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FORMULA 3 ANNOUNCES STRONG 2012 CALENDAR             

The Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship has unveiled a seven-round 2012 schedule. Along with the Clipsal 500 Adelaide that will begin the season on March 1-4, Formula 3 will race with the V8 Supercar Championship on three further occasions, including a return to Tasmania and an ongoing commitment to the Skycity Triple Crown and the F3 Darwin SuperPrix that was inaugurated this year.

The championship will also return to the resurfaced Queensland Raceway in August, having last raced at the Ipswich circuit with the V8 Supercars in 2009.

After producing thrilling racing at both Hidden Valley and Symmons Plains this year, Formula 3 Management acknowledges the commitment from V8 Supercars in placing the category at further V8 Events as it rebuilds its numbers for 2012.

The three other rounds will include the historic debut at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, as part of the 2012 Bathurst Motor Festival in Easter, and two rounds with the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships.

Formula 3 was a foundation category of the Shannons Nationals and looks forward to continuing to support the rapidly expanding program at least two rounds, likely to be Eastern Creek and Phillip Island. More information including detailed information on pricing, race formats, prizes and similar will be announced in due course.

2012 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship 

1. Clipsal 500 Adelaide (SA) March 1-4 – V8 Supercars

2. Symmons Plains Raceway (TAS) March 30-April 1 – V8 Supercars Tasmania Challenge

3. Mount Panorama, Bathurst (NSW) April 4-6 – Bathurst Motor Festival

4. Hidden Valley Raceway (NT) June 15-17 – Skycity Triple Crown

5. Eastern Creek Raceway (NSW) July 13-15 – Shannons Nationals*

6. Queensland Raceway (QLD) August 3-5 – V8 Supercars Coates Hire 300

7. Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (VIC) Sept 21-23 – Shannons Nationals* 

* To Be Confirmed. 

IAN RICHARDS: (Formula 3 Management Pty. Ltd.)  “Our 2012 Calendar is perhaps the strongest ever assembled for Australian Formula 3 and certainly the largest presence on the V8 Supercar program the category has ever had, by far.  

“We acknowledge and thank the support of Shane Howard, Damien White and Martin Whitaker and the V8 Supercar Events team who can look beyond the limited numbers of this season and see the potential for growth and the expansion of an already exciting product.  

“It is a great vote of confidence in Formula 3 and shows the category is developing, evolving and moving forward at great pace.  

“Based on feedback from drivers interested, it was critical for us as a category to have an expanded V8 Supercar presence. Even the potential of more V8 rounds this year had increased competitor interest and discussion, and with today’s conformation of that we believe more drivers will now seriously consider Australian Formula 3.  

“We now have that with a first-class calendar with big events and perhaps triple the audience we raced in front of this year.  

“The racing at Darwin and Tasmania this year was first class and ticked the entertainment boxes that V8 Supercars demand and we know the product will only be better in 2012 with more cars and more action.  

“At the same time we are very pleased to continue our five-year relationship with the Shannons Nationals. We have been there since day one and continue to support the concept and its growing nature – we look forward to racing with the likes of high profile categories like Formula Ford, Touring Car Masters and GT Championship who will be joining, or re-joining, the Shannons Nationals next year, along with all the other existing categories.  

STEEL GUILIANA: (2011 Forpark Scholarship & F3 National Class winner – 2012 Driver)   “Winning the Forpark Australia F3 Scholarship was a great boost for our 2012 plans, but the news of Formula 3’s 2012 calendar is almost as big a boost for me as a driver and for the category,” Steel Guiliana said. “It’s already been good value for us, but this makes it even better.” 

“It is great that V8 Supercars have shown faith in the Formula 3 product and that the championship will race on four really good V8 Events next year. It’s a boost for me personally, because it’s easier to gain sponsorship when you are racing in front of the big crowds and it’s obviously great to race in front of the V8 Teams as well.  

“Even with a smaller grid the racing has been really competitive to be part of, and I’m sure that will only get more competitive when more people come to race with us. For me, the quality of drivers you race against is more important than the grid size and that aspect has always been strong and was this year. It will only get stronger with more cars.  

“We have always known we made the right choice to run in Australian Formula 3 and this news backs that up and makes me even more excited to compete for the championship next year.  

“I hope and encourage other young drivers to look at F3. The cars are amazing to drive and it is very affordable for the performance and skills you learn.”

The F3 Australian Drivers Championship acknowledges and thanks 2011 partners Kumho Tyres, Forpark Australia, ELF (Race Fuels), Performance Friction Brakes and Race Torque Media for their support.

Pic: Dirk Klynsmith / Graphic DAK photos