Formula Three facts for kids

Mika Mäki driving a Dallara F308 Formula Three car in 2009

Rudolf Dötsch in a March–Toyota car in 1976

Formula Three, often called Formula 3 or F3, is a type of open-wheel formula racing. It's considered the third level of racing. Many young drivers who dream of reaching Formula One (F1) race in F3 championships in Europe, Australia, South America, and Asia. It's a really important step for them to show their skills!

History of Formula 3 Racing

A very early F3 car, the Effyh 500 (1947–1952). It was light and used a 500cc motorcycle engine.

Formula Three was officially recognized by the FIA in 1950. It grew out of racing after World War II. Early F3 cars were very light. They had a simple frame and were powered by small 500 cc motorcycle engines. These engines were often from brands like Norton or JAP.

The idea for 500 cc racing started in England in 1946. It was a way for people who loved racing but didn't have a lot of money to compete. These cars were cheap to build and run. Cooper quickly became the top car maker in this type of racing. Their success in F3 helped them grow and build cars for bigger races.

Most 500 cc cars, including Cooper's, had their engine in the middle. This was practical for the chain drive they used. But it also made the cars handle really well! This design choice later led to most single-seater race cars having their engines in the middle.

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  1949: Monopoletta-BMW

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  1950: Cooper Formula 500 with a Norton Manx engine.

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  1960s: Tecno F3 car.

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  1970s: Ralt RT 1 F3 car.

Many famous drivers started in 500cc Formula Three in the 1950s. These included Stirling Moss, Peter Collins, and Bernie Ecclestone. One of the most successful F3 drivers was Don Parker. He won 126 F3 races! He was even F3 Champion in 1952, 1953, and 1959.

By the late 1950s, the 500cc F3 cars became less popular. A new category called Formula Junior took over. These cars used bigger 1000 or 1100 cc engines.

Engine Changes and Aerodynamics

Formula Three was brought back in 1964 with new rules. Cars now used 1-litre, four-cylinder engines. These engines were highly tuned and revved very high, earning them the nickname "screamers." Races often saw many cars close together, using the "slipstream" effect to go faster. Brabham, Lotus, and Tecno were the top car makers during this time.

In 1971, the rules changed again. Cars could now use 1600 cc engines. These engines had a special air intake. This was also when aerodynamics (how air flows around the car) started to become very important for speed.

Then, in 1974, 2-litre engines were introduced. These also had restricted air intakes. Amazingly, the basic engine rules for F3 have stayed almost the same ever since! This has brought a lot of stability to the sport.

As bigger teams like Lotus and Brabham focused on Formula One, new F3 car builders emerged. These included Alpine, Lola, March, Ralt, and Ensign.

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  1980s: Ralt RT 3 F3 car.

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  Early 1990s: Reynard 903 F3 car.

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  2000s: Dallara F305 F3 car.

By the 1980s, F3 had become very advanced. It was seen as the main training ground for future F1 drivers. Many drivers went straight from F3 to F1. The cars became more complex, just like F1 cars. For a short time, "ground effects" were used, which helped cars stick to the track. But these were later banned. Carbon fibre parts started to appear in the mid-1980s, making cars stronger and lighter.

Historically, March, Ralt, and Reynard were the main car builders. Reynard was one of the first to use carbon fibre. However, in the 1990s, Dallara became the dominant car maker. Their F393 car was so good that almost everyone started using Dallara chassis. Today, Dallara cars are used everywhere in F3. To keep costs down, Dallara designs their cars to be used for three or four years with only small updates.

Formula 3 Cars

Formula Three cars are special racing machines. They have a single-piece body called a monocoque. They use smooth, slick racing tyres and special wings to help them stick to the track.

Most F3 cars today are made by Dallara. However, other companies like Mygale, Lola, and Arttech also build some. In smaller or amateur F3 races, you might see older F3 cars. These races often have different classes for different car ages.

The engines in the main FIA Formula 3 series are 3.4-litre, 6-cylinder engines. They are naturally aspirated, meaning they don't use turbos or superchargers.

In other F3 series, engines must be based on a regular production car block. Race organizers often seal these engines. This stops teams from making private changes to make them faster. Honda (tuned by Mugen), Volkswagen, and Mercedes engines are very popular.

Car Rules

Here are some of the rules for Formula 3 cars:

• Width: Maximum 1150 mm (about 45 inches)
• Weight: Minimum 550 kg (about 1212 lbs), including the driver
• Steering: Only two-wheel steering is allowed.
• Drive: Only two-wheel drive (rear-wheel-drive)
• Gearbox: Six forward gears (maximum) and one reverse gear. Drivers use paddle-shifts on the steering wheel.
• Brakes: Must be made of iron, not drilled.
• Wheels: Maximum 9.5 inches wide and 13 inches in diameter.
• Fuel: About 45 litres (12 US gallons) of controlled fuel. This fuel is similar to regular pump gasoline (petrol).
• Engine: A 3.4-litre engine from a production car. It has a special 28 mm air restrictor. This limits the power to about 380 horsepower at 8000 rpm.

Championships and Series

Sebastian Vettel showing his Formula 3 Euro Series car in 2006.

Before 2019, there wasn't one single "World Championship" for Formula Three. In the 1970s and 1980s, the European Formula Three Championship and the British Formula 3 Championship were the most important. Many future Formula One champions came from these series. Countries like France, Germany, and Italy also had their own F3 series.

In 2003, the French and German F3 series combined. They created the Formula 3 Euro Series. This helped make the racing more competitive.

The SudAm Formula Three Championship in Brazil is known for producing great drivers. These drivers often went on to race in the British F3 championship. The All-Japan Formula Three Championship also saw future stars like Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve win races. An Asian F3 series started in 2001.

Special Races

Átila Abreu racing at the Pau Grand Prix in France in 2005.

Besides the regular championships, F3 is famous for special races. These races often bring together drivers from different national series. The most well-known is the FIA World Cup at Macau. The first F3 Macau Grand Prix was in 1983 and was won by Ayrton Senna. Other famous winners include Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard. The Macau Grand Prix usually marks the end of the F3 season.

Other important special races include the Pau Grand Prix, the Masters of Formula 3 (held in the Netherlands), and the Korea Super Prix. These events let fans see exciting international racing in different places. The Monaco F3 Grand Prix was also a famous special race until 1997. It was brought back for one year in 2005.

List of Formula Three Series

Current Series

Series name	Zone/country	Active years	Additional information
FIA Formula 3 regulations
FIA Formula 3 Championship	International	2019–	Replaced the GP3 Series and the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2019.
FIA Formula Regional regulations
Formula Regional Middle East Championship	Asia	2023–	Replaced the Formula Regional Asian Championship in 2023
Formula Regional Americas Championship	North America	2018–	Was known as F3 Americas until 2019.
Alpine Formula Racing Asia Series	Asia	2021–	This new championship uses the Tatuus F3R-Spec car with a Renault engine.
Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine	Europe	2019–	Replaced the Formula Regional European Championship and the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2021.
Formula Regional Japanese Championship	Japan	2020–
Formula Regional Indian Championship	India	2023–
Formula Regional Oceania Championship	New Zealand	2023–	The series started using the FIA Formula 3 Regional car in 2020.
W Series	International	2019, 2021–2022	A Formula 3 championship only for women drivers.
Former FIA F3 regulations
Australian Formula 3 Championship	Australia	2016–2019, 2021–
Drexler-Automotive Formula 3 Cup	Austria	1982 1984–	Has a main Cup and a "Trophy" for older cars.
Swiss Formula 3 Cup	Switzerland	1978–2008 2014–	Now runs as part of the Drexler-Autumotive Formula 3 Cup.
FIA Central European Zone Formula 3	Europe	1994–2005 2016–
MotorSport Vision Formula Three Cup	United Kingdom	2011–2021, 2023–	An amateur racing series using older F3 cars.
F2000 Italian Formula Trophy	Italy	2014–	Uses mainly older F3 cars and engines.
Euroformula regulations - based on 2018 F3-chassis
Euroformula Open Championship	Europe	2009–	Used to be the Spanish Formula Three Championship.
Super Formula Lights	Japan	2020–	Was the Japanese Formula 3 Championship until 2019.
GB3 Championship regulations (Upgraded FIA Formula 4)
GB3 Championship	United Kingdom	2016–	This series uses a special Tatuus Formula 4 car with better aerodynamics.
Monoposto Racing Championship	United Kingdom	1977–	This championship uses F3 cars up to the 2007 Dallara model.
Non-FIA regulations series
Chilean Formula Three Championship	Chile	1972–1974 1976–2012 2016–	The Chilean championship has its own rules, not the FIA's F3 rules.

Defunct Series

Special Races

Event	Track	Region	Country	Championship	Years
Events
FIA Formula 3 World Cup	Guia Circuit	Macau	Macau	standalone event	1983–2019, 2023–
New Zealand Grand Prix	alternating	alternating	New Zealand	Toyota Racing Series	1950, 1954–1995, 1998–2000, 2002–2021
Grand Prix de Pau	Circuit de Pau-Ville	Pau	France	Euroformula Open Championship	1999–2006, 2011–2012, 2014–2019, 2022–
Masters of Formula 3	Circuit Park Zandvoort	Zandvoort	Netherlands	standalone event	1991–2016
Formula 3 Brazil Open	Autódromo José Carlos Pace	São Paulo	Brazil	standalone event	2010–2014
Eastside 100	EuroSpeedway Lausitz	Klettwitz	Germany	German Formula Three Championship	2005–2006
Monaco Formula Three Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco	Monte Carlo	Monaco		1950, 1959–1997, 2005
Korea Super Prix	Changwon Street Circuit	Changwon	South Korea	standalone event	1999–2004
FIA European Formula Three Cup	alternating	alternating	Europe	standalone event	1985–1990, 1999–2004
Fuji Formula Three Cup	Fuji Speedway	Oyama	Japan	standalone event	1990–1993

See also

In Spanish: Fórmula 3 para niños