Formula Three championship contested in the United States and Canada 2000–2001
The United States Formula Three Championship was a short-lived Formula Three championship contested in the United States and Canada. Sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America,[1] the series lasted for two seasons, 2000 and 2001. All teams used Volkswagen engines tuned by Bertils Racing Engines.[2]
The series was plagued by low car counts; no more than 6 cars contested races in the inaugural season. In 2001, fields were bolstered by Formula Ford, Formula Continental, and even Sports 2000 and historic Formula 5000 cars, as no race had more than 3 Formula Three cars on the grid. 14 of the series' 19 races were won by Brazilian driver Luciano Gomide. A 2002 season was planned with 13 races, including a doubleheader supporting the 2002 United States Grand Prix, but was ultimately cancelled.[3]
2000 season
The 2000 season was contested over 11 races at 6 race meetings. The schedule initially included two oval races at Indianapolis Raceway Park and Irwindale Speedway, but these were later cancelled.[4][5] The round at San Diego was a joint race with the Mexican Formula Three Championship, although the Mexican series ran with older, slower machinery.[6] Stuart Crow won the championship by 5 points over Luciano Gomide. Gomide joined the series after the first 4 rounds, and won pole and the race at the final 7 events on the calendar.
Schedule and results
Points standings
Pos
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
Points
|
20
|
15
|
12
|
10
|
8
|
6
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
One bonus point was also awarded to the driver completing the fastest lap during the race.
2001 season
An initial 13-race calendar was announced for the 2001 season,[9] however after losing their financial backing,[10] the series was re-arranged to a 15-race schedule with the addition of more rounds in Canada.[11] With low car counts eminent, the series considered using Formula Super Vee cars as a "Class B",[12] but instead Formula Ford and Formula Continental cars filled out fields. No more than three Formula 3 cars participated in any race; five of the nine races were contested only by the EuroInternational teammates Luciano Gomide and John C. Antonio. Gomide won all but one race and took the championship title.
Initial schedule
Date
|
Track
|
April 22
|
Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
|
May 20
|
Mosport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
|
June 10
|
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
|
June 30/July 1
|
Quebec City Street Course, Quebec City, Quebec
|
July 8
|
TBA
|
September 23
|
TBA
|
October 27/28
|
Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California
|
November 3/4
|
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada
|
November
|
Streets of San Diego, San Diego, California
|
[9]
|
Schedule and results
Rnd
|
Date
|
Track
|
Location
|
Pole position
|
Race winner
|
Winning team
|
1
|
May 20
|
Mosport Park
|
Bowmanville, Ontario
|
Luciano Gomide
|
Luciano Gomide
|
EuroInternational
|
2
|
June 24
|
Mosport Park
|
Bowmanville, Ontario
|
Luciano Gomide
|
Luciano Gomide
|
EuroInternational
|
3
|
July 29
|
Watkins Glen International
|
Watkins Glen, New York
|
Luciano Gomide
|
Luciano Gomide
|
EuroInternational
|
—
|
August 5
|
Circuit Trois-Rivières
|
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
|
Race cancelled
|
4
|
August 19
|
Mosport Park
|
Bowmanville, Ontario
|
Luciano Gomide
|
Luciano Gomide
|
EuroInternational
|
—
|
September 1
|
Circuit Ste-Croix
|
Sainte-Croix, Quebec
|
Race cancelled
|
—
|
September 2
|
5
|
September 1
|
Mosport Park
|
Bowmanville, Ontario
|
John C. Antonio
|
Race abandoned
|
6
|
September 2
|
?
|
Luciano Gomide
|
EuroInternational
|
—
|
September 16
|
Pocono Raceway
|
Long Pond, Pennsylvania
|
Race cancelled due to the September 11 attacks
|
7
|
September 22
|
Circuit Mont-Tremblant
|
Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
|
Luciano Gomide
|
Luciano Gomide
|
EuroInternational
|
8
|
September 23
|
John C. Antonio
|
Luciano Gomide
|
EuroInternational
|
9
|
October 21
|
Watkins Glen International
|
Watkins Glen, New York
|
John C. Antonio
|
John C. Antonio
|
EuroInternational
|
—
|
October 27
|
Sears Point Raceway
|
Sonoma, California
|
Race cancelled
|
—
|
October 28
|
—
|
November 3
|
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
|
Las Vegas, Nevada
|
Race cancelled
|
—
|
November 4
|
[13]
|
Points standings
Pos
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
Points
|
10
|
6
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|