Formula V8 3.5 evaluating new Dallara for 2018 season

Sporting director Jordi Castells and, president of promoter RPM, Jamie Alguersuari Sr visited the Italian manufacturer last week.

The meeting with its chassis supplier was primarily to discuss timeframes around the possible 2018 introduction of a new car.

"We wanted to collect information on the timing we need if we're going to build a new car for 2018," Castells said.

"If we go ahead, we know we would have to start before the end of this season.

"We need to speak with the teams during the season and try and tell them what we're doing no later than June or July.

"Clearly, a new car will depend on several factors; what the teams' different preferences are, the driver market and the situation in different championships for these types of car."

Other options include updating the existing package, which has been used since 2012.

It was intended to compete for three seasons, and by the end of 2017 will have done six.

"We could continue with the same car in 2018," Castells added.

"The second possibility is we could introduce an update kit, a new front wing, rear wing and maybe the sidepods.

"The third one is to do a 100 per cent new car, even if we maintain some of the current mechanical parts, such as the brakes, suspension and gearbox."

Maintaining or reducing costs would be a priority, but while Castells is conscious that such measures would be welcomed in a tough market, he is pragmatic about what can be achieved

"Obviously cost reduction is tough if we want a championship with nine events, with a lot of track time, the collective tests and other things such as links to F1 circuits and TV broadcasts," he said.

"When we met with teams last year in our office, we suggested cutting the rounds from nine to eight for this year.

"They all said no. They wanted to maintain the nine events, and the standards of before [Renault's exit at the end of 2015].

"We could also have cut the number of new sets of tyres allowed per weekend from four to three.

"But in the end it would have been less interesting for the drivers, and for a saving of 9000 euros rather than, say, 50,000 euros.

"If we want to do nine events, 8-10,000 kilometres per season, it will be tough to reduce costs dramatically, but perhaps four or five per cent is achievable."

OWNERSHIP CHANGE COULD OPEN DOORS

Alguersuari's RPM became part of the multinational Dentsu Aegis Network in February.

Castells believes the change in ownership is unlikely to have an immediate impact, but could assist the series in finding title sponsors or manufacturer tie-ups in the future.


"They are a managing the publicity campaigns of very big companies like Coca-Cola, Kelloggs, Toyota and Sony Panasonic," he said.

"We are already working with them, to try to expand possibilities, but it's more for 2017.

"It's possible we could have more access to large international companies, which before was more difficult."