Two-day FIA F3 test prize for 2021 British F3 champion
The BRDC British F3 Championship will award next year's champion with a two-day test in an FIA Formula 3 car to aid their climb up the motorsport ladder
The new initiative by MotorSport Vision, which operates the championship, will be in collaboration with the Carlin and Hitech GP teams that compete in both British and FIA F3.
British F3 champions making the jump into FIA F3 is not unprecedented, with Clement Novalak and Enaam Ahmed - title winners in 2019 and 2017 respectively - both competing in the category this season with Carlin.
British F3 runner-up and 2019 Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award winner Johnathan Hoggard has also been extensively testing in FIA F3 machinery ahead of a possible move into the series in 2021, while this year's British F3 champion Kaylen Frederick is planning an FIA F3 test with Carlin.
"We're very serious about our championship winner getting into FIA F3 and to help their talent to be recognised within that arena," said Jonathan Palmer, chief executive of MSV.
"We're giving the winner a two-day test in FIA F3 at end the of the year, one day will be with Hitech and one day will be with Carlin.
"Those are the two teams that we have in our championship that are already running FIA F3 cars so that makes total sense.
"This is serious and I think by having two days they get the full time, as a serious driver would do and both free of charge.
"Carlin and Hitech are clearly top teams and I'm very excited, I think the results will look good. I'll be very surprised if our champion doesn't look anything other than a great talent."
The prize drive next season will also coincide with the introduction of a teams' championship, with an outfit's two best placed cars per race scoring points towards that title.
Nine teams are set to compete next season, with Elite Motorsport - most well-known for dominating Ginetta Junior over recent years - joining the championship having taken the place of Lanan Racing which ran George Russell in his maiden season of single-seater racing in 2014.
"I think it's absolutely right [to have a teams' championship]," added Palmer.
"They've got all their mechanics and engineers and all the owners are proudly fighting away so the best two results from every race will go towards the teams' championship."
Previous article
The Macau GP's greatest moments
Next article
The ground-effect wonder behind a generation of F1 stars
About this article
| Series | FIA F3 |
| Author | Stefan Mackley |
Why Correa's return is the feelgood story racing needed
Juan Manuel Correa has had a long road to recovery from that horrific day at Spa in 2019. ART's decision to give him his race return in FIA Formula 3 in 2021 is a victory in itself, but his determination will surely - in time - have him fighting for bigger things
Why Piastri's F3 title was better than results suggested
F3 rookie Oscar Piastri only just snatched the 2020 title with Prema Racing, but the setbacks he overcame to do so suggest that Renault's next Australian talent is one destined for the top
The ground-effect wonder behind a generation of F1 stars
Recently named as Autosport's greatest single-seater, Ralt's RT3 launched a plethora of superstar drivers through the early 1980s, and established the constructor as the go-to place for your single-seater weapon
The Macau GP's greatest moments
Coronavirus restrictions mean this weekend's Macau GP will have a very different feel, with the usual F3 jamboree replaced by Chinese F4. But in past years, the event has provided some seminal moments in the careers of future world champions
Rating the prospects of the 2020 F3 title contenders
With the title race finely poised ahead of the final triple-header, a category returnee who raced George Russell in his F3 days lends Autosport his thoughts on the ones to watch
Why "whirlwind" Tauranac's legacy will stand the test of time
The passing of Ralt boss Ron Tauranac last week drew tributes from around the world, not least from the bosses of three prominent teams on whom the Australian designer made a lasting impression
The young driver Red Bull couldn't ignore
Igor Fraga has a more colourful career behind him than any other driver on the FIA Formula 3 grid, and now he's beginning to become as recognised for his talents in real racing as in the virtual world
The new F3 car that has teams purring
Dallara has improved upon its old F3 car with the new 320 for this season's Euroformula Open, ensuring that single-seater competition's 'heritage’ category can race into the future
