The seat holder for A1 Grand Prix's Team Australia, Alan Jones, has accepted a position as Patron of the Australian Formula 3 Championship, in the process announcing a major partnership between Formula 3 Australia and A1 Team Australia.

"I am proud to announce that the winner of the Australian Formula 3 Championship in 2005 and beyond will be given an opportunity to test for A1 Team Australia," said the 1980 World Formula 1 Champion. "Should that driver prove capable, he or she will be given a chance to represent Australia in The 2006 World Cup of Motorsport alongside the other Australian drivers."

Jones went on to express his passion for Formula 3 – Australia's only fully International open-wheel category – and vowed to use his position as seat holder for A1 Team Australia to propel young Australian talent onto the world stage.

"Formula 3 is dear to my heart as it was my stepping stone to Formula 1," Jones said. "It is still regarded as the essential path to a career in top level open wheel racing throughout the world and indeed, many of today's F1 drivers got there through their experiences in Formula 3.

"There is a great deal of synergy between my new role as Patron of the Australian Formula 3 Championship and that as seat holder for A1 Team Australia," Jones continued. "From the outset, it was my intention to use A1 Grand Prix as a means of showcasing emerging Australian talent to the world and what better way to do that than selecting the cream of Australia's Formula 3 drivers."

The appointment of Jones to the position of Patron has further significance with next year's CAMS Gold Star – awarded to the Australian Formula 3 Champion – being the 50th anniversary of the award. Alan's father, Stan, was the second recipient of the Gold Star in 1958.

Bronte Rundle, Chairman of Formula 3 Australia, welcomed Jones into the fold.

"The Board of Formula 3 Australia is delighted to welcome Alan Jones as the patron of the Australian Formula 3 Championship," he said. "The partnership between F3 Australia and A1 Team Australia is particularly exciting. Given the fact the drivers anticipated to test for A1 Team Australia's inaugural race seat all began their International careers in Australian Formula 3 proves that our championship is the perfect catalyst for an Australian driver who wants to make an international career out of motor racing."

The seventh round of the Australian Formula 3 Championship will support the A1 Grand Prix of Nations to be held at Eastern Creek International Raceway, November 4-6, 2005.

Jones is expected to announce the A1 Team Australia driver line-up for the inaugural World Cup of Motorsport in early August ahead of a test session at Silverstone August 3-4.