FIA Formula 3 European Championship

The FIA Formula 3 European Championship was a European Formula Three auto racing competition, organised by the FIA.

Not to be confused with FIA European Formula 3 Championship (1975–1984) or FIA Formula 3 Championship.

FIA Formula 3 European Championship
CategorySingle seaters
CountryEurope
Inaugural season2012
Folded2018
Drivers27 (regularly 21 including wildcard and replacement)
Teams7
ConstructorsDallara
Engine suppliersMercedes and Volkswagen
Tyre suppliersHankook
Last Drivers' champion Mick Schumacher
Last Teams' champion Prema Theodore Racing
Official websiteOfficial website

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]

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 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 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 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

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 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 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
  • Engine displacement: 2.0 L (122 cu in) DOHC inline-4
  • Gearbox: 6-speed paddle shift gearbox + 1 reverse
  • Weight: 565 kg (1,246 lb)
  • Power output: 240 hp (179 kW)
  • Fuel: Aral Ultimate 102 RON unleaded
  • Fuel capacity: 45.5 litres (12 US gallons)
  • Fuel delivery: Direct fuel injection
  • Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
  • Length: 4,351 mm (171 in)
  • Width: 1,845 mm (73 in)
  • Wheelbase: 2,800 mm (110 in)
  • Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion

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'
Season Driver Team Engine Poles Wins Podiums Fastest laps Points Clinched Margin
2012 Daniel Juncadella Prema Powerteam Mercedes 5 5 10 5 252 Race 20 of 20 23.5
2013 Raffaele Marciello Prema Powerteam Mercedes 12 13 19 8 489.5 Race 29 of 30 32.5
2014 Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam Mercedes 15 9 21 7 478 Race 30 of 33 58
2015 Felix Rosenqvist Prema Powerteam Mercedes 17 13 24 13 518 Race 30 of 33 105.5
2016 Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Mercedes 14 14 20 13 508 Race 26 of 30 187
2017 Lando Norris Carlin Volkswagen 8 9 20 8 441 Race 28 of 30 53
2018 Mick Schumacher Prema Theodore Racing Mercedes 7 8 14 4 365 Race 29 of 30 57

Teams'
Season Team Engine Poles Wins Podiums Fastest laps Points Clinched Margin
2013 Prema Powerteam Mercedes 17 17 42 14 810 Race 27 of 30 206
2014 Prema Powerteam Mercedes 15 11 34 8 740 Race 31 of 33 36
2015 Prema Powerteam Mercedes 23 20 46 18 912 Race 28 of 33 379.5
2016 Prema Powerteam Mercedes 22 20 20 18 780 Race 24 of 30 187
2017 Prema Powerteam Mercedes 13 11 33 11 829 Race 29 of 30 127
2018 Prema Theodore Racing Mercedes 16 17 14 11 1003.5 Race 28 of 30 214.5

Rookies'

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

Season Driver Team Engine Poles Wins (Rookie) Podiums Fastest laps Points (Rookie) Clinched Margin
2014 Esteban Ocon Prema Powerteam Mercedes 15 9 (15) 21 7 478 (619) Race 28 of 33 105
2015 Charles Leclerc Van Amersfoort Racing Volkswagen 3 4 (10) 13 5 363.5 (533.5) Race 30 of 33 105.5
2016 Joel Eriksson Motopark Volkswagen 1 1 (8) 10 2 252 (470) Race 29 of 30 52
2017 Lando Norris Carlin Volkswagen 8 9 (21) 20 8 441 (628) Race 28 of 30 89
2018 Robert Shwartzman Prema Theodore Racing Mercedes 3 2 (1) 11 1 294 (491.5) Race 28 of 30 61.5
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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. "Preparations are running flat out – Formula European Masters". Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  3. Simmons, Marcus (4 December 2018). "DTM-supporting F3 series to adopt Formula European Masters name". autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 4 December 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. Simmons, Marcus (24 September 2018). "Two Dallara-based 'old-school' European F3 series on cards for 2019". autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  6. Simmons, Marcus (7 December 2018). "Dallara evaluating requests for new 'Formula 3' car for 2020". autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  7. http://www.fiaf3europe.com/sporting-regulations/
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