The Masters of Formula 3 was a
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3, abbreviated as F3, is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One dri ...
race held annually, usually at the
Circuit Park Zandvoort
Circuit Zandvoort (), known for sponsorship reasons as CM.com Circuit Zandvoort, and previously known as Circuit Park Zandvoort until 2017, is a motorsport race track located in the dunes north of Zandvoort, the Netherlands, near the North Sea ...
in the
Netherlands
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. Due to noise restrictions in the Zandvoort area, the 2007 and 2008 races were held in the Belgian circuit of
Zolder
The Circuit Zolder, also known as Circuit Terlamen, is an undulating motorsport race track in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
History
Built in 1963, Zolder hosted the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix on 10 separate occasions in the 1970s and 1980s, ...
. However, it returned to Zandvoort for the 2009 race.
The Masters was first started in 1991, as an international meeting between drivers from various national championships across Europe. As the
FIA European Formula Three Cup had been cancelled after the 1990 season, the Masters became the unofficial European F3 championship. Many of
Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...
's future stars raced and won in the Masters, including
David Coulthard
David Marshall Coulthard (; born 27 March 1971) is a British former racing driver from Scotland, later turned presenter, commentator and journalist. Nicknamed 'DC', he competed in 15 seasons of Formula One between and , taking 13 Grand Prix vi ...
, who was crowned champion in the first event.
In 1999, the
FIA
FIA is the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (English: International Automobile Federation), the world's governing body for all forms of motor sport where four or more wheels are used.
Fia or FIA may also refer to: People
* Fia Backs ...
nominated the
Pau round of
French Formula Three Championship
The French Formula Three Championship was a motor racing series for Formula Three cars held in France between 1964 and 2002. The series was merged with the German Formula Three Championship in 2003 to form the Formula 3 Euro Series
The Formula 3 ...
as the new European Cup, but the Masters retained its status as the
de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
international meeting between up-and-coming superstars all across Europe, as drivers from the British, French, German and Italian championships continued to flock to the Dutch track. When the French and German series were merged into the
Formula 3 Euro Series
The Formula 3 Euro Series was a European-based junior single seater formula for Formula Three chassis that was launched (in its current form) in 2003 as a merger of the French Formula Three Championship and German Formula Three Championship. The ...
in 2003, the Masters was not included in the calendar at the time, but its position as the premier international F3 meeting in Europe was not threatened.
The event was sponsored by
Marlboro
Marlboro (, ) is an American brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured by Philip Morris USA (a branch of Altria) within the United States and by Philip Morris International (now separate from Altria) outside the US. The largest Mar ...
from 1991 to 2005. When
tobacco advertising
Nicotine marketing is the marketing of nicotine-containing products or use. Traditionally, the tobacco industry markets cigarette smoking, but it is increasingly marketing other products, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco product ...
was banned in the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...
after 31 July 2005, the Masters lost its sponsorship. The race was sponsored by
BP Ultimate took from 2006 to 2007, RTL in 2008, Tango in 2009 and RTL again in 2010.
For the first time since its creation the series took a one-year break in 2017 due to calendar changes on the circuit and
FIA Formula 3 European Championship
The FIA Formula 3 European Championship was a European Formula Three(F3) auto racing competition, organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). After one season of the FIA Formula 3 International Trophy, the FIA revived t ...
regulations which prohibits any racing activity prior the round on the same circuit.
But the race did not return in 2018, which made the 2016 race the final race of the event thus far.
Results
References
External links
Circuit Zandvoort
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masters Of Formula 3
Formula Three races
Recurring sporting events established in 1991
Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2016
Sports competitions in Zandvoort
1991 establishments in the Netherlands
2016 disestablishments in the Netherlands