UK (and world?) FF replacement
The new UK variant of FIA Formula 4 will use Mygale chassis when it replaces British Formula Ford next season under the name MSA Formula.
Mygale has been the main chassis provider for British FFord for several seasons and its carbon-composite monocoque FIA F4 chassis will be used from 2015 as the series adopts the world governing body's blueprint for a universal junior formula.
The Motor Sports Association-backed category, which replaces British FFord on the BTCC support bill will use Hankook tyres instead of continuing with FFord supplier Dunlop.
It means the cars will run on the same compound and construction rubber as the FIA-sanctioned Formula 3 European Championship.
Ford's detuned 160bhp EcoBoost engines, reduced in power by 40bhp to fit FIA F4's power-to-weight ratio, will be prepared and supplied solely by Sodemo and be available on a season's lease for £4800/$7,461.60.
The chassis, which includes a six-speed sequential gearbox, paddleshift steering wheel and data-logging system will cost £30,400/$47,256.80.
the future of open wheel racing
what made FF (drivers, crew, and car builders) so great, and i am speaking of the seventies, is that participants got to progress into F1 and the Indy 500
ain't happening any more
never will
Do NOT kill the messenger .............
I had the opportunity to read a while back a few articles and op-eds regarding the new F4 class ......... One was by Gerhard Berger who was the driving force behind the plan ... Funding for the plan came from the McLaren $100M fine. The consensus was that there too many classes - too many series trying for the same $$$ and the same seats ....... (duh!) Let me be the Champion of the "unknown" series as opposed to 6th in the nationally recognized Championship ..
Side Note - when I raced in Europe you had Karts, then The British FF Championships (there were two series) leading to the FF Festival then the Racing Displays F2000 Championship, British (and Euro) F3, some drivers [Senna, Brundle, etc.] then right to F1, some to F3000 and then F1.
Surveys were done for over 18 months with Euro Karters and they opined they wanted to go from Karts - the consensus was from slicks mounted karts to slicks mounted cars very minor aero and a production based motor. The F4 does that - very small cord wings (for balance) same tires as F3 and a clear "cream-to-the-top" vertical path.
So...... the F4 car which had to meet the current safety standards (hence the carbon tub) by the way while more than a current Mygale or Spectrum - the difference is less given and is especially true since it come with sequential gearbox, data, wings, etc.
So the plan is to have National series of F4 (through out the world) then have a International Europe based series GP4 - then to GP3 with the same tires better wings etc. (and new production based motor) then GP2 and ..............F1.
It would be interesting to see if Anderson goes this way for the F2000 new car to come.............
Is anyone at SCCA listening
If only SCCA would come to this same conclusion instead of adding at least one new Formula Car Class to the mix every year:
. The consensus was that there too many classes - too many series trying for the same $$$ and the same seats ....... (duh!) Let me be the Champion of the "unknown" series as opposed to 6th in the nationally recognized Championship ..