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Letters to the Grid

MSV F3 Cup. 

Dear sir, 

I have recently read about the new for 2011 F3 series to be launched by Motor Sport Vision and will be looking forward to this with mixed emotions. 

This is of course nothing more than a re-vamp of the less than successful BRSCC F3 Championship that ran in 2009-2010 and prior to that was called Club F3 and ARP F3. One can only hope that Jonathan Palmers organization will bring added professionalism and marketing experience that the series has sadly lacked over the years. Perhaps also with the withdrawal of Formula Palmer Audi this will become the nurturing ground for young racers that don't quite have the budget for National class F3. 

Of course that would put the ethos of 'Club F3' at risk as the aim of the series was to provide club racers with the opportunity to race full blown F3 cars at a fraction of the costs of National or British F3 budgets. Mixing these ageing weekend racers with younger drivers that are hopeful of using this as a stepping stone for a professional racing career could become a clash of cultures. The damage to cars and egos could escalate considerably. 

Should this happen it can only be hoped that the trackside administration becomes more professional. The new series is to be run by the Monoposto Club for MSV and they have in the past been guilty of some appalling driving standards and paying lip service to driver safety. Driving standards became so bad a few years ago that they introduced a procedure for club members to  complain against each other. This was after the club had to issue written warnings to members that included past champions and a senior committee member had his licence endorsed. Only a few months ago they ran an event at Silverstone where they allowed drivers to compete in an extreme wet race with torches duck taped to rear wings whilst other drivers raced without any rain lights.  

Given the likelihood of large speed differences between younger and older drivers in the new MSV F3 Cup it could well be a recipe for disaster if a more safety orientated approach is not taken. 

MSV F3 has the potential to become a cracking good series, the pinicle of club single seater racing. Fingers crossed everyone involved ups their game and the racing can be safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.

S. Brookes

Via email