SCCA Pro announces new class. formula Lites

[martinreinhardt]

Looks like a great car, but I agree why not just bring the Dallara F3 or Formula Renault 2.0 back to the US.

[GAR] Your Formula Renault 2.0 and F3 information is from the early 1990's :-) The FR2.0 is the most popular Formula car ever built, more than F3 cars.
Also see: http://tatuus.it

Interesting McCormack from formulalites.com was involved with the LATAM 2000 Series, which are the Formula Renault 2.0 which used to run in the USA as Formula TR and FranAM. They swapped the Renault F4R F3 Engine with a VW F3 Spiess and updated to the 2007 style bodywork and custom rear wing.

[shifter997]

I had a real F3 authority in UK look at this car. Although he could not verify it as he was not at the press presentation but... He says this is 2005 Lola B05 equipped with Honda 2 litre turbo Civic engine could be coming out in 2015 January. Chassis is left over Jim Russel racing tubs built by Lola, were sent out to Sonoma, Cal. They have about 30 of these Carbon tubs sitting around. I really don't think Crawford has a capability to mass produce these tubs and let alone do the crash test to FIA F3 level. It economically makes sense to import from UK or Italy where they have spare tubs readily available. Well, anyone who is pretty close to Sonoma raceway should check out their Lola F3 Mitsubishi turbo engined cars there. Only visually significant difference from the pictures are the front wing, which is very similar to Formula Renault in Europe. I am puzzled as to why SCCA wants to reinvent the wheel to call it Formula Lite where F3 or FR's are turn key vehicles already, which will confuse more racers. The price of cars should be waaay lower than what everyone is talking about (120K) since tubs are old and suspension system are already existing.

[John LaRue]

The car at the press release was not a Crawford piece. They do have the capabilities to produce such a tub at their Denver facilities. The car has turned laps at Kershaw.

[BURKY]

X

[shifter997]

The car at the press release was not a Crawford piece. They do have the capabilities to produce such a tub at their Denver facilities. The car has turned laps at Kershaw.

John, would you know the time schedule when tubs are submitted for the FIA F3 crash test?

[John LaRue]

No idea...did they indicate that it was going to be tested? I would have to give this further consideration, but unless they try to run the car in Club it probably doesn't need to be certified.

[shifter997]

You are correct. Unless it's not submitted for FIA crash test it will not be certified as FIA F3 tubs. I just thought that was intent of Crawford. We have 30 blank FIA F3 carbon tubs hanging around in Jim Russel racing, SCCA might as well use those to make cars out of them. But they need to offer at much discounted price rather than 121G. Crazy. Crawford can fab some carbon tub if we ran out of Lola tubs. Anyway, someone is trying to do something but I am not sure if the concept is right. Like everyone is saying it could be a repeat of some series unless some big money is available to pick over.

[marshall9]

I still remember Fran Am

[Chris Livengood]

Considering that a few of the front runners in F2000CS have at least 100k in their cars this might not be such a bad deal.

[provamo]

what is this???

http://autoweek.com/article/other-mo...=awracingdaily

[kea]

Expensive I'm guessing.

[RussMcB]

Isn't that the Crawford that debuted at MSeXpo in Charlotte?

If yes, they've switched from VW to Honda.

[racerdad2]

Quote from article. "This car represents the very latest technology & engineering for a price makes it not only easier to purchase but maintain & race, as well. "

Hopefully, they sell a boat load. Then, in twenty years, I may be able to buy one.

[TimW]

There is a void in us jr formula open wheel racing? Seems to me there are too many options diluting a small user base creating marginal series with only a few exceptions. Having worked for the Arciero's, my guess it will be stillborn.

[Matt King]

I think this was discussed:

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/show...=formula+lites

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/show...=formula+lites

[R. Pare]

There is a void in us jr formula open wheel racing?

No, just a void in his pocket since the wine isn't selling very well.

Having worked for the Arciero's, my guess it will be stillborn.

Shhhh! Not supposed to say that sort of stuff about the perennial backmarkers!

[provamo]

you guys are not bashing Randy Lanier's former car owners are you?

[rickb99]

I still remember Fran Am

I do too.

An Apexspeed member was very, very active in Fran Am fielding 3 or 4 cars in the series. He was also a very active SCCA racer in FC, F500 and DSR. Bob Gelles if any body recalls. He sorta vanished from the Forum when Fran Am went down the tubes and he sold off his inventory of stuff.

[Dennis Valet]

Has a schedule been set and have any cars actually been sold yet? They sure are doing a good job spinning this as "low cost" but it certainly appears too good to be true.

[DB4 Tim]

Why do you say that.

This car has same horsepower as pro mazda and blows that car out of the water when it comes to torque, sadly the rotary makes basically 0 torque. Plus this car weighs

Formula Renault 2.0 has much less downforce and much less power with it only having about 130-150HP.

For actual F3 cars to be brought in it would be about the same price range to bring foreign and not American cars. I do not know how the engine would or would not fit in a F3 car as well. F3 cars also only have about 195HP. But F3 cars are the same in the aero department since both have tunnels on them. So F3 cars have less horsepower and same aero.

The car will be at VIR this Friday for Grassroot Motorsports Magazine Ultimate Track Car Challenge so it will be much easier for people to compare the times to known cars such as Pro Mazda, Atlantic, etc. But also keep in mind it will be the first real day the car is on track. The kershaw test was literally just a shake down/system check test.

I do not have an affiliation with the series at the moment, but have looked into it pretty deeply and spoke with series owners a good bit which is how I know the information that I do.

Fun Fact about the series: With the way they arranging everything in terms of tire rules, tire cost, entry fee cost etc operating cost to run are going to be +/- a few dollars to run in F2000 Championship Series or F1600 Championship Series

[Jnovak]

More is better???

[glenn cooper]

I do too.

An Apexspeed member was very, very active in Fran Am fielding 3 or 4 cars in the series. He was also a very active SCCA racer in FC, F500 and DSR. Bob Gelles if any body recalls. He sorta vanished from the Forum when Fran Am went down the tubes and he sold off his inventory of stuff.

Man, that fella was a scosh out there.

"Priests For Life"!

Yeah, I know...

[Tigaman]

The car will be at VIR this Friday for Grassroot Motorsports Magazine Ultimate Track Car Challenge so it will be much easier for people to compare the times to known cars such as Pro Mazda, Atlantic, etc.

I never saw or heard of any representative times set at VIR at this event. Demonstration laps only?

[marshall9]

Man, that girl unveiling the car has a really nice...........set of finger nails.

[JerryH]

I do too.

An Apexspeed member was very, very active in Fran Am fielding 3 or 4 cars in the series. He was also a very active SCCA racer in FC, F500 and DSR. Bob Gelles if any body recalls. He sorta vanished from the Forum when Fran Am went down the tubes and he sold off his inventory of stuff.

It has been a while.....so correct me if i am mistaken.....but I believe Bob Gelles sold all his stuff due to a terminal illness. I bought some of his stuff.

Jerry

[Swift17]

Man, that girl unveiling the car has a really nice...........set of finger nails.

http://autoweek.com/article/other-mo...=awracingdaily


Interestingly, when I saw the picture I thought, boy I would have lik'ed to checkout the rear end and then calmly realized, that I actually had ..........

proceed

[provamo]

how do you know its a girl?

[Jnovak]

how do you know its a girl?

High heels?

[glenn cooper]

... because the launch did not take place in Thailand?

[racerdad2]

I can't believe the self-restraint I'm experiencing right now.... ;

[stonebridge20]

Man, that girl unveiling the car has a really nice...........set of finger nails.

There was a racecar in the picture ?

[racerdad2]

Oooh ! It's about cars ? I thought the Formula Lites was about the ladies.... I've always been more of Marilyn Monroe - Rachel Welch kinda guy

[Steve Bamford]

Has a schedule been set and have any cars actually been sold yet? They sure are doing a good job spinning this as "low cost" but it certainly appears too good to be true.

http://www.formulalites.com/2015-pre...race-schedule/

[RSS]

Spec lites is really going to fill that big gap between FA and FB.

[Jnovak]

Spec lites is really going to fill that big gap between FA and FB.

Not much gap to fill.

[Steve Bamford]

Not much gap to fill.

That was the point.

[EACIII]

Wow, a 2 an half race schedule. I am going to run right out and buy one of those.

Ed

[racerdad2]

Our Sport needs a benevolent dictator Seriously. Someone is always coming up with just one more Formula Car to dilute the classes that don't fit in anywhere after they flame out.

Some how FV, FF, FC, FM, FE, FB, FA is just not enough....

I do understand the desire for a new carbon fiber, flappy paddle, whizzy bits car.... just didn't realize there was such a pent up demand for one more Open Wheel Pro Series. ..

Then, again, IF they can truly deliver on their marketing promises, it could become so very popular that it overshadows all the other classes and we all end up racing them because there are so many of them flooding the market. ... ( classic pipe dream )

[JByers]

Does anyone know what Dane's lap times were at VIR?

Putting it all in perspective - Jon Lewis was showing interest on the Facebook page.

This is an attractive car but it will be a tough one to market - minimal races - small fields - no TV package - no history/development - no ladder - prize money ???.

If it was somehow tied into European F3 it might make more sense to me, otherwise if you want to make a name for yourself just do the Rand series.

[rickb99]

Man, that fella was a scosh out there.

"Priests For Life"! Yeah, I know...

Yes that's him Glenn. But a SUPER nice guy as that. He had 2 or 3 53 foot haulers in this Fran Am program.

He was also called upon to give Danica Patrick a test drive in Fran Am back in the day when she was looking for a new home. BUT Bobby Rahal thought is should be FREE and Bob didn't agree. So I guess she went looking for an Indy ride.