Imola in, Britain out of 2016 Euro F3 calendar

There will be no rounds of the Formula 3 European Championship in the UK in 2016, although another signature European venue is being added.

The series featured as a support event to Silverstone's World Endurance Championship round from 2013-'15, opening the past two campaigns. The cost of that slot is believed to be behind the reason to drop it.

Euro F3 also raced on the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit supporting the DTM up to and including 2013, after which the fixture was dropped.

Wednesday's FIA World Motor Sport Council released a calendar that has fallen from 11 rounds to 10, with five supporting the DTM: Hockenheim has dropped from two rounds to one, with other DTM supports at the Red Bull Ring, Norisring, Zandvoort and the Nurburgring.

The season opens with a new event at Paul Ricard before moving on to the Hungaroring, where Euro F3 will join the World Touring Car Championship and Formula 3.5 V8, and then onto the popular Pau Grand Prix street race.

Spa remains on the calendar, although for the first time Euro F3 will fill a support slot at the circuit's 24 Hours GT race formerly occupied by British F3. Finally, Imola returns for the first time since 2013, replacing Monza as Italy's round and partnering the country's GT championship.

The World Council also announced the Single Seater Commission's intention to revive a regional tier of Formula 3, as well as confirming that the current generation of F3 car will have its life extended to the end of 2019, with "a safety update kit introduced in 2017 or 2018."

Originally on Autosport.com