chassis-wars-for-inaugural-f1600-season
Sharon, CT- Count em – not two, four, six, or even eight chassis manufacturers are represented on the current number-reservation list, but 10. Ten race car manufacturers are going to do battle over the course of the inaugural F1600 Formula F Championship Series season with 46 numbers reserved and two different engine options in the Honda Fit or Ford Kent
Swifts dominate the initial count, with seven DB1s –and 10 DB6s. Fourteen Van Diemens are represented, from the RF85 to the RF04, representing a 20-year spread. Five Pipers and three Citations are on the list along with additional entries under the follow chassis name plates: Bowman, Crossle, Euroswift, Mondiale, Royale and Tatuus.
“Variety is the spice of life, in and this case, F1600 too,” said Series Managing Director Michael Rand. “It harkens back to the very beginning of this class with multiple manufacturers fighting for race wins because wins equaled sales of race cars.”
It may not get better than this, anywhere, as most open-wheel series are surviving on the spec car business model.
Policing Possible?
With all various versions of chassis expected, and multiple models from the same manufactures, the Series could be seeing between 12-15 different cars on the gird.
“Technically, all the cars must be SCCA GCR compliant,” explained Rand. “So the chassis part of policing is relatively simple.
“The chassis variety illustrates the appeal of a non-spec series where technical variety allows room for experimentation and individual preferences.”
More Highlights
Several entries in the current database of teams that have reserved numbers are very unique.
“The Tatuus and Bowman specifically, should be pointed out,” Rand continued. “They were both reasonably successful F2000 cars originally but now have been converted to F1600 by their owners who enjoy the engineering challenge.
“Then there are well known major manufacturer cars from Swift, Van Diemen and Piper, proven front runners in any F1600 race anywhere in North America. There are several Citations on the list, too, another U.S. manufacturer, and a recent National Championship car in 2009 at Road America.”
The 2011 inaugural F1600 Formula F Championship Series opens at VIR, April 8-10, with a double-header weekend, like all the events. The Series next heads to Watkins Glen, June 3-5, with Grand-Am. June 30-July 2 sees the Series visit Mid-Ohio before pairing up with the NASCAR Modifieds at Lime Rock Park, September 16-17 and finishes at Watkins Glen, October 14-16., with what is appearing to be a 2011 full of massive car counts.