A late change in the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series calendar will see the championship heading for Germany rather than France this summer, when the series will join with the F3 Euro Series teams at the Norisring instead of visiting the Paul Ricard circuit.

The switch is to add support to the FIA, whose introduction of the European Formula 3 Championship in 2012 has been welcomed by participants. A round of the new series is scheduled to take place at the Nuremberg street track over the weekend of 29 June/1 July.

The addition of the Norisring races will mean the British Formula 3 and European Formula 3 Championships will coincide on three occasions this season, with May's Grand Prix de Pau and July's Spa-Francorchamps rounds already on the schedule.

Lisa Crampton, general manager of British Formula 3 promoter SRO, said: "This change of date has been agreed after discussions between ourselves, the British and Euro Series teams and the FIA, and it has been agreed that it is a mutually beneficial arrangement. We are pleased to be able to assist the new European series in this way."

Added Peter Briggs, of teams organisation FOTA: "The Norisring event is a fantastic spectacle and it will be great to be a part of it. The British teams are fully behind it."

Because the Norisring event is a round of the F3 Euro Series, the British Formula 3 cars will run to the host championship's technical and sporting rules.

2012 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series Remaining provisional dates

Date,  Circuit;  Event11-13 May,  Pau, France;  Grand Prix de Pau 09/10 Jun,  Rockingham;  British F3 & GT23/24 Jun,  Brands Hatch GP;  British F3 & GT29 Jun-01 Jul,  Norisring, Germany;  European F326-28 Jul,  Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium;  Blancpain Endurance Series04/05 Aug,  Snetterton 300;  British F3 & GT08/09 Sep,  Silverstone GP;  British F3 & GT 29/30 Sep,  Donington Park GP;  British F3 & GT