Spanish Formula Three Championship

Infobox motorsport championship

pixels =
caption =
category = Single seaters
country/region = Spain
inaugural = 2001
folded =
drivers = 37 (2006)
teams = 12 (2006)
constructors = Dallara
engines = FIATFIAT to supply Spanish F3, "Autosport Magazine", February 1 2007. Retrieved on February 2 2007.]
champion driver = flagicon|ESP Máximo Cortés
champion team = flagicon|ESP TEC Auto
website = [http://www.gtsport.es/index.asp?pagina=f3&lang=en www.gtsport.es/f3] The Spanish Formula Three Championship is a junior formula racing series based in Spain. It is one of six national and international Formula Three championships in Europe and Scandinavia that together form an important part of the established "career ladder" below Formula One. The championship's first season was held in 2001. In 2006, it was branded as the Spanish F3 Championship by Toyota, in deference to its sole engine supplier.

Profile

The Spanish Formula Three Championship was formed during Spain's recent growth period in motor racing that began with the awkwardly named "Euro Open Movistar by Nissan", which eventually became the World Series by Renault when the two companies' motor racing programs were reorganised. The new championship filled a significant gap at the lower end of the career ladder, as Spain had previously lacked a national Formula Three or Formula Renault series.

While it does not enjoy the same high profile of the Formula Three Euroseries, the Spanish championship has become successful by actively taking measures to control budget requirements. This provides a more achievable option for drivers who lack the major sponsorship portfolio that is required by leading Euroseries teams, and would otherwise have to look elsewhere for their next step up the career ladder.

With Renault's backing, the World Series has developed into a championship from which drivers can reach Formula One, and three major Spanish teams are established in GP2. [ [http://www.f1prospects.com/2006/04/gp2_racing_engi.html Racing Engineering Season Preview] "F1prospects.com", April 8 2006. Retrieved on February 2 2007.] This has fostered new opportunities for the graduates of Spanish F3, which has, in turn, made the championship itself a success. [ [http://www.f1prospects.com/2006/05/over_the_weeken.html Over the Weekend - April 29-30, 2006] "F1prospects.com", May 1 2006. Retrieved on February 2 2007.]

ub-divisions

Like British, European and Asian Formula Three, the Spanish series incorporates a second championship class for chassis specifications from the previous generation. The "Copa F300" was created in 2005, and provides an opportunity for drivers without competitive budgets, who would otherwise be left unable to progress from cheaper formulae. The name is derived from the chassis specification that all Copa entrants must use: the Dallara "F300", which dates back to 2000.

Equipment

The Spanish F3 Championship employs an approach to chassis and engine choice that is also used in Asian F3, in which the open Formula Three system of multiple chassis and engine manufacturers is rejected in favour of a single choice of supplier. All competitors must use Toyota's F3 engine, which is built by TOM's, and chassis from the ubiquitous Italian constructor, Dallara. Championship-class competitors are expected to use a chassis specification from the current generation: most teams use the "F305" specification from 2005, which is still popular in the leading F3 championships. Prior to the creation of the Copa F300 class, which coincided with the arrival of Dallara's next generation, all competitors used the older F300 specification. [ [http://www.speedsportmag.com/en/spanish_formula3/entrylist.php?sid=152 2004 Spanish F3 Entry List] , "Speedsportmag.com". Retrieved on February 2 2007.]

During the mid-season break in 2007, TOM's Toyota will be replaced as the control engine supplier by FIAT, which has agreed a three-year contract. [ [http://www.formula3.cc/content/view/14289/44/ FIAT joins Spanish F3] (Spanish language), "Formula3.cc", January 24 2007. Retrieved on February 2 2007.]

F1 tests

The exclusive use of the TOM's Toyota engine prompted Toyota F1 to offer a Formula One test to each year's champion. The first driver to benefit from this was 2004 champion Borja Garcia, who later graduated to GP2. [ [http://www.autosport-atlas.com/article.asp?id=41691 Toyota F1 test for Spanish champ] "Autosport-atlas.com", January 28 2005. Retrieved on February 2 2007.]

Venues

Between 2001 and 2005, the Spanish F3 Championship was comprised of seven rounds, each with two races. Exceptions to this included the Valencia round in 2002 and the Jerez round in 2003, each of which had only one race, and Albacete, which held a single-race event in addition to its regular two-race event in 2005.

In every season since its inception, the championship has made a regular visit to Estoril in Portugal. The 2006 season, which was expanded to eight rounds, included the championship's first visit to Magny Cours in France. [ [http://www.formula3.cc/content/view/6584/44/ 2006 Spanish F3 Calendar] "Formula3.cc", November 26 2005. Retrieved on February 2 2007.]

panish Formula Three Champions

All entrants used Dallara chassis and Toyota engines.
Key: ^C = Copa de España class winner

ources

* [http://www.gtsport.es/index.asp?pagina=f3&lang=en Spanish F3 Official Website]
* [http://www.speedsportmag.com/en/spanish_formula3/spanish_formula3.php Speedsport on Spanish F3]
* [http://www.formula3.cc/content/section/6/44/ Formula3.cc]
* [http://forix.autosport.com/cp.php?&d=59&r=592006&c=0 Forix.autosport.com]

References