Three FIA Formula 3 race winners are amongst various drivers within the series who’ve stepped down the ladder in single-seater cars to participate in next month's Macau Grand Prix.
F3 cars have traditionally competed within the Macau World Cup, but organizers revealed earlier this yr that they’d switch to Formula Regional machines for the 2024 edition on November 17, saying it was a “natural consequence of the evolution of the single-seater junior car landscape.” “.
Several F3 leaders were unimpressed with the move on the time, and series runner-up Gabriele Mini was amongst those that believed the event could suffer consequently.
However, the change hasn't stopped lots of this yr's F3 competitors from appearing on the just-announced 27-strong list, with drivers including championship frontrunners Oliver Goethe and Dino Beganovic.
Red Bull junior Goethe finished seventh within the standings after missing his slim likelihood of winning the title by skipping the ultimate at Monza and as a substitute replacing F1-bound Franco Colapinto MP Motorsport in F2. After ending ninth in last yr's GP, he’ll now proceed with the Dutch squad for his or her next attack in Macau.
Meanwhile, Ferrari Driver Academy member Beganovic will race for Prema again, and Mari Boya (Pinnacle), who was fourth in Macau in 2023, will join the group of previous F3 winners.
Mari Boya, Campos Racing, Sebastian Montoya, Campos Racing and Oliver Goethe, Campos Racing
Photo: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Other F3 competitors entered include 2022 British F4 champion and McLaren junior Alex Dunne, who joins Prema from MP, and Noel Leon (Pinnacle).
Quite a few current European Formula Regional Championship drivers have also been confirmed, including James Wharton (ART) and Tuukka Taponen (ace R), who’re second and third in points ahead of this weekend's Monza finale.
Meanwhile, Italian F4 dominator Freddie Slater will advance to the Formula Regional competition and can participate within the last title shootout this week Silverstone Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award.
In addition to FIA F3 and FRECA drivers and F4 graduates, Super Formula Lights race winners Rikuto Kobayashi and Jin Nakamura (each of TOM'S) are among the many Japanese contingent taking up the event.
“I am really happy that so many of the most talented young drivers and teams are involved in the FIA FR World Cup,” said FIA Single-Seater Committee Chairman Emanuele Pirro.
“This event has always been one of the toughest and most rewarding challenges on the path for young drivers as they progress towards the ultimate goal of Formula 1 and our other FIA World Championships, as well as the presence of so many different former F4 and Formula Regional champions arriving to Macau truly brings the spirit of this historic race.”
There are still two unconfirmed drivers on the beginning list, with each MP and PHM having vacancies.
