FIA Formula 3 European Championship

FIA Formula 3 European Championship
Category Single seaters
Country Europe
Inaugural season 2012
Folded 2018
Drivers 27 (regularly 21 including wildcard and replacement)
Teams 7
Constructors Dallara
Engine suppliers Mercedes and Volkswagen
Tyre suppliers Hankook
Last Drivers' champion Germany Mick Schumacher
Last Teams' champion Italy Prema Theodore Racing
Official website Official website
Current season

The FIA Formula 3 European Championship is a European Formula Three auto racing competition, organised by the 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 will merge with the GP3 Series to form a new category of FIA Formula 3 Championship.[2] In addition, Current FIA Formula 3 European Championship organizer Deutscher Motor Sport Bund, will organize its own F3 championship using the current spec cars through at least 2019[3] to race in support of the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season.[4]

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 side air intake 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 is currently the sole tyre supplier for the series since the 2012 season until at least 2019. 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 45 litres (12 US gallons) 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 and supercharger) direct fuel injection inline-4 engines, with aluminium alloy blocks, and a DOHC valvetrain actuating four-valves per cylinder, and limited to 2.0 L (122 cu in) displacement since the series' inauguration in 2012. DTM car's engines are currently producing over 240 hp (179 kW) 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

At its inception, all the FIA Formula 3 European cars currently use ordinary 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 2012 season, the fuel of all FIA Formula 3 European cars is currently Aral Ultimate 102 RON unleaded racing fuel.

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

Lubricants

The lubricant supplier of all FIA Formula 3 European cars are mandatory recommendation by per manufacturer (Mercedes-AMG with Petronas and Volkswagen with Castrol).

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 160 mph (257 km/h) 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 of 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.[5]

Champions

Season Champion Team Champion Rookie Champion
2012 Spain Daniel Juncadella Not awarded Not awarded
2013 Italy Raffaele Marciello Italy Prema Powerteam
2014 France Esteban Ocon Italy Prema Powerteam France Esteban Ocon
2015 Sweden Felix Rosenqvist Italy Prema Powerteam Monaco Charles Leclerc
2016 Canada Lance Stroll Italy Prema Powerteam Sweden Joel Eriksson
2017 United Kingdom Lando Norris Italy Prema Powerteam United Kingdom Lando Norris
2018 Germany Mick Schumacher Italy Prema Theodore Racing Russia Robert Shwartzman

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FIA European Formula 3 Championship". FIA. 15 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Simmons, Marcus (22 September 2017). "FIA confirms new single-make Formula 3 category for 2019". autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Simmons, Marcus (24 September 2018). "Two Dallara-based 'old-school' European F3 series on cards for 2019". autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Simmons, Marcus (12 October 2018). "European Formula 3 successor sticks with DTM for 2019 calendar". autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  5. ↑ http://www.fiaf3europe.com/sporting-regulations/
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