Small change at home Hitech PulseEight regarding their home round, namely the Silverstone circuit: the FIA commissioners have in fact suspended Martinius Stenshorne, driver of single-seater number 15, for having participated in another championship without notifying the organizers.
Hitech loses Stenshorne for the Silverstone round
In this case, Stenshorne violated article 10.4 of the Formula 3 Sporting Regulations. Article 10 manages the test carried out by the drivers, while point 4 limits the activities on the track. In this sense, any participation in different championships is only permitted with cars with a weight-power ratio of less than 2 kg/hp, excluding Formula 1. Furthermore, this participation must be declared and authorized by organizers and commissioners. The problem for Stenshorne was precisely having taken part in the Silverstone round of GB3 Championship, an English championship of a higher level than F4, without warning of participation.
He will replace the Norwegian driver James Wharton, an Australian from Bundoora who will turn 18 on July 8, one day after the championship feature race. Wharton, winner of the F4 UAE and runner-up in the 4 Euro 2023, took part in and won the Formula Regional Middle East this year. He currently races in Formula Regional European with Prema, and was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2021 to 2023. Wharton himself took part in the offending round of GB3 Championship, but by competing full-time in a championship other than F3 he is not in violation of the rule.
Not just Stenshorne
A fate similar to that of Stenshorne will befall him Nikola Tsolov, driver of car number 25 for ART Grand Prix, in the round of Spa-Francorchamps. Tsolov actually took part in the Belgian round of Eurocup-3, an alternative championship to the Formula Regional as a level, in turn without notify of participation. ART has yet to announce the driver who will replace the Bulgarian (winner of the Sprint Race in Austria).
