Australian Formula 3 Management has announced its 2012 calendar.

The class, which races for the Australian Driver’s Championship, will contest a seven round championship, with four of its events supporting V8 Supercars Championship rounds, plus two Shannons Nationals rounds.

The major attraction, though, will be the category’s inaugural meeting at the famous Mount Panorama circuit over the Easter weekend.

Category administrator Ian Richards says that the 2012 calendar is the best that the category has ever produced.

“Our 2012 Calendar is perhaps the strongest ever assembled for Australian Formula 3 and certainly the largest presence on the V8 Supercar program the category has ever had, by far,” Richards said.

“We acknowledge and thank the support of Shane Howard, Damien White and Martin Whitaker and the V8 Supercar Events team who can look beyond the limited numbers of this season and see the potential for growth and the expansion of an already exciting product.

“It is a great vote of confidence in Formula 3 and shows the category is developing, evolving and moving forward at great pace.

“We are very pleased to continue our five-year relationship with the Shannons Nationals. We have been there since day one and continue to support the concept and its growing nature – we look forward to racing with the likes of high profile categories like Formula Ford, Touring Car Masters and GT Championship who will be joining, or re-joining, the Shannons Nationals next year.”

Steel Guiliana, who won this year’s Forpark Scholarship in the class this year, says that the 2012 calendar will make his team’s off track sponsorship hunt an easier proposition.

“Winning the Forpark Australia F3 Scholarship was a great boost for our 2012 plans, but the news of Formula 3’s 2012 calendar is almost as big a boost for me as a driver and for the category,” Steel Guiliana said.

“It’s already been good value for us, but this makes it even better.

“It is great that V8 Supercars have shown faith in the Formula 3 product and that the championship will race on four really good V8 Events next year. It’s a boost for me personally, because it’s easier to gain sponsorship when you are racing in front of the big crowds.”

To add to the new calendar, F3 teams will be eligible to compete in newer model chassis next year. CLICK HERE for Speedcafe.com’s past story.

See below for the 2012 Formula 3 Australian Drivers’ Championship calendar