FIA F3 European Championship
Formula 3 was given a reboot this year under the remit of FIA single-seater chief Gerhard Berger, with the Euro Series becoming the FIA European Championship. Grid sizes swelled from the 14 regulars of 2012 to between 26 and 30 this year. As ever in F3, the racing wasn?t particularly close and only the top three teams scored wins, but driving standards were far improved on last year.
Ferrari protege Raffaele Marciello was perhaps a predictable champion but looks set to go on to great heights, particularly judging by his post-season testing performances in both GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5. The experienced Felix Rosenqvist never let Marciello ease off, though, taking the title fight down the very last round. Meanwhile, Alex Lynn and Lucas Auer impressed in their first seasons at this level, with Lynn ending the year with victory in the Macau Grand Prix.
The new FIA engine rules provide a new challenge for the series in 2014, but the signs are already positive with Renault coming on board and bringing former champion squad Signature back into the frame. The category can therefore now boast a manufacturer with involvement at every level of single-seater racing and some of the most attractive teams around, with Signature joining Prema, Carlin, Mucke and Fortec.
Peter Allen