Date set for Pirelli-supplied British GT and F3 media dayThe Media Day for the Pirelli-supported British GT Championship and BRDC British Formula 3 Championship will take place at Snetterton on Tuesday March 28.
Machinery from both series will hit the Norfolk circuit during the day for both general testing and media purposes. It will also be the scene of the pre-season press conference, and the reveal of the full 2017 entry list for British GT, which is set to feature debuts from the latest models in both GT3 and GT4.
Snetterton will be open to the public for the event, with free admission.
Both championships will commence their seasons at Oulton Park less than three weeks after the Media Day, on April 15/17.
Fortec signs two drivers for Pirelli-backed BRDC British F3BRDC British Formula 3 outfit Fortec Motorsports has signed Ben Hingeley and Nicolai Kjaergaard as drivers for the 2017 season.
Hingeley, from North Wales, contested the series in 2016 with HHC Motorsport. He finished 10th in the standings after two podiums in the final two events, and pole position at the Donington Park finale. The 19-year-old then joined up with Fortec for the Autumn Trophy at Snetterton in October.
Danish driver Kjaergaard, 17, makes the step up from British Formula 4, where he contested his first season of single-seater racing with Fortec and came third amongst the rookies.
Fortec team manager Russell Dixon said: “We watched [Ben] progress in 2016 and he was at the top of our driver 'shopping list' for 2017. He showed fantastic pace during winter testing and the British F3 Autumn trophy so, with continued hard work, we expect him to be a championship contender.
Speaking about Kjaergaard, he commented: “Initially he did a one-off test at Anglesey in June, but was so impressed with the car’s performance he did three more days with us. During these tests his confidence grew and showed rapid progress. I'm confident that by the time we have completed all of the pre-season testing he will be very competitive during 2017 and be podium-hunting!”
The Pirelli-supplied BRDC British F3 Championship begins at Oulton Park on April 15/17.
Pirelli-equipped F3 Cup reveals 2017 calendarThe F3 Cup Championship has revealed its calendar for the 2017 season.
The Pirelli-equipped series will get underway at Donington Park on April 22-23, followed by the first of two trips to Snetterton, the first on May 13-14 taking place on the circuit’s ‘200’ layout for the first time.
There will then be two visits to Silverstone, the first on the National Circuit on June 3-4 and the second on the full Grand Prix Circuit on July 1-2. The event on the Snetterton 300 circuit will be on August 12-13, before races on the Brands Hatch GP loop on September 9-10.
Oulton Park will host the final round of the F3 Cup for the first time on October 28.
The 2017 Championship will be fought over 18 races, one more than in 2016, and MSVR are continuing to work to secure a non-championship round at Spa-Francorchamps in June.
The 2017 regulations are currently under review and will be available early in the New Year, as will the online registration and entry system.
World champion Guintoli returns to British Superbikes with PirelliSylvain Guintoli, the 2014 World Superbike champion, will return to the British series this year.
The Frenchman will race for the Hawk Racing-operated Bennetts Suzuki squad, alongside Taylor McKenzie, the reigning champion of the Pirelli-supplied Superstock 1000 series.
“I’m really happy to be back in British Superbikes,” said Guintoli.
“Even though it was short, I enjoyed my time in the series in 2009 with Suzuki. I had a really good start to the season on the GSX-R1000, with a win and three more podiums in four races, and I feel like I have unfinished business after that year.
“I’m now looking forward to working with Hawk and the Bennetts Suzuki team for 2017 and getting my first taste of the new GSX-R1000, and I’m sure we can fight at the front from the start.”
