British and European Formula 3 merger proposed for 2013

Ratel announced at Spa-Francorchamps, which is hosting a combined British F3/FIA European F3 round as support to the Spa 24 Hours this weekend, that "we have proposed to the FIA to bring British Formula 3 and the planned FIA European F3 Championship into a unified series."

The move, he plans, would safeguard the historic British F3 title, which dates back to 1979, and be the best way forward for the European championship, which was revived this year after initially running from 1975 to 1984.

Ratel says he has committed 16 cars from British F3 to the FIA and has confirmed the new FIA engine regulations for 2013. He announced a 10-round calendar, with Blancpain Endurance Series support dates at Monza, Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Spa and the Nurburgring, plus rounds at Oulton Park, Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Rockingham and Pau.

The FIA's European F3 Championship is this year running predominantly in conjunction with the F3 Euro Series, which is organised by the ITR, which promotes the DTM. Eight of the rounds are run in conjunction with the Euro Series, plus two British F3 rounds at Pau and Spa.

The F3 Euro Series has yet to officially confirm its adoption of the new FIA engine regulations for 2013, and current suppliers Mercedes and Volkswagen - on whom the series relies heavily for support - are not on the list of six tuners that were accepted by the FIA on March 31 this year for next season.