MRF Challenge could become India's FIA-endorsed regional Formula 3

JA Motorsport has substantially beefed up the existing car used in the MRF Challenge, which takes place over the European winter, and ex-Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan will begin testing of it in the middle of February.

JA boss J Anand explained to Autosport that he wants the car to be as close to F3 performance as possible, with a yet-to-be-decided 250bhp, four-cylinder air-restricted engine replacing the existing 210bhp two-litre Renault powerplant.

The Dallara Formulino chassis is being modified to have a longer wheelbase, with reprofiling of the wings, a paddle-shift to work a new JA-made gearbox, larger brakes, and bigger wheels and MRF tyres.

"We are working very closely with Dallara and we are open on the regulations because we are not governed strictly," said Anand.

"Our intention is to produce a regional F3 car [in line with the new concept being investigated by the FIA] - I am asking the FIA about it and we have sent the proposals.

"Adrian [Newey, whose son Harrison finished fifth in the 2015-16 MRF Challenge] is giving me a few ideas - not on a commercial basis, just friendly advice."

Newey told Autosport: "They've put a lot into the series - it's good for motorsport and anything I can do to help, I will."

Karthikeyan added that the new MRF racer will be back-to-back tested at the Irungattukottai circuit near Chennai with an F3 car from Double R Racing, whose boss Anthony Hieatt is a consultant to the MRF Challenge.

"We hope to get it as close as we can to a European F3 pace - we hope to gain around four and a half seconds around this track," said Karthikeyan, who will continue to race in Japan's Super Formula series this season.

The driver budget for the series, centrally run by JA, is expected to remain at close to the $50,000 mark, with a possible expansion to five rounds and a prize for the champion of $100,000.