British F3 could return via BRDC F4

Formula 3 could return to the British motorsport calendar this season in the form of the BRDC Formula 4 Championship.

Autosport reports that a plan for BRDC F4 to become Britain's national F3 series was discussed at last Friday's FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Geneva, and that a decision could be taken within days.

BRDC F4 has taken a significant step forward in recent months, with new Tatuus-Cosworth cars replacing the old machinery from the end-of-season 2015 Autumn Trophy.

Although those races were held predominantly in wet conditions, test times have been very close to F3 pace on some circuits.

A rebranding of BRDC F4 as F3 could also encourage series boss Jonathan Palmer to relinquish the F4 name, to which he owns the trademark in the UK, to the MSA Formula, which runs to FIA F4 regulations.

The last season of the British F3 Championship was 2014, when it was fought out by drivers from Fortec Motorsport, Double R Racing and Carlin, all of which are new on the BRDC F4 grid for 2016. Fortec boss Richard Dutton played a role in instigating discussions between the FIA and Palmer.

"When I first saw the car, to me it was a British F3 equivalent," said Dutton. "It's quick in a straight line, a great little car, inexpensive - everything we wanted for F3. We want British F3 back, and this makes perfect sense."

Double R boss Anthony Hieatt added: "It would mean that drivers, sponsors and dads would realise there is a step up from F4 to regional F3 to European F3.

"It would be very good for British racing to get a bit of clarity between the two series [BRDC F4 and MSA Formula] as they're aimed at very different levels of competition. There is room for both, but having two 'F4' series in the same country doesn't help anybody."

Palmer could not comment on the story.

Originally on Autosport.com