ATS Formula 3 Cup to take a break in 2015

The ATS Formula 3 Cup or rather its planned international successor series, the German Formula Open, will not take place in 2015. This decision was made by the Formula 3 Association in an internal meeting. Even before the start of the 2014 season the FIA had limited the regulations for national Formula 3 series to such an extent that it is no longer possible to contest the cup as a national series. Those requirements by the FIA were not changed ahead of the 2015 season. The entire Board of the Formula 3 Association regret to have to take this step and will make an effort to support young Formula 3 drivers in Germany and to revive the German Formula 3 in the near future.

Back in November 2014, the Formula 3 Association decided in agreement with the teams involved to organise the ATS Formula 3 Cup as an international series in the future and, as a consequence, to give it a new name, German Formula Open. According to the plans, the series was to be contested in the support programme of the eight ADAC GT Masters events, which will be held at several current Grand Prix circuits as well as three race tracks abroad in 2015. The Formula 3 Association developed an attractive package, including the possibility of a ranking for non-German licence holders and the approval of older generations of vehicles.

The objective continues to be the support of the national Formula 3
Due to specifications which cannot be fulfilled and new regulations, including extended test restrictions for teams contesting the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, which would also have a direct impact on the German Formula Open, the Formula 3 Association is no longer able to ensure a sufficient number of contestants for the ADAC GT Masters events. Andreas Meyer, Chairman of the Formula 3 Association: “For this reason and with a heavy heart we have decided not to take the incalculable risk and not to hold the 2015 German Formula Open. Nonetheless, we will continue working in order to fulfil the principles of the statues of the Association and to support Formula 3 racing in Germany.” It is intended to organise a national Formula 3 series again in the future.

High-quality racing series for young talents
The preliminary end of the ATS Formula 3 Cup interrupts a twelve-year success story. Formed in 2003 as the national successor series of the German Formula 3 Championship, the ATS Formula 3 Cup prepared numerous top drivers for higher series, including Formula 1. Kevin Magnussen was the newest contestant in the highest class of Formula racing who earned his spurs in the ATS Formula 3 Cup. The racing events of the Formula 3 Association were a stepping stone for real icons: Michael Schumacher won the International German Formula 3 Championship in 1990. Jarno Trulli, Nick Heidfeld and Gary Paffett followed. All of them achieved international success in Formula 1 and the German Touring Car Championship, DTM.