British Formula 3 veteran Adderly Fong has announced that will be returning to the series this weekend.
The 22-year-old starred at the Kent circuit two years ago and nabbed a front row start there last year while competing with the now dissolved Sino Vision outfit.
Fong joins up with former Sino Vision teammate Hywel Lloyd, who has now taken over the reigns as team manager with family squad CF Racing* after several years competing with the family-owned team.
Fong will be competing in three race weekends in total. Following Brands Hatch, the Canadian-Chinese pilot will also race at Spa-Francorchamps and Snetterton later in the year.
All three of Fong’s visits will be contested in the National Class – against class regulars Richard Goddard and Duvashen Padayachee – amidst a break in his current schedule. Taking a break from Formula 3, Fong opted to take a seat in the Chinese-based Audi R8 LMS Cup, where he currently sits 2nd in points.
Amidst all that, the series has begun to look toward the 2013 season. With new cars introduced this year, thoughts have returned to the potential of a new Formula 3 engine regulation package.
While no definitive set of rules have been released, it is thought the new power units will maintain their current 2.0L displacement, with an output of approximately 235-245 bhp, allowing the series to fill a powerband void left by the GP3 Series**.
There are currently six independent engine builders in talks with the series; however the negotiations over the new regulations have been fraught with delays, while Formula 3’s primary manufacturers Mercedes and Volkswagen examine the finer details of the rules proposal.
A final decision on the regulations is expected over the course of the Norisring weekend (June 29-July 1) and will apply to British F3 and the F3 Euro Series. While all this is unfolding, neither manufacturer has confirmed their presence in Formula 3 for 2013…
The engine regulation package may not be the only element to change come 2013 – the calendar is also facing an overhaul.
There are whispers that the British Formula 3 Series calendar may take on a slightly more international look next year, with five of the ten rounds outside UK borders.
Rather than meld further with the European F3 Championship, it is thought that British F3 may play a heavier supporting role to the Blancpain Endurance Series during its third season, with visits to Monza, Spa, Paul Ricard, Nurburgring along with one round in Spain on the cards.
With Pau potentially returning only as a stand-alone event, it raises questions as to the future of the F3 European Championship.
* {note 1}
Originally a family-run working in Motocross, CF Racing entered British F3 in 2008 with Lloyd behind the wheel, although the squad temporarily became Sino Vision when the team joined up with Fong last season.
Lloyd has had a car ready all season, but had declined to enter until the right driver package showed.
** {note 2}
The GP3 Series announced two weeks ago their intention to introduce a new car and engine package for 2013. The current chassis – the GP3/10 – has garnered much criticism for a weight distribution heavily skewered to the left rear, while the engine produces a 240 bhp, as well as a dreadful sound.
Should the rule makers get their way, the GP3/13 chassis will produce a far more refined balance and an engine package that produces up to 400 bhp; however GP3’s extremely prohibitive budgets – rumoured to be in the €1-1.2 million range this year – may still prove a stumbling block for drivers.
