Formula 4

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File:Dome F110 left 2014 Super GT Suzuka.jpg
Dome F110 on display in 2014

FIA Formula 4 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 by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)—the International sanctioning and administrative body for motorsport—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[1] as a response to declining interest in national Formula 3 championships due to rising costs and alternate pathways to Formula One such as the Formula Renault and GP2 and GP3 Series, which had seen several national Formula 3 championships cancelled. In the place of the expensive categories, a number of separate categories running under the Formula 4 name have been created—British based BRDC Formula 4—but with no commonality between the cars from country to country. The FIA-endorsed category was formally created in March 2013, when it was approved by the World Motor Sport Council.

The first Formula 4 championships started in 2014 as 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 150 bhp (111.9 kW), similar to the Formula Ford and lower than the Formula Renault. The engines are equalised so that no one Formula 4 championship is faster than the others, with the long-term intention being to bring the cost down to under €100,000 per year to compete.

Homologated chassis manufacturers

To become an eligible FIA Formula 4, the chassis must meet the FIA homologation requirements respecting technical and commercial regulations. Three chassis manufacturer has been approved by the FIA:[2] Tatuus, Mygale and Dome.

Homologated engines

File:Toyota 3ZR Formula 4 engine front-left 2014 Super GT Suzuka.jpg
Toyota 3ZR engine for the Japanese championship

To become an eligible FIA Formula 4 engine, the engine must meet the homologation requirements. According to the homologation requirements a FIA Formula 4 engine must last at least 10,000 km and has a maximum purchasing price of €9,500.[3] According to the FIA Formula 4 technical regulations only four cylinder engines are allowed. Both normally aspirated and turbo charged engines are permitted. The poweroutput has been maximized at 160hp. The engine displacement is unlimited.[4] Currently four engines are homologated for use in the FIA Formula 4.[5]

Manufacturer Abarth Ford Geely Honda Renault TOM's-Toyota
Engine name 1.4L FTJ 1.6L EcoBoost G-Power JLD-4G20 Honda K20 C2 2.0L F4R 3ZR
Engine type inline 4 inline 4 inline 4 inline 4 inline 4 inline 4
Displacement 1,400cc 1,600cc 2,000cc 2,000cc 2,000cc 2,000cc
Valvetrain DOHC CVVT DOHC VVT DOHC VVT DOHC
Engine management Magneti Marelli Life Racing F88GDI4 Life Racing F88GDI4 Life Racing F88RS
Lubrication Dry sump Dry sump
Cooling Water and air cooler Water and air cooler Water and air cooler
Transmission Sequential Sadev six speed Sequential Sadev six speed Sequential Sadev six speed Sequential Sadev six speed Sequential Toda Racing six speed
Fuel Panta Racing Fuel

FIA Formula 4 Championships

These championships are held to Formula 4 regulations and approved by the FIA as the national Formula 4 series.[6] Drivers participating in these series can receive FIA Super Licence points, which are required to drive in Formula One.

Inaugural season Name Country/Region Chassis Engine Note
2014 Italian Formula 4 Championship Italy Tatuus F4-T014 Abarth 1.4L Replaces Formula Abarth
2015 F4 Japanese Championship Japan Dome F110 TOM'S-Toyota 2.0L Organised by GT–Association to host the Super GT. There is another JAF Japan Formula 4, organised by Japanese ASN JAF.
F4 British Championship[7] United Kingdom Mygale Ford 1.6L EcoBoost Replaces the British Formula Ford Championship
ADAC Formula 4 Germany, Austria and the Netherlands Tatuus F4-T014 Abarth 1.4L Replaces the ADAC Formel Masters
China Formula 4 Championship China Mygale Geely G-Power JLD-4G20 (2.0L) Organised by Narcar International Racing Development Co.,Ltd. to host the China Formula Grand Prix.
SMP F4 Championship Russia, Sweden, Finland and Estonia Tatuus F4-T014 Abarth 1.4L Organised by SMP Racing, Koiranen GP, Finnish and Russian ASN — AKK-Motorsport and RAF.
Australian Formula 4 Championship[8] Australia Mygale Ford 1.6L EcoBoost[9] Newly established series by Australian ASN CAMS.
NACAM Formula 4 Championship[10][11] Mexico Mygale Ford 1.6L EcoBoost Newly established series by Mexican ASN — OMDAI.
2016 Spanish Formula 4 Championship Spain and Portugal Tatuus F4-T014 Abarth 1.4L Newly established series by Spanish ASN — RFEDA and Koiranen GP.[12]
United States Formula 4 Championship[13] United States Crawford Honda K20 C2 (2.0L) Organised by SCCA Pro Racing (Sports Car Club of America) and United States ASN — ACCUS.
South East Asia Formula 4 Championship[14] Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan Mygale Renault F4R (2.0L)[15] Replaces the AsiaCup Series. Organised by Malaysian ASN — AAM and Meritus.GP (Asian Autosport Action Group).[16]
United Arab Emirates Formula 4 Championship[17] United Arab Emirates Tatuus F4-T014 Abarth 1.4L Organised by Emirati ASN — ATCUAE and AUH Motorsports Dubai.

Other Formula 4 championships

French F4 Championship

The French F4 Championship is a Formula Renault series, aimed at graduates young drivers graduating from karting. The championship uses Formula Renault 1.6 Signatech cars, an entry level category, and is open to drivers between 14 and 21 years.

Formula STCC Nordic

The Formula STCC Nordic will debut in 2016, replacing the Formula Renault 1.6 Nordic. It uses Signatech chassis.

Formula 4 Sudamericana

The Formula 4 Sudamericana (Portuguese: Fórmula 4 Sul-Americana) is a Formula 4 racing class that debuted in 2014. The class uses the same Signatech chassis and Fiat engines used previously in the Brazilian-based Formula Future Fiat.

JAF Japan Formula 4

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.

Former Formula 4 championships

BRDC Formula 4 Championship

The BRDC Formula 4 Championship was an entry level motorsport series based in 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, the series was upgraded and renamed the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship

References

  1. ↑ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106219
  2. ↑ FIA F4 registered manufacturers
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ FIA F4 registered manufacturers
  6. ↑ http://www.fia.com/formula-4-championships
  7. ↑ http://www.britishformulaford.co.uk/ford-and-msa-bring-fia-f4-concept-to-britain/
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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