01/11/2002

Following a succesful debut in 2002, the 'Bumper weekends' will make a return to the BTCC calendar in 2003. The British F3 & GT contenders will join the Tocatour package at Silverstone in May, and the F3 teams will also feature on the bill at the Donington Park meeting in September.

The three Super Weekenders in 2002 proved very successful, attracting large crowds and providing a packed day of racing on the third day of each meeting.

Full 2003 F3/GT calendar:

April 5/6 Donington Park National
April 20/21 Snetterton
May 3/4 Brands Hatch GP
May 10/11 Knockhill
May 25/26 Silverstone International + BTCC
June 21/22 Castle Combe
July 12/13 Oulton Park
July 26/27 Croft
August 9/10 Thruxton
August 30/31 Spa-Francorchamps
September 6/7 Donington Park GP (F3 Only) + BTCC
September 27/28 Rockingham

A number of changes have also been made to the F3 & GT championships for 2003. These are summarized below: BRITISH FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP New three race format: Single Scholarship and Championship races + combined feature race at nine rounds. Revised qualifying format. Morning sessions to decide grid for the single class races. Afternoon sessions to decide the grid for the feature race, Championship class to take priority on the feature race grid. Subject to agreement with the governing bodies and teams, to investigate the possibility of an F3 “Oval” race at Rockingham. BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP – KEY POINTS 11 round Championship. Standard race length of 75 minutes to increase the amount of track time for teams, drivers and spectators and to recognise the 75th Anniversary year of the BRDC. Option of introducing of several longer/variable style races: - Castle Combe/Knockhill 2 x 40 mins “Supersprints” - Snetterton 2 hours - Silverstone 3 hours evening/dusk race for the British Empire Trophy - Spa 1000Kms Open GT class to remain and cars to able to run to 2002 regulations. The performance between GT and GTO cars to be equalised through pit stops. Entry level British GT Cup class for high-performance sports cars running below GTO specification. This would encompass Porsche Cup cars, Ferrari and TVR one-make championship cars, other potential vehicle types could include Audi TTs, Vauxhall VX220s, Morgan Aeros, Lotus Elise and BMW M3s, for example. Performance to be equalised by close technical control based around power to weight ratio. Dunlop to continue as the official tyre.