Category | Open wheeled |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Inaugural season | 2011 |
Constructors | Van Diemen, Piper, Mygale, Swift, Spectrum, Citation |
Engine suppliers | Ford Kent Honda Fit |
Tyre suppliers | H |
Drivers' champion | Porter Aiken |
Teams' champion | Chillout Motorsports |
Official website | F1600 Championship Series |
Current season |
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, and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. It is a series whose champion is eligible for the Road to Indy Shootout provided the driver is of an eligible age, and has the necessary skills to operate such machine.
The class operates under the same rules as the SCCA Formula F. [1] Therefore, many drivers from the local club racing scene make their appearance in the national series.
The first year saw many club racers and well established constructors racing in the series. Most cars were Van Diemen, Piper or Swift. Cape Motorsports began a collaboration with the Australian constructor Spectrum. Spectrum had already many years of Formula Ford experience in Australia. This also saw the introduction of Australian driver Mitch Martin who raced 2 races and scored a pole position and 2 second-place finishes. Volkswagen Jetta Cup graduate Wyatt Gooden made four appearances and scored 4 wins, this placed him sixth in the championship. Gooden went on to race in the F2000 Championship Series and USF2000. Bill Valet, who went on to win the inaugural championship, scored two wins but with seven podium finishes he outscored Tim Kautz (second) and Jim Goughary, Jr. (third).
2012 saw the addition of Bryan Herta Autosport with drivers Brandon Newey and Canadian Garett Grist. Bryan Herta Autosport became the official importer of Mygale cars in the United States. [2] This saw the introduction of the Mygale SJ12 in the F1600 Championship Series. Brandon Newey went on to win four races and score a second place in the championship. Cape Motorsports won the drivers championship with Finnish Formula Ford graduate Matias Köykkä. Köykkä won four races but due to more fastest race laps he won the championship over Newey. Australian Shae Davies, teammate of Köykkä, won three races out of six entries. A total of 46 drivers entered the 2012 season.
Carbir was to return in Formula F as a constructor with a factory entry. The Carbir was to be driven by SCCA Formula Ford stand out Reid Hazelton but was unable to enter any races in 2013. It is assumed financial setbacks hampered the Carbir factory. [3] The season starts 13 April.
2013 also sees the introduction of a 'Masters' class. [4] The Masters class will be available for drivers that are 40 years old and up.
All standard Formula Ford cars are allowed into the series. Due to rule changes in Formula Ford across Europe in early 2012 the F1600 Championship Series had to act. They acted in a way which allowed the Formula Ford Duratec car, when Ford Kent powered, into the series. [5] Alongside the Van Diemen, Mygale and other cars there are also privately manufactured Formula Ford cars allowed like the 'Wiver'. Before the year 2011 the SCCA only allowed the Ford Kent engine in Formula Ford. As of 2011 the Honda Fit engine is allowed in the renamed Formula F.
Engine comparison | ||
---|---|---|
Ford 1600 GT Kent | Honda HPD L15A7 Fit [6] | |
Engine Type | inline 4-cylinder | Production-based inline 4-cylinder |
Displacement | 1,598cc | 1.5 L (91.3 cubic inches) |
Valvetrain | Overhead valve | Single overhead camshaft, 4 valves per cylinder i-VTEC |
Crankshaft | Cast iron | Steel alloy 5 main bearings |
Pistons | Forged aluminium alloy | Cast aluminium alloy |
Connecting rods | Forged steel alloy | Forged steel alloy |
Engine management | HPD | |
Ignition system | Digital inductive | |
Lubrication | Dry sump | Dry sump |
Cooling | Water cooled | Single mechanical water pump |
Transmission | 4-speed manual | 4-speed manual |
Fuel | Gasoline | 91 octane unleaded |
Weight | 215 lbs (97.5 kg) |
Season | Driver | Team | Car | Engine |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Bill Valet [7] | Valet Racing | Swift DB6 | Ford |
2012 | Matias Köykkä [8] | Cape Motorsports w/ Wayne Taylor Racing | Spectrum 011 | Honda |
2013 | Jake Eidson | Cape Motorsports w/ Wayne Taylor Racing | Spectrum 012 | Honda |
2014 | Ayla Ågren | Team Pelfrey | Mygale | Honda |
2015 | Scott Andrews [9] | Exclusive Autosport | Spectrum 014H | Honda |
2016 | Neil Verhagen | K-Hill Motorsports | Mygale | Honda |
2017 | Matthew Cowley | Team Pelfrey | Mygale | Honda |
2018 | Dario Cangialosi | K-Hill Motorsports | Mygale | Honda |
2019 | Jonathan Kotyk | K-Hill Motorsports | Mygale | Honda |
2020 | Simon Sikes | Rice Race Prep | Mygale | Honda |
2021 | Nicholas d'Orlando | Team Pelfrey | Mygale | Honda |
2022 | Thomas Schrage | Rice Race Prep | Mygale | Honda |
2023 | Porter Aiken | Aiken Racing | 2009 Piper DF05 | Honda |
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 a Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Three, or the W Series for female drivers.
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Van Diemen International, Ltd. was a British race car manufacturer based in Snetterton, Norfolk, United Kingdom. The company had a reputation for high-volume production runs of its cars, the most well-known of which is its series of Formula Ford chassis, which have been at the forefront of that class of motorsport for over 20 years and led it to becoming the largest manufacturer of bespoke racing cars in the world.
Mygale Racing Car Constructor is a French racing car manufacturer that specialises in the production of single seater chassis for use in formula racing. It is most notable for its Formula Ford chassis. Mygale also produces the chassis used by in Formula Renault, Formula BMW, Formula Three and Formula Four. The company was established in 1989 by Bertrand Decoster and its factory is based in the Technopole of Magny-Cours, France.
The F2000 Championship Series is a North American–based open wheel road racing series based on Formula Continental, a wings and slicks series that is designed to be the second step after Formula F 1600.
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The 2013 F1600 Championship Series season was the third season of the F1600 Championship Series.
The 2012 F1600 Championship Series season was the second season of the F1600 Championship Series. Matias Köykkä won the championship in the last race of the season.
Matias Köykkä is a Finnish racing driver. He won the 2012 F1600 Championship Series.
Brandon Newey is an American racing driver. He was classified second in the 2012 F1600 Championship Series season. In 2014 he is competing in the Pro Mazda Championship.
Carbir Race Cars is an American race car constructor.
Richard "Rich" Zober is a racing driver who competed in various formula racing series.
Bruno Bianchi is a Canadian former racing driver. Bianchi won races in Formula Ford 1600 and Formula Ford 2000. After his racing career Bianchi was an engineer at Bombardier Inc. and Bell Helicopter.
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Neil Verhagen is a racing driver from the United States of America. Verhagen is the youngest to win the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, having accomplished this in the Formula F category.