Formula European Masters series cancelled for 2019

Officials from the planned Formula European Masters series have confirmed the 2019 season has been cancelled due to low entry numbers.

Following the formation of the new FIA Formula 3 championship to replace GP3 on the Formula 1 support package this year, the FIA European Formula 3 Championship had been set to rebrand and continue racing this year as Formula European Masters.

Formula EM had intended to continue using the same regulations to European F3 and retain its place on the DTM undercard, but with only six drivers signed up to race in the series due to start at the beginning of May, it was announced on Friday that the 2019 season had been cancelled.

"Due to the difficult competitive environment represented by European motor sports, the number of drivers who registered for the Formula European Masters was too small and the series organisers had to opt for making this bitter decision," a statement from the series read.

"This is a really sad day for the European young-driver sport,” said Walter Mertes, Managing Director of series promoter Formel 3 Vermarktungs GmbH.

“In the difficult European competition ennvironment, there just aren’t enough drivers for the numerous different series. It takes enormous financial expenditure to compensate for this situation and we could not and did not want to expect this from our teams."