Yahoo Finance Meet F1600, The Link Between Karting and Superstardom
Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon—these are a few of the many open-wheel icons F1600 has created in its 50-plus-year history. Also known as Formula F (née Formula Ford), this spec series allows participants to show off their mastery of car control in an elemental form. Young drivers who’ve dazzled in karting step into F1600 to make first impressions on scouts and sponsors, hoping for a shot at the big leagues.
This story originally appeared in Volume 7 of Road & Track.
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An F1600 car is simple as they come, a tube-frame chassis with a bit of bodywork, powered by a 1599-cc Ford or 1496-cc Honda inline-four. The engine sends power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual ’box. There are no hybrid systems to manage or data streams rendered on the steering wheel. Power is routed through an open differential.
Mygale, a French manufacturer, supplies many F1600 chassis to competitors in North America. A peek under the skin reveals just a seat surrounded by some bars, flanked by suspension, brakes, tires, and a drivetrain out back. The simplicity allows the best of the best to shine.
A.
No aero and a relative lack of adjustment put the emphasis on driver skill rather than engineering trickery.
B.
Inboard suspension, a hallmark of any hardcore open-wheeler, means an improved center of gravity and less aero turbulence.
C.
Whether you go for the Cortina-sourced Ford engine or the Fit-sourced Honda mill, performance-enhancing mods are forbidden, lowering costs for car owners and keeping the race field competitive.
D.
To improve structural rigidity, the engine and gearbox are stressed members of the chassis. The car’s rear control arms are bolted to the transmission housing.
E.
The spec tire is a Hoosier slick; it’s up to the pilot to squeeze out the most performance.
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