Formula Master to become GP3 for 2009?! - Page 4

jondownunder · 5 Sep 2008, 22:48 (Ref:2282584)

True, I agree there needs to be a single path to the top with all the best drivers. Judging drivers' relative merits nowadays is so hard with GP2 vs WSbR and F3 vs IFM/GP3.

I just think losing the added interest of the different chassis and engines (well, sometimes) in F3 - should it go into decline when facing GP3 - would be a bit of a tragedy.

ivanalesi · 5 Sep 2008, 22:54 (Ref:2282585)

I don't think it will be cheaper than F3, if it gets perceived as important championship, all the fast and rich drivers will come and do both GP3 and FM Italy. This will cost even more than F3 and you will only have more races, but no development testing and less technical environment. This way there may pop out more local championships and that's how Tatuus plan on taking big time on Dallara. I think they can win this way, but I don't think the drivers will benefit from this. Currently FM Italy isn't so popular partly because the dates are too close and partly because many of the drivers just don't have much cash. With GP3 status, the dates won't be that close and the drivers won't be that poor, so the winner of next year's GP3 championship may have to spend as much as Hulkenberg or Mortara spend this year.

strider · 5 Sep 2008, 23:57 (Ref:2282626)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jondownunder

True, I agree there needs to be a single path to the top with all the best drivers. Judging drivers' relative merits nowadays is so hard with GP2 vs WSbR and F3 vs IFM/GP3.

Actually I think what we have right now works quite well. There are two good F3 Series. If you're talented and/or rich enough you then go straight to GP2, if not then to WSR. You can progress from there to GP2, like Alvaro Parente, for example. At the moment I don't even consider IFM whilst GP3 is for the future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jondownunder

I just think losing the added interest of the different chassis and engines (well, sometimes) in F3 - should it go into decline when facing GP3 - would be a bit of a tragedy.

Absolutely right. The spread of engines is going to increase in F3 next year. Chassis, well, maybe not and that's a shame.

OJB · 6 Sep 2008, 08:51 (Ref:2282707)

Motorsport is a pyramid with F1 as its pinnacle.

It is getting far too wide below it though. At the end of the day, 26 GP2 drivers, 26 FMaster drivers, 26 WSR drivers, plus F3 etc, can't all have 20 F1 places at one time...

Russfeld · 6 Sep 2008, 16:20 (Ref:2282908)

Yeah but if you get full grids for all those series, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to run.

Teretonga · 6 Sep 2008, 21:25 (Ref:2283072)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russfeld

Yeah but if you get full grids for all those series, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to run.

There is no reason why they can't run but realistically not all of them are going to make it to F1.
The other factor is that F1, and it's underlings and associated PR sucks 75%+ of all sponsorship money in international racing world wide.....

Investing in aspects of the sport other then F1 and its associates would make the whole sport healthier.

JohnMiller · 8 Sep 2008, 14:30 (Ref:2284729)

Has this actually officially been announced as happening, or has the thread just gotten way ahead of itself?

the sniper · 8 Sep 2008, 15:22 (Ref:2284768)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMiller

Has this actually officially been announced as happening, or has the thread just gotten way ahead of itself?

Autosport said the deal was done

Go_For_Pole · 8 Sep 2008, 16:07 (Ref:2284816)

It was announced/presented to GP2 teams at Spa

ivanalesi · 8 Sep 2008, 16:44 (Ref:2284849)

Thus on how many F1 weekends, FBMW will be support category?

the sniper · 8 Sep 2008, 22:00 (Ref:2285102)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanalesi

Thus on how many F1 weekends

Autosport said seven, with an eighth final round supporting the non F1 supporting GP2 final, probably at the new Algarve circuit.

strider · 9 Sep 2008, 00:10 (Ref:2285166)

There's an interesting if wordy article about GP3 here.

The most interesting comment to me is that the target budget is £325,000, well below F3 in BF3 and F3ES terms. I don't see BCE allowing any more F3 support races at F1 GPs if he is busy pushing GP3.

Rob29 · 9 Sep 2008, 07:45 (Ref:2285333)

Quote:

Originally Posted by the sniper

Autosport said seven, with an eighth final round supporting the non F1 supporting GP2 final, probably at the new Algarve circuit.

I think what 'ivanalesi' asked was how many F1 rounds FBMW would continue to support in addition to GP2 & GP3? I note that GP3 will not support Monaco,no doubt because it already has World Series Renault?

ivanalesi · 9 Sep 2008, 11:30 (Ref:2285490)

No, I asked about what he answered. But what you are asking about will be interesting too

There are 9 European rounds in F1 excl. Monaco, if FBMW will support in 7, I guess Valencia will get Spanish F3 and I wouldn't do Hungary :P Still impressive job to fit all categories in the weekend, I thought FBMW would have to go.

Jackman · 12 Sep 2008, 13:30 (Ref:2288061)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

It was announced/presented to GP2 teams at Spa

No it wasn't.

Go_For_Pole · 12 Sep 2008, 14:42 (Ref:2288116)

Well, it was to the team owner I spoke to and he told me he knew at least other four teams that had received info. Apparently many of the teams are not that keen.

Jackman · 12 Sep 2008, 15:08 (Ref:2288139)

Then he told you a little bit of a fib. Nothing was told to any of the team bosses because there is nothing to tell at the moment.

strider · 12 Sep 2008, 23:37 (Ref:2288527)

There's an e-mail in circulation. Someone was supposed to be forwarding a copy to me but disappeared off to Monza before he could. All I'll say that the figures he was quoting were way, way higher than those suggested in the pitstop article.

Go_For_Pole · 13 Sep 2008, 08:18 (Ref:2288712)

That's normal, people with various interests will try to spread their own views. After Euro F.BMW teams were announced there were people spreading around horror budget estimates. Thankfully despite that the grid ended up full. It is the same thing with GP3, nobody says it will be cheap but it will be cheaper than BF3 and ESF3.

oh and Jackman, I stand by my source.

**FIRE** · 14 Sep 2008, 10:03 (Ref:2289576)

Who's tuning the Formula Master Honda engines? Is it Mugen?

META4 · 14 Sep 2008, 10:39 (Ref:2289617)

the first year was Mader (Mecachrome) , then this season LRM Petriglieri took over the deal. AFAIK Mugen is not involved in the serie.

**FIRE** · 14 Sep 2008, 10:58 (Ref:2289636)

Thx

For the last 2 races of the WTCC season Mugen will take over the engine development for the JAS/N.Technology Honda Accord. Formula Master and the Honda Accord both use the K20 engine so I was wondering if Mugen was already doing engine development for the N.Technology single seater.

META4 · 14 Sep 2008, 11:32 (Ref:2289661)

Last 2 races? Okayama and Macau

Does Mugen has any branch in Europe?

AKAIK The formula3 engine was developed by NBE

**FIRE** · 14 Sep 2008, 11:55 (Ref:2289677)

Mugen Euro Co Ltd in UK

META4 · 14 Sep 2008, 12:25 (Ref:2289720)

but are they involved in any Motorsport project?