The FIA has launched an expanded European Formula 3 Championship for 2013 in a move that phases out the F3 Euro Series.
The 10-round calendar will support six DTM rounds with a pair of World Touring Car events and the Silverstone World Endurance Championship weekend. The date and location of the final round has yet to be announced.
The championship will be promoted jointly by Euro Series promoter the ITR and the FIA, with the Euro Series being absorbed into the new European schedule. Each weekend will feature three races and two qualifying sessions. The times set in the opening session will determine the grids for the first two races of each round, while race three's starting lineup will be set by a separate session.
A rule to allow existing-specification F3 engines to remain in competition alongside those built to the FIA's new-for-2013 regulations, has also been introduced, meaning Mercedes and Volkswagen will continue to supply engines to the championship.
"We started the process of restoring the Formula 3 European Championship to its former status last season," noted former F1 racer Gerhard Berger, president of the FIA single-seater commission. "After a positive exchange of views with all the players involved, we're moving up another step by putting a stand-alone championship in place with a coherent and attractive calendar.
"We've done everything possible to cap costs; in particular by establishing stable sporting and technical regulations. We want to stress the performance to enable the best young talents to show their skills."
Berger hinted that a prize "befitting of the European Formula 3 champion" would be on offer. This year's champion, Daniel Juncadella, was awarded a test in an old-spec Ferrari F1 car recently.
Provisional 2013 European F3 Championship calendar:
March 23-24 Monza (I) - WTCC
April 20-21 Silverstone (GB) - WEC**
May 4-5 Hungaroring (H) - WTCC**
May 18-19 Brands Hatch (GB) - DTM**
June 1-2 Spielberg (A) - DTM
July 6-7 Norisring (D) - DTM
July 20-21 Zandvoort (NL) - DTM
August 17-18 Nurburgring (D) - DTM
September 14-15 Hockenheim (D) - DTM
October TBA
** To be confirmed