Formula 3000 Formula 3 Other Formulae









It is, unfortunately it was, the biggest race of the Grand Prix since 1985 when Formula 3000 was created. In fact Pau is the only track to have hosted F3000 without interruption from cradle to its maturity and the unavoidable F1-F3000 narrow. That's why Pau's Rendez-vous was considered each season as the peak moment, where Formula 3000 was not only featuring but was the star.

Unfortunately, FIA has decided to cancel Pau's stage, and to make Formula 3000 the official F1's second division.(You can read my thoughts on that question. Only available in french at the moment). F3000 still deserves this page though, as it remains the best formula that I've seen in Pau. ( As I'm relatively young I don't know how was the old period with J Clark, Brabham, Stewart...)




Formula 3000 replaced F2 in 1985. The original purpose was to create more competitive cars, closer to F1, that would allow young pilots to reach F1 with a car 10 times as cheap as F1.
Technical regulations revealed to be simple and efficient :
- Limited weight 540 kg
- Cylindrée maximale de 3000 cm3
- Maximum engine velocity 9000 revs/min
- Identical Avon Tyres (16 pouces) provided to all teams.



This made F3000 cars as powerful (480 horses) as the F1 cars that had no turbo, but unstable due to small tyres and a flat underbody.
English National Racing track on Silverstone hosted the first F3000's race in april 85. The F3000 revealed to be very spectacular , requiring skillfull pilots, to drive and to find the car's best settings.
Out of Poeymirau's chicane.
Just like Monaco's Grand-Prix with all these millionnaires' women on yachts!

At the beginning, F3000 cars are equipped with different racing suppliers. Three manufacturers share cars structure market, Leyton House, Lola et Reynard. Racing teams use different engine suppliers. But little by little the paddock tends to be more and more homogeneous. Thus, in 1995, Reynard almost all teams.
However, F3000 becomes a monotype formula. That is to say that the same material is provided to all teams :Lola supplies the chassis structure while engines are provided by Ford Zytec. Question : Why had Lola been chosen while Reynard was dominating the market ? Soory, but I have no answers?)

Finally FIA decided to make F3000 the official " 2nd division " of F1.
Therefore F3000 has to be present at each european F1 Grand Prix, and quit Pau's track.



Home History Practical advices to enjoy your GP of Pau Links