Carlin plans to run three old-spec cars in 2014 British F3
British Formula 3 superteam Carlin plans to run three old-spec Dallaras in next year's championship
The team, which has run the past six British F3 champions - including newly-crowned 2013 title winner Jordan King (pictured) - believes that this is its ideal option for the series' new format, where new-spec and 2008-11-generation chassis will compete together in the same class.
Carlin has retained three of its Dallara F308s. One of these was used for Antonio Felix da Costa to contest an MSV F3 Cup race at Snetterton last October to make him eligible for the Macau Grand Prix, while they have also been used as 'training' cars for Carlin GP3 drivers Eric Lichtenstein and Luis Sa Silva.
Team boss Trevor Carlin said: "We always had a feeling that it was worth keeping them. There was a glut of them available when the old chassis cycle ended so their value dropped and we held onto them.
"As it happens, now we can race them again. The F308 is a fantastic car, and because of the current regulations it's the same pace as the F312.
"I think you'll get a cross-section of drivers in the new British F3, such as people who don't want to do another year of Formula Renault 2.0 and aren't yet ready for European F3.
"It will be the same cost as a season in the Formula Renault Eurocup, it's a much better car and it prepares you for the step up to European F3.
"Hopefully we can get drivers of the calibre of Adam Carroll and Gary Paffett, who proved themselves in B-class cars in British F3 [winning the 2002 and 2000 titles respectively] before they stepped up."
Carlin will continue using its existing Volkswagen engines in British F3, and is expected to switch to the new VW powerplant for European F3's new regulations in 2014.
Blomqvist to drive for Fortec F3 team in Macau Grand Prix
Russian Time to join GP3 grid in 2014
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
The announcement that FIA Formula 2 and 3 would race alongside the Australian Grand Prix from 2023 came as a surprise, not only to fans but to the series’ teams too. But with Formula 1’s boom in popularity bringing more fans to the championships, team principals are relishing the opportunity
Why the Formula 3 benchmark's 2022 season hinges on qualifying
Prema Racing has long dominated FIA Formula 3, taking the teams’ title in two of the past three seasons. But its start to 2022 has been trickier than usual, and the answers lie in its qualifying performance
How the ultra-tight F3 title fight is taking shape
With just five points separating the top five after two rounds, FIA Formula 3 looks set for another thrilling season in 2022. But who stands the best chance of pulling away from that pack, and who are the contenders bubbling under?
The F3 newcomer making good on his unusual career path
Joining the FIA Formula 3 grid as a rookie with a team new to the series could prove daunting for most, but then there aren't many drivers who have the extensive experience Franco Colapinto brings from his time racing sportscars. The Argentinian explains how his LMP2 experience is already helping him in 2022
The British trio hunting for F3 title glory
The 2022 FIA Formula 3 season kicks off this weekend in Bahrain. British trio Zak O’Sullivan, Ollie Bearman and Jonny Edgar have all become proteges of Formula 1 teams, and are talents to watch this year
How an outsider demolished a rank of F1 juniors
His career has been a slowburner but Gregoire Saucy trounced a collection of F1 juniors in Formula Regional by Alpine last year, and now he’s preparing to do it again in FIA F3. Here’s how the Swiss caught the world by surprise in 2021 and how he plans to do it all over again
Ranking the top 10 F2 and F3 drivers of 2021
With a veritable feast of feeder series talent in 2021, FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 produced some of its most exciting racing yet. Although Prema Racing drivers once again dominated the respective series, drivers from other teams also stole the limelight to mark themselves out as stars of the future, or validate their highly-regarded standing
How Prema continued its dominance of F1's junior ladder in 2021
Taking three of the four titles and producing two outstanding champions in the process, Prema Racing remained the team to beat in Formula 1's feeder series in 2021. Team boss Rene Rosin reveals the traits that helped Dennis Hauger and Oscar Piastri to come out on top in Formula 3 and Formula 2