F3 Returns to Brands Hatch

Series promoters SRO Motorsports Group and circuit owners MotorSport Vision have sorted out a deal for next season following the absence in 2005, after both parties failed to agree on financial terms.

The Brands Hatch race will take place on the Grand Prix loop, and the two companies announced the F3 event will support next season's A1 Grand Prix race at the circuit.

The Oulton Park event will take place on Easter Monday, while the newly revamped Snetterton will host a round in July.

The move will please many within the sport, who were unhappy when the circuits were dropped last season but were appeased with additional rounds on Grand Prix circuits at Monza and the Nurburgring.

Overseas F3 rounds are likely to stay next season as supporting events to FIA GT meetings.

The deal includes British F3 running with MSV chief executive Jonathan Palmers' Formula Palmer Audi Series at selected venues.

Palmer said: "It was a pity that we could not find a way forward last year as I am a great supporter of F3. I always made it clear that despite some press to the contrary, there has never been any animosity between us.

"Just because someone cannot agree terms upon which to do business does not mean they do not get on. It has been pretty clear to competitors how much has been invested enhancing the MSV circuits and understandably SRO wished to include our circuits in the 2006 F3 and GT Championship calendar.

"Similarly I have been eager to find a commercially viable way to have F3 and GT events on our tracks and I am happy that we have achieved this through a creative approach."