Last January the press department for the Formula 3 European Championship sent out a release proudly declaring that 50 entry requests had been received for 2015.
No one really believed that 50 cars were going to turn up three months later for the opening round at Silverstone, but it did cause cautious estimates to rise from the high twenties to the low thirties, and it was 35 that materialised in the paddock under the traditionally eye-wateringly cold Northamptonshire skies - up from the record 30 that had appeared for the opening European F3 round at Monza in 2013.
Also at Silverstone that weekend was FIA Single Seater Commission president Stefano Domenicali, the first race-meeting wheelout for the ex-Ferrari team boss since he replaced Gerhard Berger at the helm.