FIA pushes on with low-cost F2 plans
Dismissed by some as a ploy amid Max Mosley's power struggle with Bernie Ecclestone, others – including one unnamed GP2 team boss – slammed the stated ideal budget of 200,000 euros per car per season as "bullsh*t".
"Even if everyone worked for free and we set ourselves up as a registered charity, the team's travel expenses alone would be more than 200,000 euros," he said.
But in a press release to announce the launch of the tender process, the Paris based federation explained that the 200,000 euros figure is only a guide for interested bidders.
"No minimum or maximum price is indicated in this tender," an excerpt of the FIA statement reads.
The FIA also said Formula 2 will be a ten-round annual championship in Europe between April and September, with events taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
There will be six days of official testing per season, the statement added.
07/13/08 The FIA has launched the tender process for the proposed FIA Formula 2 Championship. The tender instructions and requirements are now available on the FIA website. Interested parties are invited to tender to become the exclusive supplier of the single seat, open wheel racing cars to be used by the competitors in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 FIA Formula 2 Championship. The Championship will comprise ten events in Europe between the months of April and September.
Each event will take place over a Saturday and Sunday with one hour of free practice, one hour of qualifying and one race of approximately 175km. There will be six official testing events, of one day each – three before the first race of the season and three during the season.
It is hoped that the cost to a competitor of competing in the Championship for a calendar year – to include full participation in all official testing and events – could be in the region of €200,000 per car, though no minimum or maximum price is indicated in this tender.
Bids must be submitted by 29 August 2008. FIA press release