FIA releases 20-car Euro F3 lineup for 2017

The FIA has revealed the entry list for the 2017 European Formula 3 championship, which features 20 cars from five teams, confirming the absence of Mucke Motorsport and T-Sport.

Mucke has been a long-term participant in the category, stalwarts under its previous Formula 3 Euroseries guise, while T-Sport entered only select rounds last season.

It means that Prema, Hitech, Motopark, Van Amersfoort and Carlin will each field four cars, making a 20-car field, though only 18 drivers have been confirmed, with Carlin and Motopark still holding a vacancy.

Additionally, for the first time, Formula 3 drivers have been permitted to choose their own racing number, mirroring the system that has been used in Formula 1 since 2014.

"We have done a lot of work to make sure the championship is very competitive and the quality of the entries confirms that our strategy is paying off," said FIA Single Seater Commission President Stefano Domenicali.

"All teams — Prema, Hitech, Motopark, Van Amersfoort and Carlin — operate on an extremely professional level and the talent of the drivers they have contracted for the season is outstanding.

"We will surely see some great racing this year. And with the FIA racing ladder now complete [with GP2 rebranded as Formula 2], there is a clear path for junior drivers.

"This solidifies the FIA Formula 3 European Championship as an essential category on the way to Formula 1."

Last year's title was won by Prema's Lance Stroll, who will race in Formula 1 with Williams in 2017.