GP3 unveils new car and engine package for 2016 at Monza

Since its inaugural season in 2010, GP3 has used the same Dallara GP3-10 chassis, with various revisions to the sidepods, nose and engine cover over the years to keep costs down.

The GP3-16 car however features a brand new chassis that has been produced to meet 2015 Formula 1 safety standards, accommodate taller drivers, and to facilitate more overtaking.

Speaking at the car launch at Monza, GP3 technical director Didier Perrin said the aerodynamic changes will help improve the show and safety, while keeping operational costs low.

"The car is now matching the 2015 Formula 1 regulations in terms of front impact and rear impact, this is why the nose is so long and so low," Perrin told AUTOSPORT.

"The chassis is brand new and has been designed to accommodate a driver 10-centimeters taller than the previous one.

"It has also been designed to accommodate a seat with a bit more foam underneath, which is another step to improving the protection of the driver.

"We also designed the car to facilitate overtaking. That's one of the main criteria, it's important for the show."

The first generation of cars featured engines designed by Renault Sport, the second generation's were designed by Advanced Engine Research.

Perrin revealed GP3 has now made the switch for the third generation to a Mecachrome "bespoke race engine".

"We expect to have good reliability and good operational costs, because it's important to keep the costs as low as possible," said Perrin.

The engine will also remain at 400bhp as laptime improvements were not the aim of the new package.

"Performance and laptime on track should be very similar to the current car but that's not the target," said Perrin.

"The targets were; safety, operational costs and overtaking."

Mercedes junior and series frontrunner Esteban Ocon was at the car launch and believes the 2016 car will have more downforce than its predecessor.

"It's totally different, everything has changed," said Ocon.

"The front wing looks massive and will give much more downforce than previously.

"Everything is new so it will be interesting when they test it."

The teams will not receive the car until early 2016 but it has already done five days of testing at Magny-Cours and Barcelona.