F1600 Championship Series

F1600 Championship Series

Category	Open wheeled
Country	United States
Inaugural season	2011
Constructors	Van Diemen, Piper, Mygale, Swift, Spectrum, Citation, Carbir
Engine suppliers	Ford Kent Honda Fit
Tyre suppliers	H
Drivers' champion	Ayla Ågren
Teams' champion	Team Pelfrey
Official website	F1600 Championship Series

The F1600 Championship Series was created by the SCCA in 2011. The series is organized by Formula Race Promotions, the same organisation which organizes the F2000 Championship Series.

The Series

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.

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'. 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)

Champions

Season	Driver	Team	Car	Engine
2011	Bill Valet[7]	Valet Racing	Swift DB6	Ford Kent
2012	Matias Köykkä[8]	Cape Motorsports w/ Wayne Taylor Racing	Spectrum 011	Honda Fit
2013	Jake Eidson	Cape Motorsports w/ Wayne Taylor Racing	Spectrum 012	Honda Fit
2014	Ayla Ågren	Team Pelfrey	Mygale	Honda Fit

References

1. "New FF1600 Series Launched". eFormulacarnews.com. 13 October 2010. 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. 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.

External links

• F1600 Championship Series