
Constructors:Dallara
Engines:Mercedes and Volkswagen
Tyres:Hankook
Champion Driver: Mick Schumacher
Champion Team: Prema Theodore Racing

The FIA Formula 3 European Championship was a European Formula Three (F3) auto racing competition, organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). After one season of the FIA Formula 3 International Trophy, the FIA revived the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.[1] The ten-event season included seven Formula 3 Euro Series rounds, two British Formula Three rounds and DTM-supporting round at Brands Hatch. From 2013, the series started running its own rounds, based upon the defunct Formula 3 Euro Series.

In 2019, the series merged with the GP3 Series to form the FIA Formula 3 Championship, and was due to relaunch as the Formula European Masters[2] [3] and run in support of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.[4] The championship was cancelled ahead of its debut season due to lack of competitors. The championship would have used the current spec cars[5] and were working with Dallara to design a new car for 2020.[6] However, it was replaced by GT4-based series, DTM Trophy as the successor.

Car history and current specifications

Chassis

The FIA Formula 3 European Championship is a third-tier single-seater formula car. A spec-series, the championship mandates chassis and engine manufacturers which teams must use each season. The championship controls and specifies the chassis and engine manufacturers that teams are allowed to use each season. The league's choice of manufacturers are changed every three years. Currently, Dallara provides a specification chassis to all teams since inaugural season. Teams are prohibited from performing engine or chassis modifications.The current Dallara F317 features an airboxless roll hoop and also left-side separated airbox on upside sidepod. The chassis construction of Dallara F317 car are carbon-fibre monocoque incorporated with honeycomb structure. The Dallara F317 also includes bi-plane front wing, bi-plane rear wing and also lower nose (similar to current Formula One cars)

Transmission, gearbox and clutches

For the transmission gearboxes, all FIA Formula 3 European cars currently use a semi-automatic transmission with 6-speed gearbox operated by paddle shifters since the 2012 season. The clutch of all FIA Formula 3 European cars are CFRP 3-plate clutch operated by foot-pedal. Mechanical limited-slip differential are also allowed and constant velocity joint tripod driveshafts are also used. The transmission fluid supplier is currently the RAVENOL F3 Gear premium oil.

Brakes

AP Racing supplies monobloc brake calipers, cast-iron brake discs, pads and disc bells, which are exclusive to all FIA Formula 3 European cars.

Wheel rims

ATS exclusively supplies wheel rims for all FIA Formula 3 European cars since the inaugural 2012 season. The wheel rims of all FIA Formula 3 European cars are made of magnesium alloy wheels.

Tyres

Hankook was the sole tyre partner for the series since the 2012 season until 2018. The FIA Formula 3 European tyres runs the bespoke compounds and smaller size since 2012. The front tyre sizes are 180/550-R13 and the rear tyre sizes are 240/570-R13.

Cockpit and other safety components

For the safety equipment, all FIA Formula 3 European cars seating uses removable carbon-fibre shell driver's seat with 6-point seat belts. The steering wheel of all FIA Formula 3 European cars are universally supplied by XAP Technologies. All FIA Formula 3 European cars are also equipped with XAP data display units since the 2012 season.

Rear view mirrors for all FIA Formula 3 European cars are fully mandated to easily view opponents behind.

Fuel tank

The fuel tank of all FIA Formula 3 European cars are made of kevlar-reinforced rubber safety tank supplied by ATL with FT3 standard. Currently the fuel tank capacity of all FIA Formula 3 European cars are 450NaN0 since 2012.

Other components

All FIA Formula 3 European cars carry a Bosch-provided electronic control unit (Motronic MS 5.8 model), but traction control and anti-lock brakes are prohibited. Live telemetry is used only for television broadcasts, but the data can be recorded from the ECU to the computer if the car is in the garage and not on the track.

Engines

The cars are powered by naturally-aspirated (no turbocharger or supercharger) direct fuel injection (since 2014) inline-4 engines, with aluminium alloy blocks, and a DOHC valvetrain actuating four-valves per cylinder, and limited to 2L displacement since the series' inauguration in 2012. DTM car's engines are currently producing over 240hp power output between 5,000-7,400 rpm. Currently Mercedes-AMG (operated by Mercedes-AMG HPP) and Volkswagen providing the engines currently maximum three teams per one manufacturer. ThreeBond Nissan and Neil Brown Engineering has provided engines in 2012-2016 and 2014-2016 but both companies left at the end of the 2016 season respectively due to competitor reduction to 19 cars.

FIA Formula 3 European engines are rev-limited to 7,400 rpm. The valve train is a dual overhead camshaft configuration with four valves per cylinder. The crankshaft is made of alloy steel, with five main bearing caps. The pistons are forged aluminum alloy, while the connecting rods are machined alloy steel. The firing ignition is a CDI ignition system. The engine lubrication is a dry sump type, cooled by a single water pump.

Engines must be built from a production model block (stock block), and often must be sealed by race or series organizers, so no private tuning can be carried out.

Spark plugs

All FIA Formula 3 European cars carried a spark plugs are made of iridium and supplied exclusively by Bosch since 2012.

Exhaust systems

The exhaust systems of all FIA Formula 3 European cars are silencer type but made by titanium with operation of three-way catalytic converter. Currently Remus are providing the exhaust systems.

Fuel

FIA Formula 3 European cars currently use ordinary fossil unleaded racing fuel, which has been the de facto standard in European third-tier single-seater formula racing since Formula 3 Euroseries in 2003 and the formation of FIA Formula 3 European in 2012. Since the 2005 Formula 3 Euroseries season, per agreement with ITR e.V., which has promoted the series from that to FIA European Formula 3 and later Formula European Masters, BP is the official fuel supplier using their German Aral Ultimate brand

Current Aral Ultimate 102 RON unleaded gasoline resembles the ordinary unleaded public vehicles gasoline which has better mileage, environmental-friendly and safer than other fuels.

Lubricants

The current lubricant supplier of all FIA Formula 3 European cars is Ravenol.

Performance

According to research and pre-season stability tests, the current model can go 0 to 60 mph in approximately 3 seconds. The car has a top speed of over 160mph depending on the circuit and gearing meaning that it is the fourth fastest single-seater formula car behind Formula 1, Formula 2 and GP3 Series.

Specifications

Race format

Following two practice sessions, the first of two qualifying sessions will be held on Friday afternoon. Race 1 starts on Saturday morning, while Qualifying 2 is usually scheduled for the afternoon. On Sunday, the two remaining races will be held, with Race 2 taking off on Sunday morning and Race 3 concluding the weekend in the afternoon. Each race will consist of 33 minutes plus one lap and covers a distance of about 100 kilometres.[7]

Champions

Drivers'

scope=colSeasonscope=colDriverscope=colTeamscope=colEnginescope=colPolesscope=colWinsscope=colPodiumsscope=col width="40"Fastest lapsscope=colPointsscope=colClinchedscope=col width="50"Marginscope=col class=unsortableRef
2012 Daniel Juncadella Prema PowerteamMercedes55105252Race 20 of 2023.5[8]
2013 Raffaele Marciello Prema PowerteamMercedes1213198489.5Race 29 of 3032.5[9]
2014 Esteban Ocon Prema PowerteamMercedes159217478Race 30 of 3358[10]
2015 Felix Rosenqvist Prema PowerteamMercedes17132413518Race 30 of 33105.5[11] [12]
2016 Lance Stroll Prema PowerteamMercedes14142013508Race 26 of 30187[13]
2017 Lando Norris CarlinVolkswagen89208441Race 28 of 3053[14]
2018 Mick Schumacher Prema Theodore RacingMercedes78144365Race 29 of 3057[15]

Teams'

scope=colSeasonscope=colTeamscope=colEnginescope=colPolesscope=colWinsscope=colPodiumsscope=col width="40"Fastest lapsscope=colPointsscope=colClinchedscope=col width="50"Marginscope=col class=unsortableRef
2013 Prema PowerteamMercedes17174214810Race 27 of 30206
2014 Prema PowerteamMercedes1511348740Race 31 of 3336
2015 Prema PowerteamMercedes23204618912Race 28 of 33379.5
2016 Prema PowerteamMercedes22202018780Race 24 of 30187
2017 Prema PowerteamMercedes13113311829Race 29 of 30127
2018 Prema Theodore RacingMercedes161714111003.5Race 28 of 30214.5

Rookies'

The result of the championship was decided by different standings. Wins and points of the rookie standings are present in brackets.

scope=colSeasonscope=colDriverscope=colTeamscope=colEnginescope=colPolesscope=colWins (rookie)scope=colPodiumsscope=col width="40"Fastest lapsscope=colPoints (rookie)scope=colClinchedscope=col width="50"Marginscope=col class=unsortableRef
2014 Esteban Ocon Prema PowerteamMercedes159 (15)217478 (619)Race 28 of 33105[16]
2015 Charles Leclerc Van Amersfoort RacingVolkswagen34 (10)135363.5 (533.5)Race 30 of 33105.5
2016 Joel Eriksson MotoparkVolkswagen11 (8)102252 (470)Race 29 of 3052[17]
2017 Lando Norris CarlinVolkswagen89 (21)208441 (628)Race 28 of 3089[18]
2018 Robert Shwartzman Prema Theodore RacingMercedes32 (1)111294 (491.5)Race 28 of 3061.5[19]

Drivers who graduated to Formula One

DriverFIA Formula 3Formula 1
SeasonsRacesWinsPodiumsSeasonsFirst teamRacesWinsPodiums
Daniil Kvyat20132117NC†–, –Toro Rosso11003
Carlos Sainz Jr.201220155thToro Rosso
Felipe Nasr2012100NC†Sauber3900
Max Verstappen20143210163rdToro Rosso
Pascal Wehrlein2012201323294thManor3900
Esteban Ocon2014339211st–, –Manor
Antonio Giovinazzi20132015958272nd, –Sauber6200
Lance Stroll201520166215261stWilliams
Charles Leclerc2015334134thSauber
George Russell20152016633133rdWilliams
Alex Albon201531057th–, –Toro Rosso
Lando Norris20162017339201stMcLaren
Nicholas Latifi20132014600110thWilliams
Pietro Fittipaldi2015300017thHaas200
Nikita Mazepin20162017590310thHaas2100
Mick Schumacher20172018608151stHaas
Zhou Guanyu20162018902138thAlfa Romeo

† Competed as a guest driver ineligible to score championship points.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: FIA European Formula 3 Championship. 15 March 2012. FIA. 16 March 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141025233353/http://www.fia.com/fia-european-formula-3-championship. 25 October 2014.
  2. Web site: Preparations are running flat out – Formula European Masters. en-GB. 17 January 2019. 17 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190117231140/https://www.formula-em.com/2018/12/11/preparations-for-the-formula-european-masters-are-running-flat-out/. dead.
  3. News: DTM-supporting F3 series to adopt Formula European Masters name. Marcus. Simmons. autosport.com. Autosport. 4 December 2018. 4 December 2018.
  4. News: European Formula 3 successor sticks with DTM for 2019 calendar. Marcus. Simmons. autosport.com. Autosport. 12 October 2018. 12 October 2018.
  5. News: Two Dallara-based 'old-school' European F3 series on cards for 2019. Marcus. Simmons. autosport.com. Autosport. 24 September 2018. 24 September 2018.
  6. News: Dallara evaluating requests for new 'Formula 3' car for 2020. Marcus. Simmons. autosport.com. Autosport. 7 December 2018. 7 December 2018.
  7. Web site: Sporting Regulations - FIA-F3 . 3 February 2018 . 3 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180203124500/http://www.fiaf3europe.com/sporting-regulations/ . dead .
  8. Web site: FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2012. Motorsport Stats. 2 January 2024.
  9. Web site: FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2013. Motorsport Stats. 2 January 2024.
  10. Web site: FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2014. Motorsport Stats. 2 January 2024.
  11. Web site: FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2015. Motorsport Stats. 2 January 2024.
  12. Web site: 2015 Standings. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 2 January 2024.
  13. Web site: FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2016. Motorsport Stats. 2 January 2024.
  14. Web site: FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2017. Motorsport Stats. 2 January 2024.
  15. Web site: FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2018. Motorsport Stats. 2 January 2024.
  16. Web site: 2014 Classifications. 2 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20141124044740/http://www.fia.com/championship/formula-3/2014/classifications. 24 November 2014. dead.
  17. Web site: 2016 Standings. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 2 January 2024.
  18. Web site: 2017 Standings. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 2 January 2024.
  19. Web site: 2018 Standings. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 2 January 2024.