2019 Formula Renault 2.0/Untitled FIA F3 regional championship silly season

As with the others, here are some silly season predictions regarding the 2019 edition of whatever F3 championship FR2.0 rebrands itself as.

Leaving

Yifei Ye, Max Fewtrell, Christian Lundgaard, Victor Martins, Logan Sargeant, Alex Peroni, Richard Verschoor and Lorenzo Colombo move to the new FIA F3 International championship.

Raul Guzman, Axel Matus and Neil Verhagen depart for whatever Pro Mazda becomes.

Frank Bird moves across to the British F3 championship.

Staying on

Charles Milesi remains for another year with R-ace GP.

Clement Novalak does a second year with JKR (unless he devotes himself full-time to British F3).

Aleksandr Smolyar continues his relationship with Tech 1.

Sami Taoufik remains with Arden.

Switching teams

Oscar Piastri switches from Arden to Josef Kaufmann for a shot at title glory.

Arthur Rougier moves from Fortec to either Tech 1 or R-ace GP.

Joining the series

After claiming the British F4 crown and acquiring Ferrari Driver Academy backing, Kiern Jewiss comes aboard, maybe with Josef Kaufmann or a new team affiliated with Ferrari.

British F4 frontrunners Jack Doohan and Dennis Hauger join the series with Arden. 

SMP F4 frontrunner Isac Blomqvist comes aboard with MP Motorsport. 

A host of names from French F4 arrive. My guesses are Caio Collet and Arthur Leclerc with R-ace GP, Ulysse de Pauw with MP, Ugo de Wilde with Tech 1. Theo Pourchaire maybe comes aboard (possibly with Tech 1) unless he does a second year in French F4. 

I am not sure if that series will work good, because there will be a F3 Euro Series as well.

I am not sure if that series will work good, because there will be a F3 Euro Series as well.

So exactly like this year.

yes. But I guess the Grid in International F3 (former GP3) will be much bigger

Renault could run under F3 name without FIA backing:

https://www.autospor...-on-fia-backing

Renault could run under F3 name without FIA backing:

 

https://www.autospor...-on-fia-backing

I don't get why they are trying so hard to be F3 suddenly. Can someone explain?  What's wrong with being Formula Renault Eurocup which is well known name for almost 30 years. And it's still as strong as ever and best junior series at that level. Why the heck they want to change the name and be just another average F3 series along with 6,7 other F3 series? 

2019 calendar announced and Toyota Racing Series team M2 Competition state interest in joining the FR2.0 championship:

https://www.formuler...-announced.html

would be a nice adding for Formula Renault.

are the teams testing this week?

it seems that all teams will remain. Plus M2.

it seems that all teams will remain. Plus M2.

I don't get why they are trying so hard to be F3 suddenly. Can someone explain?  What's wrong with being Formula Renault Eurocup which is well known name for almost 30 years. And it's still as strong as ever and best junior series at that level. Why the heck they want to change the name and be just another average F3 series along with 6,7 other F3 series? 

The F3 changes are part of the FIA's strategy to have a simple, clear "ladder" with three steps before F1. I'm just guessing, but maybe Renault are worried they'll be pushed out and no-one will see the need to race there.

There's a big danger in all this. Once upon a time, an F3 car was an F3 car, and people showed up with their car in different countries and different series, and made an effort to attend Monaco, Zandvoort or Macau. Visiting competitors were part of the fun. Now we could end up with about twenty different types of car all called F3, plus the traditional daft rule about having to register for a championship, and the nonsensical 20 car limit on the international series. More cars = better racing, in any formula, and you need one common formula to achieve that.

Edited by Sterzo, 25 October 2018 - 22:01.

The F3 changes are part of the FIA's strategy to have a simple, clear "ladder" with three steps before F1. I'm just guessing, but maybe Renault are worried they'll be pushed out and no-one will see the need to race there.

 

There's a big danger in all this. Once upon a time, an F3 car was an F3 car, and people showed up with their car in different countries and different series, and made an effort to attend Monaco, Zandvoort or Macau. Visiting competitors were part of the fun. Now we could end up with about twenty different types of car all called F3, plus the traditional daft rule about having to register for a championship, and the nonsensical 20 car limit on the international series. More cars = better racing, in any formula, and you need one common formula to achieve that.

Completely agree and was thinking about this earlier. I was initially a big supporter of the F4-3-2-1 idea. Simplifying things. But it seems they've literally taken the "Formula" out of 3 and 4, and rather than being a worldwide set of regulations for racing cars, they've basically made them brand names for various series running unrelated spec cars within a certain performance window. OK some series happen to run the same car, but now you can't take your British F4 Mygale and race it in Italian, German/ADAC or Japanese F4. You can't take your GP3 International F3 car and race it in a national/regional F3 series, your haloed F3 Tatuus won't be eligible for F3 Americas or whatever the hell spec Palmer's "British F3" is running these days.

This isn't even my usual rant about spec racing either, I get it's been a thing in so-called "Formula" racing since 3000 went that way in 1996, and yes a worldwide open marketplace for F3 or F4 cars would eventually find its way to the situation we ended up in with Dallara in proper F3, but I'm starting to not like the developing situation, at all.

Edited by OnAllCylinders, 27 October 2018 - 09:12.

A second team for Regional Formula Europe series:

https://www.italiara...236291&cat=1089

10 teams announced for Formula Eurocup in 2019:

New: M2, FA Racing/Drivex (team by Fernando Alonso!) and BhaiTech

Out: Fortec

R-race

MP

Josef Kaufmann

JD

Tech 1

Arden

AVF

BhaiTech

FA/Drivex

M2

So a guess about possible drivers:

R-ace: Gabriel Grandulia

MP: Freek Schothorst, Isac Blomqvist, Nazim Azman

Josef Kaufmann: Clement Novalak

JD: Najiy Razak

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek

M2: Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Rinus van Kalmthout is driving for Hitech in the Asian F3 Winter Series.

I see Dan Ticktum has weighed into the F3 debate (https://www.autospor...-isnt-in-new-f3) , and I must say I agree.  Not only have we had falling grids for years in most open wheel categories even with spec everything (that was supposed to reduce costs), but now the FIA have taken to stopping proven teams who want to enter from taking part. What is going through these FIA morons heads - do they really think their actions are actually good for motor sport ? 

Josef Kaufmann will withdraw and possible move to Formula European Masters:

Organisation said it will be  a new 10th team.

R-ace: Gabriel Grandulia

MP: Freek Schothorst, Isac Blomqvist, Nazim Azman

JD: Najiy Razak

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek

M2: Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Martins confirmed at MP, Piastri at R-ace.

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Grandulia

MP: Victor Martins, Freek Schothorst, Isac Blomqvist

JD: Najiy Razak

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek

M2: Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Maini confirmed at M2:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Grandulia

MP: Victor Martins, Freek Schothorst, Isac Blomqvist

JD: Najiy Razak

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

One more driver confirmed:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Arthur Leclerc, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Freek Schothorst, Isac Blomqvist

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Amaury Cordeel, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Lukas Dunner

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

With Ticktum announced in the F3 Asian Winter Series "To gain Super License" points. I wonder how much the FIA really are bending over to take it from Red Bull. First they seemingly applied the Macau points in retrospect for Ticktum, which makes it quite hard to follow SL points in case of changes, does it change points from eariler, or not?
 
And now, he will do the Asian Winter Series to get points. However for getting points this is said in the rules
 

In order to be eligible for the below table, the
championships concerned will also need to meet
the following criteria:
- Be composed of a minimum of 5 race weekends.
- Be held on a minimum of 3 different tracks.
- Have a minimum 12 drivers starting each race
weekend.

The Asian F3 Winter Series has 3 race weekends on 2 different tracks. Atm there are 10 confirmed drivers, but I am sure that will be boosted. Regardless, there is no way that championship qualifies for a single SL point.
I know that "Asian Winter Series" are on the SL list, but the championship doesn't actually qualify by the rules set by the FIA.

The appendix L does mention that the winner of the F3 World Cup (Macau) will get 5 extra points, but there is not a single mention of any "force majeure" or anything, pointing towards a championship getting a free pass on this.

The fact that the FIA are completely unable to follow their own rules, in just about anything makes the whole idea of a rulebook seem like an idea to keep people at work.

Anyway, Ticktum confirmed for F3 Asian Winter Series.

I thought that now drivers could only collect points in ONE championship a year.

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Arthur Leclerc, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Freek Schothorst

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Amaury Cordeel, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Lukas Dunner

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

I thought that now drivers could only collect points in ONE championship a year.

That is correct, it is in the same appendix (I think it is L from memory) that Myrvold quoted the part about championship eligibility for superlicense points from.

I assume that they can take part in more than 1 series & then pick which one to take the points from though as there is nothing in the rules about that.

Indeed, there are nothing that says it must be taken from the series they first enter, or the series that first finishes or anything. Just that you can only collect from one championship per year.

I wonder if that is added in retrospect as well? 

Cordeel with MP:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Arthur Leclerc, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Lukas Dunner

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Global Racing Services replace Josef Kaufmann:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Arthur Leclerc, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Lukas Dunner

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Global Racing Services: Patrick Schott

Collet confirmed:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Arthur Leclerc, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Lukas Dunner

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Global Racing Services: Patrick Schott, Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Arthur Leclerc, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Lukas Dunner

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Global Racing Services: Patrick Schott, Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia

Next driver confirmed:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Arthur Leclerc, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Nikita Volegov, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestitti

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Global Racing Services: Patrick Schott, Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia

Pasma confirmed at Arden:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Arthur Leclerc, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Aleksandr Smolyar, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Patrik Pasma, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Global Racing Services: Patrick Schott, Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia

Edited by HistoryFan, 07 February 2019 - 15:37.

Malvestiti

Edited by ANF, 07 February 2019 - 15:36.

R-ace lineup completed:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Aleksandr Smolyar, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Arthur Leclerc, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Patrik Pasma, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Global Racing Services: Patrick Schott, Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia

Muth for M2:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Aleksandr Smolyar, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Arthur Leclerc, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Patrik Pasma, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Guillem Pujeu, Javier González, Rui Andrade

Global Racing Services: Patrick Schott, Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Aleksandr Smolyar, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard

Tech 1: Arthur Leclerc, Thomas Neubauer, Frank Bird

Arden: Sami Taoufik, Patrik Pasma, Dennis Hauger

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Artem Petrov, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Brad Benavides, Patrick Schott, Leonardo Lorandi

Global Racing Services: Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia, Guillem Pujeu

Edited by HistoryFan, 01 March 2019 - 16:24.

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Aleksandr Smolyar, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Jonathan Joggard, Joao Vieira

Tech 1: Arthur Leclerc, Thomas Neubauer, Dennis Hauger

Arden: Sebastian Fernandez, Patrik Pasma, Frank Bird

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Leonardo Lorandi, Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Cameron Das, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Brad Benavides, Patrick Schott, Leonardo Lorandi

Global Racing Services: Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia, Guillem Pujeu

Leonardo Lorandi for JD:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Aleksandr Smolyar, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Leonardo Lorandi, Joao Vieira

Tech 1: Arthur Leclerc, Thomas Neubauer, Dennis Hauger

Arden: Sebastian Fernandez, Patrik Pasma, Frank Bird

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Cameron Das, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Brad Benavides, Patrick Schott, Leonardo Lorandi

Global Racing Services: Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia, Guillem Pujeu

Bird to Arden:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Aleksandr Smolyar, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Leonardo Lorandi, Joao Vieira

Tech 1: Arthur Leclerc, Thomas Neubauer, Dennis Hauger

Arden: Sebastian Fernandez, Patrik Pasma, Frank Bird

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Cameron Das, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Brad Benavides, Patrick Schott, Leonardo Lorandi

Global Racing Services: Xavier Lloveras, Belen Garcia, Guillem Pujeu

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Aleksandr Smolyar, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Leonardo Lorandi, Joao Vieira

Tech 1: Arthur Leclerc, Thomas Neubauer, Dennis Hauger

Arden: Sebastian Fernandez, Patrik Pasma, Frank Bird

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Yves Baltas, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Brad Benavides, Patrick Schott, Leonardo Lorandi

Global Racing Services: Xavier Lloveras, Alessio Deledda, Guillem Pujeu

Callan O'Keefe to join Alonso's team:

R-ace: Oscar Piastri, Aleksandr Smolyar, Caio Collet

MP: Victor Martins, Lorenzo Colombo, Amaury Cordeel

JD: Ugo de Wilde, Leonardo Lorandi, Joao Vieira

Tech 1: Arthur Leclerc, Thomas Neubauer, Dennis Hauger

Arden: Sebastian Fernandez, Patrik Pasma, Frank Bird

AVF: Axel Matus, Eliseo Martinez, Christian Munoz

BhaiTech: Petr Ptácek, Federico Malvestiti

M2: Kush Maini, Yves Baltas, Esteban Muth

FA/Drivex: Brad Benavides, Patrick Schott, Callan O'Keefe

Global Racing Services: Xavier Lloveras, Alessio Deledda, Guillem Pujeu

MRF Challenge champion Jamie Chadwick will enter the Asian Formula 3 season opener to gain experience of the regional F3 car used in the W Series.

The 20-year-old, who is also a winner in BRDC British F3 and tests for NIO in Formula E, will join Red Bull junior Jack Doohan at Hitech GP for the three-race round at former Malaysian Grand Prix venue Sepang.

James Yu, who finished seventh in the Asian F3 standings last year with Zen Motorsport, will return for a second season, as will M-Sport Asia driver Akash Gowda.

Edited by ANF, 13 April 2019 - 12:03.