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Heritage
F3
Bridgestone has been the sole supplier to F3 since 1988. The series is an important foundation for international Formula car racing. Minimising the differences in hardware between manufacturers and teams as much as possible, F3 has very strict regulations that focus attention on head-to-head competition between the drivers themselves giving them crucial race experience.
F3 is a springboard to Formula Nippon in Japan and F3000 internationally and in recent years several young drivers have gone straight from F3 to F1, demonstrating the strength of the category.
In Japan’s F3 National Formula, the Bridgestone Award offers special recognition to the achievements of the series champion. Bridgestone also supported international F3 events such as the world-famous "Marlboro Masters of F3" at the Zandvoort Circuit in Holland. Over 50 drivers compete in this race hoping to become top guns in the F3 world and their cars need rapid, excellent tyre service. Bridgestone has won plaudits from race organisers for eliminating tyre problems.
In 2003, when Britain’s James Courtney won the title, the specs for dry slicks were changed in Japan F3 with the aim to make performance at the limit milder and improve drivability while increasing grip. The new tyres were developed over a one-year period and successfully rolled out. In 2004, the wet tyre specs also changed. Last year’s championship was won by Joao Paulo de Oliveira, who had finished runner-up the year previously. The Brazilian’s reward was a test drive for the WilliamsF1 team.
The Bridgestone supplied Formula 3 championship continues to prove itself as a leading feeder to the pinnacle of racing, the Formula 1 World Championship. In 2006, Adrian Sutil managed not only to achieve his first All Japan Formula 3 championship title, but also went on to claim a seat in Formula 1. As of 2007, Sutil will be a regular driver for the Spyker F1 team, joining Dutch driver Christijan Albers.
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