Signature poised for Formula 3 return in European championship

The European F3 Championship, which is replacing the F3 Euro Series as the continent's top championship for the category, revealed on Friday that Philippe Sinault's outfit has expressed an interest in competing in 2013.

Signature, which ran Edoardo Mortara to the 2010 Euro Series title and also won back-to-back Macau Grands Prix with the Italian, quit F3 at the end of 2011 to focus on its sportscar programme under the Signatech banner.

Among the teams that have confirmed their entries for next year's European F3 championship are Prema Powerteam, which won this year's title with Daniel Juncadella, and rival Euro Series outfits Mucke Motorsport, Ma-con Motorsport and Carlin.

Prema team manager Rene Rosin said: "Participating in the Formula 3 European Championship was the only logical step after the F3 Euro Series.

"The FIA has contributed a lot in developing this series and it will become without any doubt the natural feeder series to professional categories like F1 or DTM.

"The FIA Formula 3 European Championship will reunite the best teams and drivers of Formula 3 which will consequently increase the level of competitiveness and this is a great challenge for Prema."

Prema has already signed Britain's Alex Lynn and Ferrari Academy driver Raffaele Marciello for its assault while Mucke will run German F3 graduate Mitchell Gilbert in what it hopes will be an expanded three-car team.

Fortec has also confirmed its entry with Felix Serralles and Pipo Derani - who both raced in British F3 for the team this year - staying on board and potentially two more cars being added.

Tom Blomqvist will race for Italian team EuroInternational while Van Amersfoort, which took part in last year's season finale at Hockenheim, is also entering on a full-time basis.

URD Rennsport and Jo Zeller Racing also expect to return to the series for a second season.