The Formula Three Association has agreed a deal with Stephane Ratel's SRO organisation to remain on SRO's F3/GT package for the 2009 season.
A three-year deal has been agreed which will see the British F3 International Series maintain joint headline status on the package alongside the Avon Tyres British GT Championship, although it is a move that has somewhat angered BTCC series director Alan Gow who believed that a deal had already been put in place to see F3 join the TOCA package next season (see
HERE).
Having seemingly backtracked on that agreement to 'switch sides', the British F3 series will now continue on the SRO package for the next three years in a move that left Ratel thrilled.
"I'm delighted to announce that SRO will continue to promote and organise the British F3 International Series," he said. "We are committed to developing the series and have agreed with the teams to look at circuits that will provide driver development, with the possibility of more European races on
F1 circuits.
"SRO is happy to have created a package that the teams believe is in the interests of British F3 and we look forward to working closely with them."
Speaking on behalf of FOTA, Jeremy Lord said that the teams felt that the deal offered by SRO was the best one for the series moving forwards.
"There had been some uncertainty about the future of British F3 after the end of the 2008 season," he said. "However, the teams have now reached an understanding with SRO to continue to work together to reinforce the British F3 International Series as the leading Formula 3 category.
"The teams provide a professional racing environment that attracts the best young drivers from around the world and SRO will provide the structure and calendar that will enable them to realise their potential."
