F1600 Championship Series

Last updated
F1600 Championship Series
F1600 Championship Series logo.svg
Category Open wheeled
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
Inaugural season2011
Constructors Van Diemen, Piper, Mygale, Swift, Spectrum, Citation
Engine suppliers Ford Kent
Honda L15A7
Tyre suppliers H
Drivers' champion Porter Aiken
Teams' champion Flag of the United States.svg Chillout Motorsports
Official website F1600 Championship Series
Motorsport current event.svg 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.

Contents

The Series

The class uses the Sports Car Club of America regulations for the Ford Kent engine-based Formula Ford regulations, which includes the option of either the Ford Kent or Honda L15A7 engine. [1] Therefore, many drivers from the local club racing scene make their appearance in the national series.

2011 Season

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 Season

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.

2013 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.

Cars

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'. In addition, both the Ford and Honda engines that are legal in SCCA competition are permitted in this series.

Engine comparison
Ford 1600 GT KentHonda HPD L15A7 Fit [6]
Engine Type inline 4-cylinderProduction-based inline 4-cylinder
Displacement 1,598cc1.5 L (91.3 cubic inches)
Valvetrain Overhead valve Single overhead camshaft, 4 valves per cylinder i-VTEC
Crankshaft Cast ironSteel alloy 5 main bearings
Pistons Forged aluminium alloyCast aluminium alloy
Connecting rods Forged steel alloyForged steel alloy
Engine management HPD
Ignition system Digital inductive
Lubrication Dry sump Dry sump
Cooling Water cooledSingle mechanical water pump
Transmission 4-speed manual 4-speed manual
FuelGasoline91 octane unleaded
Weight215 lbs (97.5 kg)

Champions

SeasonDriverTeamCarEngine
2011 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Valet [7] Valet Racing Swift DB6 Ford
2012 Flag of Finland.svg Matias Köykkä [8] Cape Motorsports w/ Wayne Taylor Racing Spectrum 011 Honda
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Jake Eidson Cape Motorsports w/ Wayne Taylor Racing Spectrum 012 Honda
2014 Flag of Norway.svg Ayla Ågren Team Pelfrey Mygale Honda
2015 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Scott Andrews [9] Exclusive Autosport Spectrum 014H Honda
2016 Flag of the United States.svg Neil Verhagen K-Hill Motorsports Mygale Honda
2017 Flag of the United States.svg Matthew Cowley Team Pelfrey Mygale Honda
2018 Flag of the United States.svg Dario CangialosiK-Hill Motorsports Mygale Honda
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan KotykK-Hill Motorsports Mygale Honda
2020 Flag of the United States.svg Simon Sikes Rice Race Prep Mygale Honda
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Nicholas d'Orlando Team Pelfrey Mygale Honda
2022 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas SchrageRice Race Prep Mygale Honda
2023 Flag of the United States.svg Porter AikenAiken Racing2009 Piper DF05Honda

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References

  1. ↑ "New FF1600 Series Launched". eFormulacarnews.com. 13 October 2010. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Mygale Race Cars Launches New Partnership in North America". eFormulacarnews.com. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Carbir Announces 2013 FF Program with Hazelton". f1600championshipseries.com. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "F1600: Masters Class for 2013". f1600championshipseries.com. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "F1600 Rules Adjustment for European Chassis". f1600championshipseries.com. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "HPD L15A7 - Formula F Engine". hpd.honda.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "F1600 Formula F Championship Series 2011". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "F1600 Formula F Championship Series 2012". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Scott Andrews". www.scottandrews.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15.
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