The return of Formula Renault UK

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Autosport are reporting that Formula Renault 2.0 UK will return to, well, the UK for 2015. This will coincide with the introduction of the new FIA Formula 4 series, and fingers-crossed will coincide with more growth in the economy, however small

Autosport say that the series will merge with FR BARC as a two-tier championship, with the latest FR2.0 cars forming what will inevitably become the classy class, and the BARC Tatuus FR2000 cars will create the lower class. Fortec and a certain Mark Burdett are fans of this new proposal, but surely they'll be looking at the FIA F4 series.

Of course FR UK did exist and was a good series even in its final season in 2011 (Alex Lynn, Olly Rowland and Tio Ellinas were the top 3) but only Fortec entered cars for the 2012 season, which was cancelled as a result at short notice.

So, BRDC F4, FIA F4 and FR UK. Let the battle commence...

[andrewc]

FR offers more structure. Do well in BARC, then there is the FR UK class. Do well in that, go for one of the European campaigns. Do well in that, FR 3.5 beckons and you can keep the same team around you for several seasons.

That is something that BRDC F4 and FF/FIA F4 can't offer.

Was it co-incidence that a couple of years after FR UK being canned, F3 in this country was struggling for numbers - I suspect not. That crop of drivers went to FR in Europe and stayed there for FIA F3.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

That's precisely my theory. Look at the amount of FBMW UK and FR UK (and even FF UK) graduates that British F3 had on it's grid during the mid and late 00s and the demise of all 3 of the aforementioned series' explains the fall in grid numbers. If the grassroots in the domestic series falters then, for a similar time period, the higher tiers will suffer, with a couple of seasons in between.

So with some patience and talent then hopefully this resurgence in British junior single seater series' can attract some promising talents from mainly the UK but also globally so the entire British motorsport scene will be better.

Of course, this is just wishful thinking, and who knows if BRDC F4, FIA F4 and FR UK all have 12 car grids with 2 genuinely talented drivers in each series. FIA F4, being on the TOCA package, will surely have some Ginetta Junior graduates (I for one have to witness Jamie Caroline driving a single-seater!), whilst BRDC F4 has done a solid job recently with George Russell and Raoul Hyman. FR UK obviously has the entire WSBR set-up to attract drivers.

Here's for the best!

[bella]

the thing is, it's not just a good structure, it's fashion that dictates what drivers do with themselves. if they perceive it's not going to look good that they spent a year preparing on british circuits instead of european ones, then they're not going to do it. or if it's just uncool to be posting a picture of snetterton to insta when others are tweeting about the nurburgring...

the market theyre looking at i guess for the new machines is the (utter handful) of british drivers who go and do nec or alps alongside some wildcard entries. they don't stand a chance of getting the ginetta junior kids back - the budget is smaller and damage costs are far less (even if they're far more frequent).

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Ginetta Junior graduates have been heading off to BRDC F4 for single seater experience, but some may stay on the TOCA package with FIA Formula 4 next year.

I don't think FR UK will work - no announced TV coverage, no FIA backing, BRDC F4 is already established, whilst FIA F4 is FIA/MSA-regulated, but, as I say, here's for the best...

[Juntos]

You can't compare Formula Renault to BRDC F4. Ulterageous.