The 2014 Formula Challenge season was the third season of the GPVWC Formula Challenge championship. At total of twenty-one teams and ninety-one drivers contested the thirty-four races over sixteen rounds that made up the calendar for the 2014 season, which started in Australia on 25th February 2014 and ended in Brazil on 21st October.
The 2014 season would be the first in which a cap on team numbers would be introduced, resulting in a maximum twenty teams participating at any one time. Airastream Motorsport withdrew after the first four rounds and were ultimately replaced by Cosmo Autosport. Attendance remained very high; although a few teams struggled on occasion to field cars, the number of participants usually sat in the mid-to-high thirties, with thirty-two starters at Race 1 in Brazil being the very lowest number.
Petar Brljak won the 2014 championship having secured 12 race victories and 531 points in total, over a hundred more points than runner-up David Jundt. Brljak's team, Walk Racing, won the teams' championship having secured 701 points, 96 points more than runners-up Tanskanen Racing, who themselves only beat third-placed Enterprise GP by just two points.
Despite the dominance of Brljak and Walk's championship victories, the level of competition throughout the season was very high; a total of 11 drivers and 10 teams secured at least one race victory; over two-thirds of all drivers who took part scored at least one point and not one team failed to score any points.
Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers took part in the 2014 season.
Formula Challenge Team
|
Team Owner
|
Abbreviation
|
Chassis
|
Tyre
|
No.
|
Race Drivers
|
Rounds
|
Test/Reserve Driver(s)
|
Tanskanen Racing
|
Juha Tanskanen
|
Tanskanen
|
FC-014
|
G
|
0
|
James Johnson |
1-10, 12-13, 15-17
|
n/a
|
Mikko Suokas |
11
|
2
|
Jonathan Holmes |
1-12, 15-17
|
Tobias Olson |
13
|
Paul McKenna |
14
|
Royal Blue Racing
|
Matthew Clipp
|
Royal Blue
|
FC-014
|
G
|
3
|
Matthew Clipp |
2-5
|
Florian Engel
|
Benediktas Sinkevicius |
9
|
Florian Engel |
17
|
4
|
9-10, 12, 14-15
|
Paul Joseph |
1-10
|
Racing Team Schroten
|
Roy Schroten
|
RTS
|
FC-014
|
G
|
5
|
Ben Warren |
All
|
n/a
|
6
|
Mike Schroten |
1-10, 12-17
|
Airastream Motorsport 1
|
Matt Richards
|
Airastream
|
FC-014
|
G
|
7
|
John Munro |
1-2
|
n/a
|
David Carter |
3
|
Philipp Konig |
4
|
8
|
Scott Sovik |
1, 3-4
|
Cosmo Autosport 1
|
Joshua Anderson
|
Cosmo
|
FC-014
|
G
|
7
|
Ben Horrill |
7-12, 13
|
Scott Sovik
|
Patrick Wannemuller |
12
|
Jayden Wright |
14, 17
|
Rob Mason |
15
|
Olli Pelkonen |
16
|
8
|
Richard Coxon |
7-8, 10, 12-17
|
Scott Sovik |
9
|
Tim Heinemann |
11
|
JRT
|
Jack Nicholls
|
JRT
|
FC-014
|
G
|
9
|
Jack Nicholls |
1, 4, 8
|
n/a
|
Santiago Niza |
3
|
Sven Smits |
5
|
Arjan Zijlstra |
9
|
Todor Pangev |
14-15
|
Dave van Gils |
16
|
Tomeu Cabrer |
17
|
10
|
Ric Scott |
1-2, 5, 7-8, 17
|
Sandeep Chodha |
10-11
|
Paul McKenna |
13
|
Victor Silva |
14
|
Quintin Plane |
15
|
Backmarker Brigade
|
Simon Smith
|
BMB
|
FC-014
|
G
|
11
|
Simon Smith |
1-13, 15-17
|
n/a
|
12
|
Marco Vandenbroeck |
1-6, 11, 13
|
Joshua Anderson |
10
|
Lewis McGlade |
12, 15-17
|
YTF1
|
Matthew Allington
|
YTF1
|
FC-014
|
G
|
14
|
Wopke Hoekstra |
1-82, 10, 15-17
|
Rob Mason
|
Rob Mason |
82-9, 11-14
|
15
|
5, 16
|
Adam Ozgur |
1-4, 6-15, 17
|
Viking Racing
|
Morten Wernersen
|
Viking
|
FC-014
|
G
|
16
|
Ben Hackeson |
1-3, 5-10, 12, 14-15
|
n/a
|
Ryan Walker |
4
|
William Neron |
11
|
17
|
Matt Richards |
1
|
Olli Pelkonen |
2, 4-8, 10-11
|
Ben Horrill |
3
|
Erik Teske |
12-13, 16-17
|
Emil Sallberg |
14
|
James Ross |
15
|
Velocity Racing
|
Ben Warren
|
Velocity
|
FC-014
|
G
|
18
|
Ollie Woods |
2, 5, 8, 10-15, 17
|
William Tringas
|
William Tringas |
3-4, 6-7, 9, 16
|
19
|
Teemu Toikka |
All
|
Zedderick Racing
|
Doug Hilliard
|
Zedderick
|
FC-014
|
G
|
20
|
Roy Verzijl |
1-10, 12-13
|
Doug Hilliard Sandeep Chodha
|
Sven Schubert |
14, 16-17
|
Andreas Wauters |
15
|
21
|
Pedro Gomes |
1-6
|
Sandeep Choda |
7
|
Andrejs Pestovs |
8-14, 16-17
|
Tobias Olsson |
15
|
THR
|
Robert Wiesenmueller
|
THR
|
FC-014
|
G
|
22
|
David Jundt |
All
|
Adrian Holm
|
23
|
Robert Wiesenmueller |
1
|
Adrian Holm |
2-3
|
David Carter |
4
|
Juha Tuunainen |
6-15
|
Katana Motorsports
|
Tom van der Voort
|
Katana
|
FC-014
|
G
|
24
|
Terence Grech |
1-11, 13-17
|
Chris Williamson
|
Chris Williamson |
12
|
25
|
4, 17
|
Mark Wicks |
1-3, 5-16
|
Knight Racing
|
Chris Knight
|
Knight
|
FC-014
|
G
|
26
|
Ben Willis |
1-12, 14-17
|
Chris Knight
|
27
|
Joshua Anderson |
1
|
Fran Lopez |
2, 4-7
|
Chris Knight |
3
|
Alexander van der Woude |
9-10, 12-15
|
Aurora Motorsports
|
Lewis McGlade
|
Aurora
|
FC-014
|
G
|
28
|
Lewis McGlade |
1, 3-11, 13-14
|
n/a
|
Petar Brljak |
2
|
Rasmus Salo |
12
|
Tim Heinemann |
15-16
|
29
|
14
|
Sam Jones |
1-13, 15-17
|
Enterprise GP
|
James Kirk
|
EGP
|
FC-014
|
G
|
30
|
Scott Berrisford |
1, 3-8
|
Teemu Valkeejärvi
|
David Carter |
2
|
Eric Stranne |
9-17
|
31
|
Hansko Mebius |
All
|
Team Proline
|
Maurice Brackhahn
|
Proline
|
FC-014
|
G
|
32
|
Thomas Pfadler |
1-6, 12-14
|
n/a
|
Dave van Gils |
8
|
Nico De Koninck |
9
|
Sven Smits |
11
|
Victor Silva |
17
|
33
|
1-10
|
Jon MacLean |
11
|
Sandeep Chodha |
12-17
|
Bastvik Grand Prix
|
Mikael Tuomaala
|
Bastvik
|
FC-014
|
G
|
34
|
Jon MacLean |
1, 3-6
|
n/a
|
Santiago Niza |
2
|
Tobias Olsson |
14, 16-17
|
Joonas Raivio |
15
|
Dovydas Polaras |
7-13
|
35
|
6
|
Santiago Niza |
1
|
Benediktas Sinkevicius |
3
|
James Kirk |
2, 4-5, 7-14
|
Teemu Valkeejärvi |
16-17
|
Smile Power Racing
|
Mike Bell
|
SPR
|
FC-014
|
G
|
36
|
Tommi Ojala |
1-7, 10, 12-15, 17
|
n/a
|
Eric Stranne |
8
|
Scott Berrisford |
9
|
Ben Hackeson |
11
|
37
|
Jesper Taulborg |
1-12
|
Rasmus Salo |
13-15
|
Playseat® Racing
|
Cameron Brewster
|
Playseat
|
FC-014
|
G
|
38
|
Matthew Chirgwin |
1-4
|
n/a
|
Nico Schweinzer |
5-6, 8
|
Thomas Hinss |
13-16
|
Tim Straub |
7, 9-12
|
39
|
5
|
Lee McLaughlin |
1, 4, 6-8
|
Philip Morby |
2-3
|
Bruno Sousa Ferreira |
9-11, 13-17
|
Walk Racing
|
Andrei Caramidaru
|
Walk
|
FC-014
|
G
|
40
|
Lewis Travis |
1-3
|
n/a
|
Patrick Wannemuller |
4-5
|
Benediktas Sinkevicius |
7
|
Justinas Ribelis |
8
|
Peter Duivelaar |
9-17
|
41
|
Matias Canapino |
1
|
Petar Brljak |
3-17
|
2014 Calendar
Round
|
Grand Prix
|
Circuit
|
Conditions
|
Mod
|
Date
|
Start Time
|
Track time
|
GMT
|
1
|
Challenge Australian Grand Prix
|
Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne
|
Dry
|
rFactor v1255
|
25th February
|
16:00
|
19:00
|
2
|
Challenge Malaysian Grand Prix
|
Sepang International Circuit, Selangor
|
Dry
|
rFactor v1255
|
11th March
|
16:00
|
19:00
|
3
|
Challenge Bahrain Grand Prix
|
Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
|
Mixed
|
rFactor v1255
|
25th March
|
15:00
|
19:00
|
4
|
Challenge Chinese Grand Prix
|
Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai
|
Dry
|
rFactor v1255
|
8th April
|
15:00
|
19:00
|
5
|
Challenge Spanish Grand Prix
|
Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
|
Dry
|
rFactor v1255
|
22nd April
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
6
|
Challenge Monaco Grand Prix
|
Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
|
Dry
|
rFactor v1255
|
6th May
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
7
|
Challenge Canadian Grand Prix
|
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
|
Dry
|
rFactor v1255
|
20th May
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
8
|
Challenge Austrian Grand Prix
|
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
|
Mixed
|
rFactor v1255
|
3rd June
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
9
|
Challenge British Grand Prix
|
Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
|
Dry
|
rFactor v1255
|
17th June
|
13:00
|
19:00
|
10
|
Challenge German Grand Prix
|
Hockenheimring, Hockenheim
|
Dry
|
rFactor v1255
|
1st July
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
11
|
Challenge Hungarian Grand Prix
|
Hungaroring, Budapest
|
TBC
|
rFactor v1255
|
15th July
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
12
|
Challenge Belgian Grand Prix
|
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa
|
TBC
|
rFactor v1255
|
12th August
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
13
|
Challenge Italian Grand Prix
|
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza
|
TBC
|
rFactor v1255
|
26th August
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
14
|
Challenge United States Grand Prix
|
Circuit of the Americas, Austin
|
TBC
|
rFactor v1255
|
9th September
|
13:00
|
19:00
|
15
|
Challenge Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
|
Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
|
TBC
|
rFactor v1255
|
23rd September
|
17:00
|
19:00
|
16
|
Challenge Japanese Grand Prix
|
Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie
|
TBC
|
rFactor v1255
|
7th October
|
15:00
|
19:00
|
17
|
Challenge Brazilian Grand Prix
|
Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo
|
TBC
|
rFactor v1255
|
21st October
|
14:00
|
19:00
|
Testing
The 2014 testing schedule was as follows:
Test
|
Date
|
Venue
|
Preseason Test
|
11th Feb 2014
|
Istanbul Park, Istanbul
|
Calendar changes
- The calender was shortened to 17 rounds - 1 less than the previous season.
- The Korean, Turkish and French Grands Prix were all removed from the calender
- The location of the German Grand Prix changed from the Nurburgring to the Hockenheimring; the first time the German round of Formula Challenge would be held there.
- The location of the United States Grand Prix also changed. Another first in Formula Challenge history, the Circuit of the Americas would be used to host the event.
- The Bahrain and Chinese Grands Prix would make their debut in Formula Challenge during the 2014 season.
Rule changes
Sporting
- Movement up into the Supercup would now be automatic for the winning driver and team of the 2014 season.
- The amount of teams allowed to enter the series was capped for the first time at 20 teams.
Results and standings
Grands Prix
Drivers' standings
|
Key
Colour |
Result
|
Gold |
Winner
|
Silver |
2nd place
|
Bronze |
3rd place
|
Green |
Points finish
|
Blue
|
Non-points finish
|
Non-classified finish (NC)
|
Purple |
Did not finish (Ret)
|
Red
|
Did not qualify (DNQ)
|
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
|
Black |
Disqualified (DSQ)
|
White
|
Did not start (DNS)
|
Race cancelled (C)
|
Light blue
|
Practiced only (PO)
|
Blank
|
Did not participate (-)
|
Excluded (EX)
|
Withdrew entry before the event (WD)
|
Bold - Pole
Italics - Fastest lap
|
† Cars did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.
Teams' standings
† Cars did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.
See also