Due to lack of interest. http://www.crash.net/open-wheel/news/887523/1/world-series-formula-v8-35-cancelled-2018
It is indeed a great shame. When they said this in their statement.. "In the recent years no other series nor championship in any continent has been able to match the unbeatable cost/performance ratio of World Series Formula V8 3.5." It was IMO true. The cars were on similar pace to the Formula 2 cars, (Previously known as F3000, then GP2). The F2 name became available when the Max Mosely licensed F2 cars series which were a highly tuned 5 valve per cylinder VW group turbo 2 litre from the Golf/TT car(present in RF2) suffered the same demise. The Formula Renault cars were just as good at unearthing talent. They had DRS. Similar pace. I did my homework on lap times and on costs. The GP2/F2 biggest point was that due to being owned by Bernie and Flavio it ran as a support category to F1 and ran the current F1 tyres. As such it was an essential "finishing school" for the incoming F1 pilots (though Verstappen is a notable exception). The F1 teams sponsored drivers could therefore be at the race weekends (incl as reserves) and aspiring drivers could be there to be noticed. However GP2/F2 was for a similar performance more than double and probably triple the cost for a season. In round numbers say $1m vs $300k. Similar to running an Indycar team. Esteban Ocon is a perfect example of how that system worked. He graduated from Formula Renault 2.0 up through Formula Renault 3.5. Then F3 as champion. Without spending $3m his talent was established. In fact the Megane Cup winner winner got a drive sponsored by the actual series in FR 2.0, that winner got a drive sponsored by the actual series in FR 3.5 Carmen Jorda is also a great example; she was rubbish in FR 3.5 and had no place in F1. Why does this all matter you ask? It is a sad moment because it is one more door closing to people who are not mega rich or already connected to an F1 team. The path to F1 is sadly getting tighter and harder and much more expensive. The once simple path that placed a premium on talent rather than cash (Formula Ford, Formula 3, F1) is now a cash hungry machine. People like Lance Stroll will buy more and more seats. Renault have created an unintended consequence by placing all their motorsport money in F1. Its sucking the lifeblood from one other single seater pathway.
