Michael Sauter (born 5 October 2004) is a German - Swiss racing driver of Japanese descent currently racing in the Formula Regional Japanese Championship for Birth Racing Project.
71-536: Coming from a family with a racing background, Sauter started karting at the age of seven and began to compete in the Swiss Championship in 2013. He raced in go-karts until the end of 2020, winning the Vega Trofeo in 2014 and 2016 respectively, missing out on the chance of the 2015 title due to a ski accident. In 2021, after some Formula 4 testing at Anneau du Rhin , Sauter made his car racing debut, competing in
142-500: A Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Three , or F1 Academy for female drivers, and previously the W Series , prior to the series folding. Formula Ford is not a one-make championship. It allows freedom of chassis design, engine build and numerous technical items of specification on the car. This opens the door to many chassis manufacturers, large and small. Many other single-seater formula series impose fixed specifications. Only two other professional single-seater racing formula series in
213-455: A Formula Ford chassis. As the production Ford Cortina engine evolved to a new 1600cc crossflow unit, so did the Formula Ford regulations. Increasing costs forced them to relax the £1,000 price ceiling on Formula Ford as Blueprinting of the engine was now allowed. Belgium hosted the first race outside England, in 1967. Formula Ford racing quickly spread across Europe and North America, with
284-512: A Formula One car for Frank Williams . Emerson Fittipaldi impressed during the 1970 Formula One Grand Prix season after a short stint in Formula Ford. In 1970, he became the first Formula Ford graduate to win a Formula One Grand Prix. In 1972, he became the first Formula Ford graduate to win the Formula One world championship. In the United States, starting with a 1983 debut race and victory at
355-670: A family effort with the Sauter Engineering + Design team, named after his father's company, in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship . In the final race of the second round at Circuit Zandvoort he score his only rookie win of the season. He scored his first point in round three at the Hockenheimring , however a crash in qualifying at the next event at the Sachsenring meant extensive damage to his car, which could only be repaired in time for
426-599: A fully adjustable aerodynamic package which includes front and rear wings previously never used in the British championship. Another change for the 2013 season was Duratec class cars being ineligible for the championship, leaving only the EcoBoost class. The series also moved back to supporting the BTCC . In the 2015 the championship was renamed MSA Formula . In 2016, it was rebranded as F4 British Championship . Several former drivers of
497-495: A mainly amateur, club-racing series attracting serious enthusiasts using the now rejuvenated 1600 Kent engine with which the formula ran from the mid-1960s to mid-1990s, as Ford restarted production of the Kent engine in 2009 for motorsport reasons. Whatever the engine of the Formula Ford car, it has long provided a relatively inexpensive way for drivers to race purpose-built racecars. There are many Formula Ford 1600 series for drivers of
568-479: A race series. They felt if they called it “Formula Ford" they could get backing from Ford itself. Webb was on the phone the next day to Ford competition manager Henry Taylor , who agreed to provide Clarke and MRS with 54 Cortina GT engines at £50 each (£15 below retail). Webb also approached the Royal Automobile Club 's competition director, to establish rules for this new class. Late in 1967, Ford announced
639-506: A realistic attempt at the now-defunct German F4 series championship in excess of € 350,000. To become eligible for FIA Formula 4, the chassis must meet the FIA homologation requirements respecting technical and commercial regulations. Four chassis manufacturers have been approved by the FIA: Tatuus , Mygale , Dome and Ligier . To become an eligible FIA Formula 4 engine, the engine must meet
710-476: A series to be eligible for Super Licence points, a season must be held over at least five events at a minimum of three circuits, according to FIA Appendix L. While titled national series, some series are contested at tracks in multiple countries. F1 Academy is an all-female racing series run by Formula One since 2023. Drivers use slightly modified Tatuus F4-T421 chassis with Autotecnica 1.4 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. The Formula Winter Series
781-418: A single-make category before the regulations were opened up to multiple chassis and engine manufacturers. Each championship uses a single make of engine, with the regulations mandating a 1,600 cc (1.6 L) capacity and capping the maximum power output at 160 bhp (119.3 kW), higher than Formula Ford and lower than Formula Renault . The engines are equalised so that no one Formula 4 championship
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#1733107005214852-404: A standard 1498cc Ford "Kent" pushrod engine as featured in the recently introduced Cortina GT saloon . The 1500 Cortina, with its reliability and horsepower output fairly close to “F3 proper” proved a resounding success in the school. The earliest experiments with radial tires bore fruit as well: the students of the day did not care that these were not the racing engines or racing tires, just that
923-464: A tendency to self-destruct. All these factors contributed to a steep maintenance and upkeep cost of the schools. In 1963, Geoff Clarke; the owner of Motor Racing Stables, moved his racing school to the Brands Hatch circuit. This brought him in contact with John Webb; managing director of developments at Brands Hatch. At about this time, two of the school's Lotus Formula Junior chassis were fitted with
994-561: Is a racing series regulated according to FIA Formula 4 regulations, based in Spain. The series is organised by Gedlich Racing with the approval of the RFEDA. Formula Academy Finland is a racing series based in Finland. Its first season was 2018 . Formula Academy Finland uses same Tatuus-Abarth FIA Formula 4 car as ADAC Formula 4, Italian Formula 4 Championship and several other series. The series, however,
1065-582: Is also a popular choice in the US and Canada. The class provides a venue for Formula Ford 2000 as well as the earlier Formula C (1100 cc pure racing engine) and Formula Super Vee (production-based VW engines) cars. Formula Continental cars employ aerodynamic effects (front and rear wings). In the United States, used Formula Ford racing chassis are also proving to be a popular source of conversion into Formula 1000 cars and their closely related sports car bodied cousins D Sport Racing . Ford Motorsport administers some of
1136-595: Is an open-wheel racing car category intended for junior drivers. There is no global championship, but rather individual nations or regions can host their own championships in compliance with a universal set of rules and specifications. The category was created in March 2013 by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)—the International sanctioning and administrative body for motorsport—after approval by
1207-596: Is an F4 series for 14 and 15-year old drivers transitioning from karts. It is organised by Andersen Promotions, the promoter of the USF Pro Championships USF2000 and Pro 2000, with sanctioning from the United States Auto Club . The series began in 2022 with the Ligier JS4 currently used by United States Formula 4 with the homologated Honda engine provided by their series' spec engine builder (which
1278-788: Is different from the US F4 championship, where the engines come from Honda itself). It then switched to the Tatuus USF-22 , a variant of the Tatuus F4 chassis with the Mazda MZR engine starting in 2023. The series does not use the Sports Car Club of America series' Hankook tyres. Originally aligned with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company 's Cooper Tires imprint in 2022 and 2023, the USAC series will have tyres provided by Continental AG starting in 2024. This series
1349-406: Is faster than the others, with the long-term intention being to bring the cost down to under €100,000 per year to compete. In practice, costs for competitors considerably exceed this goal; the cost of participating in the 2022 French Formula 4 series (including all equipment) was € 118,000, excluding tax. Costs in other F4 championships can be considerably higher, with one estimate of the costs of
1420-562: Is ineligible for the Super License points. Organised by Campeonato Nacional de Carreras Federado, the series uses the Tatuus FA010 chassis from Formula Abarth , one of the predecessors of the Formula 4 car. The ADAC Formula 4 Championship was held from 2015 to 2022. On 3 December 2022, ADAC announced that ADAC Formula 4 would not be organized for the 2023 season, with the focus on placing
1491-532: Is no overarching point score to declare a series champion. The Australian Formula Ford Series is an Australian motor racing competition for Formula Ford racing cars. It has been held annually since 1970, originally as a national series and from 1993 to 2013 as the Australian Formula Ford Championship. The control engine was changed from the first-generation Kent engine to the third-generation Mazda-sourced Ford Duratec engine in 2006. In 2014
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#17331070052141562-492: Is not approved by the FIA. There are plans to apply for Finnish Championship status for 2019 season. The series is organized by Koiranen GP . More recently as of 2020, the series has run alongside older F3 chassis as a part of the Finnish Championship Series' category Formula Open Finland. The Ligier JS4 Series is the developmental series for the Formula 4 United States Championship starting in 2024, utilising
1633-585: Is not part of the FIA ladder, but instead the USF Pro Championships ladder. This includes media training and the winner earning a fully funded drive in the next season's USF2000 championship, which all winners of lower series receives. The winner of the USF Pro 2000 championship will receive a fully funded Indy NXT drive. Organized by MSV in the collaboration with British Racing Drivers' Club . The GB4 Championship races alongside GB3 Championship during
1704-453: Is the current incarnation of a pan-European championship for Formula Ford competitors, last held previously in 2001. The 2011 series was aimed at giving drivers experience at European race circuits. Three national Formula Ford championships are involved in the revived championship, these being the British , Benelux and Scandinavian championships. While individual events nominate a winner, there
1775-644: Is unlimited. Currently seven engines are homologated for use in the FIA Formula 4. Formula 4 is the first step out of karting on the FIA Global Pathway, and by design has the least performance of any of the cars in it. Compared to road-legal supercars , Formula 4 cars are less accelerative and have a much lower top speed of approximately 240 km/h; most modern supercars are capable of in excess of 300 km/h. The F4 cars have far superior braking and cornering capabilities, particularly in high-speed corners where
1846-470: The British GT Championship events and acts as its feeder series and requires lower financial contribution than F4 British Championship certified by FIA. It uses Tatuus F4 T-014 chassis, Abarth 414TF 1.4L engine and Pirelli tires. Despite using the same package as the most continental European Formula 4 championships prior 2022, only one national F4 series can be recognized by FIA , thus it
1917-652: The TCR Touring Car lap record. A Formula 4 race forms part of the FIA Motorsport Games , a biennial event featuring a variety of motorsport disciplines including karting, drifting, rallying, and esports as well as circuit racing . These championships are held to Formula 4 regulations and approved by the FIA as the national Formula 4 series. Drivers participating in these series can receive FIA Super Licence points, which are required to drive in Formula One . For
1988-661: The World Motor Sport Council as an entry-level category for young drivers, bridging the gap between karting and Formula 3 . The series is a part of the FIA Global Pathway . Former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger was appointed as the FIA Single-Seater Commission president to oversee the creation of the category as a response to declining interest in national Formula 3 championships due to rising costs and alternate pathways to Formula One such as
2059-410: The 1970s to use a Pinto engine and, although it used basically Formula Ford chassis, permitted use of slicks and wings; it was seen as a natural step up from the 1600cc formula and a stepping stone to categories such as Formula Three . Formula Ford 2000 engines and transmissions were married to sports-racing chassis to produce Sports 2000 . Older Formula Fords, with outboard shock absorbers, race in
2130-533: The 1983 SCCA Runoffs the Swift DB-1 became the dominant chassis in North America Formula Ford racing with ten championships between 1983 and 1996. The DB-6 evolution of the chassis won an additional six championships through 2008. During this time Formula Ford was on the decline in the US for several reasons. The rising cost of competition, SCCA's introduction of a spec sports racer, Sports Renault, and
2201-666: The 2010 season. It is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club , and is a part of Road to Indy . The F1600 Championship Series was created by the SCCA in 2011. The series is organized by Formula Race Promotions, the same organization which organizes the F2000 Championship Series . The class operates under the same rules as the SCCA Formula F, with both the Ford Kent and Honda L15A7 engines permitted. Therefore, many drivers from
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2272-860: The Alexis car and a deal was struck to jointly produce the Russell-Alexis. This car had a Hewland racing gearbox which made the car more expensive (£999), but was more reliable and allowed interchangeable ratios. The first standalone Formula Ford race took place at Brands Hatch on July 2, 1967. Of the 20 cars that competed, 10 were MRS Lotus 51s, including the eventual winner, Ray Allen. The Russell-Alexis car won its debut race in August 1967, and by 1968 54 Russell-Alexis had been sold. Based on this success Russell opened two more racing schools in Britain, another in Canada, and another in
2343-632: The Australian-built Spectrum , but smaller manufacturers such as Ray Race Cars and Vector have had some success. Historical designers who have made a mark on the series have included: Titan, Lotus , Merlyn, Hawke, Citation, Swift , Euroswift, Elden , Reynard , Crosslé , Lola , Zink, Bowin , Royale, and Cooper Racing . Top speeds in the National Class are easily as high as in the other junior formulae of BMW and Renault , but cornering speeds tend to be lower as Formula Ford cars lack
2414-878: The Brazilian-based Formula Future Fiat. Japan Formula 4 is a formula racing series in Japan. The series was founded in 1993 by the Japan Automobile Federation as a class between the FJ1600 series and the All-Japan Formula Three Championship . Japanese Formula 4 is an open formula, where competitors can choose the chassis and engine manufacturers. This is based on a non-FIA formulae, instead using 750cc motorcycle engines as power plants. Chassis are typically locally produced such as Xpit and Gamma and cars are fueled by methanol. Popular in
2485-525: The British championship have become successful in Formula One, including Eddie Irvine and Anthony Davidson , while Formula Ford champions Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button also went on to win the Formula One Drivers' Championship . For many years the highlight of the Formula Ford season was the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch , England. Entries of several hundred cars from all over
2556-797: The CASC Ontario region at a club level only since 1974. Although it's an FIA zone championship, the single-seater races in the FIA CEZ Championship have a division for Formula 4 cars, but they are not part of the FIA ladder. The races are co-organized with the Austrian, Czech and Hungarian national championships, as well as the Italian Topjet F2000 Trophy and Austrian Drexler AFR Pokale , the latter allowing cars of similar performance to FIA cars in its F4 division, such as Formula BMW , Czech F1400 and ADAC Formel Masters . The USF Juniors
2627-505: The Formula Ford world were common into the 1990s, with racers competing in knockout heats to decide the grid for a grand final. Entries later declined, and later festivals struggled to attract more than 40-50 cars, enough for two heats and a final. More "historic" FF1600 cars had been turning up for the supporting races than contemporary Zetecs, however in 2006 the Festival saw the Duratec engine for
2698-591: The G Force Driver Development Program in 2024, he returned to the Formula Regional Japanese Championship , driving for Birth Racing Project. * Season still in progress. ( key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) ( key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) ( key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Formula 4 FIA Formula 4 , also called FIA F4 ,
2769-549: The German junior drivers in the French F4 Championship instead. The main reason for the decision was the low number of participating drivers due to the high costs compared to other Formula 4 championships. The F4 Argentina Championship was held in 2021. The SMP F4 Championship was held from 2016 to 2019 before losing its FIA certification. The BRDC Formula 4 Championship was an entry-level motorsport series based in
2840-581: The United Kingdom which began in 2013. Run by the British Racing Drivers' Club and MotorSport Vision , the series used identical cars built by Ralph Firman Racing and engines from Ford , before switching to FIA Formula 4 regulations in 2015, using the Tatuus F4–T014 chassis. Although run to the FIA's regulations, it was not recognised by the FIA as an official Formula 4 championship. In 2016,
2911-584: The United States as Club Formula Fords in SCCA and other club racing series. Formula F100 was an unsuccessful attempt in the late 1960s to create a sportscar category related to Formula Ford but using a 1300 cc Ford engine; the cars were heavy and slow. The proposed Formula Turbo Ford , an attempt to update FF2000, of the mid-1980s was limited to one Reynard that ran a few demonstration laps. Formula Ford remains popular in its 1600 cc form—the cars are widely raced , sprinted and hillclimbed. Formula Continental
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2982-507: The United States. Chapman and his Lotus 51 did recover, replacing the troublesome Renault gearbox with the Hewland unit, even claiming Russell as a customer in 1968. Also in 1968, Meryln debuted as a Formula Ford constructor, dominating sales for that year. Other new manufactures included Crosslé Car Company , Dulon, Elden Racing Cars , Hawke Racing Cars and Royale Racing Cars, together with existing constructors such as Brabham choosing to build
3053-536: The aerodynamic downforce of the Formula 4 cars has the most effect. According to official information from the F1 Academy , the Tatuus race car (virtually identical to the one used in some F4 series) has a peak lateral cornering acceleration of about 2.0g, far in excess of a typical (non-sporting) road car which peaks at less than 1g, but considerably less than Formula 3 cars (which peak around 2.5g). To give some idea of
3124-425: The car is its compliance with Formula Three safety standards, which involves mandatory crash structures, side-impact panels running the full height and length of the cockpit, an FIA -specified headrest and an extricable safety seat. In addition to the safety enhancements, some mandatory elements of bodywork shape have also been introduced. These will define the shape, size and orientation of the sidepod air intakes and
3195-518: The cars were equal. At an informal meeting at the December 1966 racing car show day at Olympia, Webb and Clarke were discussing the possibility of building a fleet of identical open wheel race cars based on the success of combining the Ford power plant and road wheels, radial tires, and Formula Junior style chassis. Not only would they make ideal school cars, but would also provide a new entry level formula for
3266-462: The championship was downgraded to a national series with Duratec-engined cars and Kent-engined cars both eligible to compete alongside each other. Currently, the winner wins a ticket to a scouting combine for INDYCAR at the end of the calendar year. The USF2000 Championship is an American racing series using the American variation of the Formula Ford formula, Formula Ford 2000, that resumed operation for
3337-535: The dominance of the Swift chassis helped to collapse the class in the US. Currently, Formula Ford racing exists in two main forms in Europe: National Series for aspiring 'career' drivers run around the world which have used the 1600 Duratec engine , (which replaced the heavier but not significantly more powerful Zetec engine in 2006), and for 2012 are beginning to adopt the new EcoBoost 1600 turbo engine; and
3408-677: The downforce-producing aerodynamic aids on the other cars; handling is therefore entirely down to mechanical grip, and the lack of wings ensures that cars following another are not aerodynamically disadvantaged, allowing some of the closest racing with plenty of overtaking. Series' rules may permit slick or treaded tires, generally supplied either by Dunlop or Avon . As the rules limit engine modifications, all cars are relatively equal and racing results tend to be close. Formula Fords allow suspension, damping, gearing and braking bias changes, but not aerodynamic options such as winged cars. In 2012, new specifications and regulations were introduced, allowing
3479-408: The final round at the newly opened Balaton Park Circuit . He also finished third overall in the championship. In 2023 Sauter also competed in two rounds of the Formula Regional Japanese Championship with Sutekina Racing Team and Bionic Jack Racing. In the final round at Sportsland Sugo , where he competed with Bionic Jack Racing, he even took his first victory in the championship. After he joined
3550-456: The first official Formula Ford race in the United States on March 23, 1969, and was included in the SCCA Runoffs that same year. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, Formula Ford had established itself as a direct path to a seat on a Formula One car, the highest level in open wheel motorsport. Australian Tim Schenken won over two dozen Formula Ford races in 1968, two years later he was driving
3621-401: The first time thereby having a final for all three marques at one meeting for the first time. The Walter Hayes Trophy now recognises the continuing interest in 1600cc 'Kent' Formula Ford and attracted over 150 entries in 2006, including several drivers who more commonly compete in much more senior formulae. The Formula Ford EuroCup, known originally as the "European Formula Ford Championship",
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#17331070052143692-448: The first-generation Ligier JS4 chassis that has been rendered obsolete after the 2023 season. The series champion will win a Formula 4 United States Championship ride for the ensuing season. The Fórmula Academy Sudamericana (Portuguese: Fórmula Academy Sul-Americana), previously known as Fórmula 4 Sudamericana, was a Formula 4 racing class that debuted in 2014. The class uses the same Signatech chassis and Fiat engines used previously in
3763-545: The gap between F4 and F1 performance levels, the fastest qualifying lap for a 2023 F4 round at the Silverstone GP circuit was 2:01.651; the pole lap in the 2023 British Grand Prix in an F1 car was 1:26.720. However, F4 cars still lap considerably faster than most production-derived racing categories. The F4 pole time is about 2 seconds faster than the Porsche Carrera Cup lap record and about 10 seconds faster than
3834-409: The homologation requirements. According to the homologation requirements a FIA Formula 4 engine must last at least 10,000 km and have a maximum purchase price of €14000. According to the FIA Formula 4 technical regulations only four cylinder engines are allowed. Both normally aspirated and turbocharged engines are permitted, with an absolute maximum power output of 140kW. The engine displacement
3905-553: The hope of learning the craft and also looking the part. However, although there was no shortage of aspiring drivers, these schools had much trouble avoiding bankruptcy. The 1-litre Formula Three engines, the 1.1-litre Coventry Climax FJ and later the "Kent" engine from the Ford Anglia 105E , cost around £3,000 at the time in addition to the Dunlop racing tires which cost £80 a set. Furthermore, these engines were incredibly fragile and had
3976-473: The local club racing scene make their appearance in the national series. The Southern Formula 1600 Championship was created by Right Turn Promotions and Primus Racing Parts for 2018. The series races on SCCA event weekends, alongside the Southern Formula 2000 Championship. The class operates under the same rules as the SCCA Formula F. Racing at traditional road race tracks in the southern United States,
4047-496: The main entry level class in the mid-2000s; the demise of Formula BMW in Europe after only a few years of operation caused somewhat of a resurgence in support for the Ford grids. In the UK there are many club-level regional series aimed at the amateur enthusiast, as well as championships for older Fords. Since 2009, Ford officials in the United States has begun active production of Kent engines in
4118-431: The national Formula Ford championships around the world, and continue to control the technical regulations for all cars globally. The older Kent-engined cars are very popular with club racers, providing the ground for several organizations to run their own series. Many racing schools offer driver training in Formula Ford cars. However, in many countries, Formula BMW and Formula Renault Campus had superseded Formula Ford as
4189-511: The new Formula Ford class to the world. Clarke then set about approaching existing race car constructors to build the first Formula Fords. Both Bruce McLaren and Jack Brabham turned down the idea; Colin Chapman however dusted off the obsolete Lotus 31 Chassis and reinvented it as the Lotus 51 . He agreed to provide the first of two 25 car batches at £850 per car. The only stipulation Chapman had
4260-479: The older Kent-powered cars. A Formula Ford car is one of the more distinctive-looking open-wheel race cars because it does not have wings to create aerodynamic downforce. In order to reduce cost and allow smaller manufacturers to produce their own design of chassis without prohibitive tooling costs, chassis are steel space frame , unlike the monocoques found in other types of single-seater racing. The more popular marques as of 2012 were Van Diemen , Mygale and
4331-409: The roll-hoop cover. By mandating these the frontal areas will be equalised between different manufacturers, removing the potential for significant aerodynamic advantage, making driving ability and the skills of engineers and designers in car set-up the major factors. In the United States Formula Ford continues to use the earlier Ford Kent engines. For 2010 the Honda L15A7 engine used in the Honda Fit
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#17331070052144402-409: The same rules and regulations, with minor variations for local conditions. The British series is the main Formula Ford championship in the world . Created in 1976, the championship has run to all four generations of regulations and specifications. In 2013, the series adopted the Formula Ford EcoBoost 200 specification, which include an increase in the EcoBoost engine's power, along with the addition of
4473-448: The second race with the help of other teams' mechanics. In the final race of the event he went on to take his best finish of the season in fifth. Saute became vice-champion in the rookie classification. In 2022 he remained in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship . He finished the championship in thirteenth overall. In 2023 he moved to the Formula 4 CEZ Championship after the ADAC Formula 4 had folded. He took his first and only race win in
4544-424: The series attracts drivers from across all forms of club and pro racing. The SCCA National Championship Runoffs is the end-of-year championship race meeting for Sports Car Club of America Club Racing competitors. Divisional champions and other top drivers from the SCCA's 116 regions are invited to participate at the Runoffs. National championships are awarded to the winners of each class. Formula Ford (now Formula F)
4615-634: The series was upgraded and renamed the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship . Formula Ford Formula Ford , also known as F1600 and Formula F , is an entry-level class of single-seater , open-wheel formula racing . The various championships held across the world form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. Formula Ford has traditionally been regarded as the first major stepping stone into formula racing after karting . The series typically sees career-minded drivers enter alongside amateurs and enthusiasts. Success in Formula Ford can lead directly to other junior formula series such as
4686-437: The then Formula Renault and GP2 and GP3 Series , which had seen several national Formula 3 championships discontinued. In the place of the expensive categories, a number of separate categories running under the Formula 4 name had been created, for example the British based the former BRDC Formula 4 . There was no commonality between the cars from country to country. Initially, these Formula 4 championships started in 2014 as
4757-490: The use of the new Ford EcoBoost engine along with improvements in chassis design. Unlike its predecessors, that used naturally aspirated engines and manual gearboxes, the EcoBoost car utilises power from a turbocharged engine and a sequential gearbox . The new car has 121 kW (165 PS; 162 hp), with identical engine calibration for every competitor's car. The chassis remains a steel spaceframe construction, with free chassis design open to all manufacturers. New to
4828-404: The wake of the United States rules allowing Honda engines. Ford officials have noted the US-made Kent blocks are based on modern stamping, and shows how well-established the formula has become. Championships for Formula Fords are run in many countries around the world. The major series is the British Formula Ford Championship , however there are many other thriving series. Each run to essentially
4899-428: The world offer the same freedom of chassis and engine build: Formula Three and Formula One . The origins of Formula Ford began in the early 1960s, where motor racing schools such as the Jim Russell school and Motor Racing Stables featured single-seat Formula Junior and Formula Three -like machines from world-class constructors like Cooper and Lotus . Many aspiring Formula One stars looked to these schools in
4970-452: Was introduced as an alternative engine. The Honda engine was developed in partnership with Quicksilver RacEngines with the intent of providing power similar to the existing Kent motor. Honda developed an install kit around the Swift DB-1 chassis. With the introduction of the Honda motor SCCA changed the class name from Formula Ford to Formula F. Formula Ford has given birth to several other categories of racing: Formula Ford 2000 evolved in
5041-448: Was that a Renault gearbox was used. This proved to be fundamental weak point in the drive train. Difficulty with the Renault transmission resulted in a failure to continue with the second batch of cars for MRS. Russell approached Chapman to supply Formula Ford cars for his own school. Chapman insisted Russell match Clarke's 50 car order; Russell would only commit to 10 cars so the deal fell through. Russell then approached Taylor who built
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