Photo: Wafeproject Photography
Successful Formula 3 team Hitech GP is one of ten that have signed up for the inaugural season of the Asian F3 Championship.
Hitech leads a line-up that mostly consists of teams that previously ran in Formula Masters China, which has now been formally replaced by Asian F3 by its promoter, Top Speed.
The first season is set to start at the Sepang International Circuit in mid-July.
“Back in December we made a conscious decision to slim the FIA F3 team down to focusing on running three cars,” Hitech boss Oliver Oakes told Autosport.
“[This was] so that at the end of 2018 with the merger between F3 and GP3 – where teams will be restricted to running only three cars – there is a smooth transition for us with staff and the engineering department.
“Entering Asian F3 was a logical step for us as it fills a gap in the market for drivers needing to gain mileage in anticipation for a step into International F3. For us, it allows us to form relationships and work with drivers a year or two prior to them stepping up to International F3, as well as getting a foot into Asia.
“The series that Davide [de Gobbi, Top Speed boss] has worked to put together is a great concept based upon five race weekends with restricted testing, making it an affordable and level playing field.”
Successful Asian Formula Renault and Chinese Formula 4 team BlackArts Racing is one of the non-FMCS entrants, and is also expanding into Renault’s Northern European Cup this season with Charles Leong, who won both championships with BAR last year.
Chase Owen Racing, set up by 2017 BRDC British F3 racer Chase Owen, is another new team, as well as former MSV F2 diver Armaan Ebrahim’s outfit MSport Asia, which has competed in India, and Italian team SVC Asia, which is new to single-seaters.
Absolute Racing, Eurasia Motorsport, Pinnacle Motorsport, Super License and Zen-Motorsport continue from FMCS.
2018 Asian F3 teams – racing record
Absolute Racing – Formula Masters China Series
BlackArts Racing – Asian Formula Renault, Chinese Formula 4
Chase Owen Racing – new for 2018
Eurasia Motorsport – Formula Masters China Series, JK Racing Asia Series, Formula V6 Asia, Asian Formula 3
Hitech GP – European Formula 3, Brazilian Formula 3, Formula 3 Sudamericana, British Formula 3
MSport Asia – Formula LGB
Pinnacle Motorsport -?Formula Masters China Series
Super License -?Formula Masters China Series
SVC Asia – new for 2018
Zen-Motorsport -?Formula Masters China Series