ART Grand Prix’s Nikola Tsolov and Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Martinius Stenshorne have each been handed a suspension from upcoming Formula 3 events.
The FIA Formula 3 Championship today announced a number of suspensions from upcoming events, with Nikola Tsolov and Martinius Stenshorne falling foul of the sporting regulations. The regulation in question is article 10.4, which dictates participation in external events.
Article 10.4 of the sporting regulations states: “No driver entered in the Championship may carry out any type of activity on any track with any type of single seater car that was designed and/or built to achieve a power-to-weight ratio less than 2.0 kg/bhp.”
Article 10.4 further allows for “genuine participation” of other championships, with the requirement that participation is “explicitly approved” by the FIA and the promoter. Both Tsolov and Stenshorne have failed to gain approval from the FIA and promoter before taking part in races elsewhere late last month earning each a one race ban.
Tsolov who took part in Eurocup-3’s opening race at Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps, has earned himself a suspension from the Formula 3 event at the same venue scheduled for 26-28 of July, with the stewards ruling:
“Having considered the matter extensively, the Stewards determined that the Driver and the Competitor failed to request written authorization for the driver to take part in the Eurocup-3 Series, as requested in Article 10.4 of the Sporting Regulations.
“Therefore, the Stewards determined that this is a serious breach of the testing regulations with a potential sporting advantage gain for the driver of Car 25 and decided to suspend the driver of Car 25 for the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Spa Event. In addition, 4 penalty points are to be added to the driver’s record.”
Similarly, Martinius Stenshorne breached article 10.4 with his participation in the GB3 Championship’s round in Silverstone between 27-28 of April, with the Norwegian suspended from participation in round seven of the Formula 3 Championship as a result.
A press release detailing the investigation reads: “The Stewards determined that this is a serious breach of the testing regulations with a sporting advantage gain for the driver of Car 15 and decided to suspend the driver of Car 15 for the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Silverstone Event. In addition, 4 penalty points are to be added to the driver’s record.”
