CAMS has confirmed a seven-round schedule for the third season of the Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship next year.

The calendar will predominantly run on the undercard to the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship and run on two Shannons Nationals weekends.

The season will begin with a double round at Sandown with Shannons Nationals from April 7-9 before a visit to Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway from May 5-7.

Formula 4 returns to the east coast for the Shannons round at Phillip Island at the end of May ahead of visits to Queensland Raceway, Sydney Motorsport Park and Surfers Paradise.

“The 2017 calendar is a great opportunity for Australian Formula 4 drivers to enjoy ample track time to develop their race craft and display their talents in front of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship and Shannons Nationals paddocks,” Michael Smith, CAMS General Manager of Motor Sport, said.

“The opening round at Sandown will see Round One and Two take place over one weekend. This maximises track time for our drivers to learn and develop, but also helps us expand the calendar without increasing cost to competitors.”

The 20 FIA Formula 4 cars were purchased by CAMS and then leased to entrants initially in 2015 although grid numbers have been almost half of that number.

The lease model will remain in 2017, however as previously reported competitors now have the option to purchase a car outright.

An Australian Formula 4 car will only be permitted for use within the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship.

“We are constantly looking at ways to make Australian Formula 4 an affordable championship for people to compete in. This alternative model is just one way of doing that,” Smith said.

The number of test days will also increase, with a maximum of six pre-season and six in-season test days available.

Teams will nominate a sole CAMS permitted track for the pre-season test.

In 2016 only six test days and two additional rookie days were available.

Meanwhile up to eight drivers will also qualify for the CAMS Driver Development Scholarship Loans which are valued at $38,500.

Entrants who opt to lease a car and have it prepared by a team can expect running costs at approximately $165,000, with a Scholarship Loan reducing this cost to approximately $126,000.

Four drivers will soon be announced as part of the recently relaunched CAMS Foundation Rising Star program.

Two rookies and elite drivers will be selected and granted scholarships valued at $50,000 to compete in the 2017 CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship.

2017 Australian Formula 4 calendar

Round 1 & 2: Sandown Raceway, VIC (Shannons Nationals) 7–9 April

Round 3: Barbagallo Raceway, WA (Supercars) 5–7 May

Round 4: Phillip Island, VIC (Shannons Nationals) 26–28 May

Round 5: Queensland Raceway, QLD (Supercars) 28–30 July

Round 6: Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW (Supercars) 18–20 August

Round 7: Gold Coast, QLD (Supercars) 20–22 October