2012 British Formula 3 International Series

Regulation changes

In a change to the 2011 season, all races award championship points on the same points system. Previously, the second race had awarded points on a reduced scale – 10 points for the winner and decreasing by one point down to tenth place – compared to races one and three.

Drivers and teams

• For the Norisring event, drivers used different numbers in line with Formula 3 Euro Series regulations; each driver's Norisring race number is displayed in tooltips.

Driver changes

; Changed Teams

• Pipo Derani, who finished in fifteenth place in 2011, moved from Double R Racing to Fortec Motorsports.
• Pietro Fantin switched from Hitech Racing to Carlin.
• After a season with Fortec Motorsports, Fahmi Ilyas joined Double R Racing.
• Harry Tincknell changed teams for his second season in British F3 moving from Fortec Motorsports to Carlin.

; Entering/Re-Entering British Formula Three

• British Formula Ford racers Spike Goddard and Nick McBride moved into the championship with T-Sport. Fellow Formula Ford compatriot Geoff Uhrhane joined Double R Racing.
• Formula Renault UK champion Alex Lynn continued his collaboration with Fortec Motorsports for another season, moving into Formula Three. Félix Serrallés also continued his collaboration with Fortec Motorsports, moving from the Formula Renault Eurocup.
• JK Racing Asia Series driver Duvashen Padayachee graduated into the championship with Double R Racing.
• Formula Renault 2.0 NEC champion and Eurocup runner-up Carlos Sainz Jr. made his debut with Carlin.
• After finishing fifth in German Formula Three, Dutch driver Hannes van Asseldonk moved full-time to the British series with Fortec Motorsports. Van Asseldonk previously contested one round in 2011, as an invitational driver.

; Leaving British Formula Three

• Donington winner Valtteri Bottas left the series to concentrate on his Williams F1 reserve driver duties.
• António Félix da Costa joined Carlin in the GP3 Series.
• Mitch Evans, who participated in the final round with Double R Racing, remained in the GP3 Series with MW Arden.
• 2011 runner-up Kevin Magnussen remained with Carlin, but moved into the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. Third-placed Carlos Huertas, seventh-placed Lucas Foresti and 26th-placed Yann Cunha also moved into the series for Fortec Motorsports, DAMS and Pons Racing respectively.
• 2011 champion Felipe Nasr switched to DAMS for his GP2 Series debut.
• Scott Pye returned to his native Australia to compete in the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series, having finished in tenth place for Double R Racing.
• Alexander Sims, who won at Silverstone, switched to endurance racing as he joined Status Grand Prix to compete in the European Le Mans Series.
• Max Snegirev moved into the Auto GP World Series, with the Campos Racing team.

Race calendar and results

On 12 October 2011, it was revealed that the series was due to have three overseas rounds, at the Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps – both on the calendar in 2011 – and Pau. Pau returns to the series' schedule for the first time since 2006.

A provisional ten-round calendar was later announced on 7 November 2011, with the Nürburgring round removed, and rounds at Le Castellet and Monza, both of which held meetings in 2011, being restored to the calendar to make up four overseas rounds along with Spa-Francorchamps and Pau. All rounds were made up of three races except Pau, where only two races were held. On 21 April, it was announced that the series would add the Formula 3 Euro Series round at the Norisring in place of the round at Paul Ricard; the event would be held under Euro Series regulations. The rounds at Pau, Spa and the Norisring would be part of the revived FIA European Formula 3 Championship. The championship supported the British GT Championship at six rounds, two Blancpain Endurance Series events at Monza and Spa along with the Pau Grand Prix event and Formula 3 Euro Series event at Norisring.

;Notes

Championship standings

References

References

1. Carter, Nick. (6 April 2012). "Jack out of the box and on to pole, on the double". [[Stéphane Ratel Organisation]].
2. Carter, Nick. (7 April 2012). "Harvey claims victory in Oulton Park thriller". [[British Formula 3 Championship]].
3. Carter, Nick. (7 April 2012). "Pipo pops up to score his first British F3 win". [[British Formula 3 Championship]].
4. Carter, Nick. (7 April 2012). "Serralles stages a rookie rout at Oulton Park". [[British Formula 3 Championship]].
5. Carter, Nick. (14 April 2012). "Carlin and Fortec claim Monza British F3 poles". [[British Formula 3 Championship]].
6. Simmons, Marcus. (14 April 2012). "Carlos Sainz Jr takes bizarre maiden Formula 3 win at Monza". [[Haymarket Media Group.
7. Carter, Nick. (14 April 2012). "Saintly Sainz slithers his way to victory & series lead at Monza". [[British Formula 3 Championship]].
8. Carter, Nick. (15 April 2012). "Serralles scores British F3 win number two at Monza". [[British Formula 3 Championship]].
9. Carter, Nick. (15 April 2012). "Sainz on top again in the Monza rain". [[British Formula 3 Championship]].
10. Weeks, James. (20 October 2011). "British F3 to make Pau return for 2012". [[Motors TV]].
11. "PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST". Peter Auto.
12. Carter, Nick. (7 November 2011). "New cars, great circuits – British Formula 3 set for thrilling 2012". [[Stéphane Ratel Organisation]].
13. Carter, Nick. (21 April 2012). "Norisring switch for British F3". [[Stéphane Ratel Organisation]].
14. (30 June 2012). "Daniel Juncadella disqualified". ITR e.V..
15. Carter, Nick. (27 July 2012). "Rain stops play at Spa". [[Stéphane Ratel Organisation]].