British F3 Silly Season 2009 - Page 6 - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

**bella** · 11 Dec 2008, 21:43

i don't think 20 cars is too bad at all considering the size of the budget and the current state of the economy. i can see how our series would be particularly appealing for foreign drivers with euros or dollars to spend though.

strider · 11 Dec 2008, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by META4

Any informations about these teams "Coming from Europe". Ombra has been confirmed already who is/are the other.

I can't give you names, but the thought is that one or two of the teams that were rejected by the F3ES and have current cars might come here to race them. The allocation of places by the DMSB is not thought to have been entirely fair. One team raced in the last two rounds this year in pursuit of a place for '09, but was still rejected. The Euro is strong against the pound (see bella's comment above), flights to and from England and Europe are cheap as chips and it's been done before, e.g. Promatecme and RC Motorsport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Well it's only the last 2-3 seasons where we have had 'big' fields' again. We have seen smaller entries quite often in the past, but no less competition.

Don't swallow the SRO myth. There were 36 cars at the start of 2001, 32 cars at the start of 2002 and 30 cars at the start of 2003.

Alex K · 12 Dec 2008, 00:29

Strider, maybe SRO should re-think their policy, I know BF3 is second best in da world, but we've lost Bird and Sims, we'll prob lose Christos, maybe it's time to think about cheapper racing, one engine supplier for CC (standard VW or Merc), one for NC (NBE). There r guys out there who can swallow the bill, but I quoted number of teams, I know what's cheappest quote, what's (prob) dearest, and IMO, if I had money I'd rather move to ES than pay BF3 top teams fees. What's a point, to end up being Hohenthal or Asmer?

There are signs of recesion not only in the UK, USA bella but also in large number of Euro states, I think it's gonna be tougher and tougher, and... European, German F3 and F2 will start winning war for drivers signatures, because their much cheapper...

**bella** · 12 Dec 2008, 01:32

i think it's a very good opportunity for the teams association to start thinking creatively. circumstances are unpleasent for most of the world, but at least we can offer the few people with euros to spend improved value for money over here thanks to the currency.

one thing that might have an effect (probably a bit more generally than bf3) is the decreasing cost of labour - outside of motorsport there's so many people applying for so few jobs that the employers can afford to take the michael with wages because people are up against the wall - they have to take what they can get. with the inevitable reduction in hondas f1 workforce there could well be a flood of labour into the motorsport market.

strider · 12 Dec 2008, 22:06

It looks as there is an official provisional calendar now. See here. Disregard the GT dates if you wish.

**bella** · 12 Dec 2008, 22:53

twice at silverstone?

oh dear... we're back to the pre-european days...

strider · 12 Dec 2008, 23:19

It was supposed to be 4 races in Europe and 6 in the UK with a two week break between rounds, especially European ones. I thought they should have re-instated Thruxton instead of the second Silverstone, but we've discussed that already.

I still haven't recovered from the loss of Monza. At least it looks as though the Spa race will be alongside the 24 hours. At one point there was a possibility of it being a week later.

Go_For_Pole · 15 Dec 2008, 22:09

Today Carlin tested at Valencia with VW power so this confirms what was widely expected. Ricciardo and Arundel were their two drivers, no Chilton. Guess we will have to wait and see who will their fourth driver be.

F3 times from Valencia by italiaracing

strider · 15 Dec 2008, 23:32

Interesting link, Go_For_Pole, thanks. Francesco Castellacci and Daniel McKenzie also tested there with Fortec, I see.

**bella** · 16 Dec 2008, 00:16

this story on italiaracing is a bit of a surprise....

wannab-aracer · 16 Dec 2008, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

this story on italiaracing is a bit of a surprise....

Money talks !

I don't think Kubica will be losing much sleep

N.A-D.R · 16 Dec 2008, 02:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

Today Carlin tested at Valencia with VW power so this confirms what was widely expected. Ricciardo and Arundel were their two drivers, no Chilton. Guess we will have to wait and see who will their fourth driver be.

F3 times from Valencia by italiaracing

Interesting to see Ricciardo already alot faster than everyone. But then again it's just testing.

ivanalesi · 16 Dec 2008, 13:25

It's because of the tyres

Nice comparision between them.

Andrew Kitson · 16 Dec 2008, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by strider

I can't give you names, but the thought is that one or two of the teams that were rejected by the F3ES and have current cars might come here to race them. The allocation of places by the DMSB is not thought to have been entirely fair. One team raced in the last two rounds this year in pursuit of a place for '09, but was still rejected. The Euro is strong against the pound (see bella's comment above), flights to and from England and Europe are cheap as chips and it's been done before, e.g. Promatecme and RC Motorsport.Don't swallow the SRO myth. There were 36 cars at the start of 2001, 32 cars at the start of 2002 and 30 cars at the start of 2003.

Slighty Off topic - but I remember 75 cars at Silverstone in 1972! 2 heats and a final.