Monday 27th July 2009

Honda Eyes Formula Ford

New racer concept looks to the future of grass roots open-wheel racing

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Honda might have scrapped its F1 programme, but that doesn’t mean it has given up on motorsport. As Formula Ford celebrated its 40^th anniversary in the US last weekend at Road America, Honda revealed its own take on the venerable open-wheel formula, with a prototype fitted with an engine from a Honda Jazz.

Honda Performance Developments (HPD), the US racing arm of Honda, has developed the new car as a low-cost, low-maintenance alternative to the ‘Kent’-engined Formula Ford for US club racing.

The new Honda-engined Formula Ford proposal (surely Formula Honda??) uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine from the US version of the Jazz, which is known in the States as the Fit. The idea is that the new engine could revitalise the lower end of the US open-wheel racing scene, especially as the old Kent engine is now rather obsolete - unlike the 1600cc Duratec used in most European Formula Ford championships.

"Many of us, myself included, have been involved in FF racing," said Marc Sours, HPD production division manager. "We've all seen FF engine costs rise and replacement parts become increasingly difficult to locate.

"The result has been a decline in FF participation. We believe that introducing the modern, less-expensive Honda Fit engine can restore interest in and raise the profile of FF to a point where it once again becomes the place for young drivers to begin their careers."

Although the prototype uses a Swift chassis, the HPD-developed engine is intended as a bolt-on kit, so existing racers could replace their Kent engines with Honda units without having to buy an all-new chassis.

There’s no word as to whether the kit could come to Europe - it hasn’t yet gone beyond a concept in the US - but with club racers and aspiring young professional drivers everywhere looking to cut costs wherever they can, it seems like an idea that has promising potential.

[Turbobanana]

Formula Fit, surely?

I quite like the idea, but only if they can tune it to cough, splutter and pop as well as flameout on the overrun.

[FourWheelDrift]

Their F1 car might be competitive there, but wouldn't they have to run without the wings?

[zac510]

Funny lookin' exhaust manifold?

[Gizmo!]

Sounds like a great idea. The more grass-roots motorsport the better IMO.

However, I'd be surprised if they got into open-wheel racing with the safesty 'questions' that are floating around at the moment.

[andygo]

As far as I understand it, the US 'Kent' FF's run alloy heads, forged pistons and conrods, steel cranks....

They are pretty reliable by UK standards.

There is a big resistance in the uk to changing engines to say a restricted duratec version which lasts pretty much for ever. I heard of a duratec engine that had done 2 seasons and when put on a dyno gave out the same bhp as when it was new.

[DP 1]

zac510 said:

Funny lookin' exhaust manifold?

Ye cus thats not gunna melt lol

[Northern Munkee]

What's not sexy about calling it "Formula Jazz"?

[Holst]

zac510 said:

Funny lookin' exhaust manifold?

Formula ford have a big silencer sticking out down the side of the chassis.

[A Scotsman]

Looking at the HPD site it says "The complete Honda FF kit is expected to sell for under $12,000. The package would include a base L15A7 engine, FF race kit (including intake, exhaust, dry sump, restrictor plate and ECU), and a bolt-in chassis kit, to permit installation of the engine without welding or other major modifications. Individual component parts would also be available for purchase separately"

$12,000 is roughly £7,500........

Edited by A Scotsman on Tuesday 28th July 00:08

[mp3manager]

Instead of all that tedious mucking about with single-seaters with Jazz engines...why don't they just build this??

[Fury1630]

"Although the prototype uses a Swift chassis, the HPD-developed engine is intended as a bolt-on kit, so existing racers could replace their Kent engines with Honda units without having to buy an all-new chassis."

And any other car with a kent presumably. Hmmmm, I see potential for a down-tuned street kit.

[stifler]

DP 1 said:

zac510 said:

Funny lookin' exhaust manifold?

Ye cus thats not gunna melt lol

En anglais pour favour?

[andygo]

stifler said:

DP 1 said:

zac510 said:

Funny lookin' exhaust manifold?

Ye cus thats not gunna melt lol

En anglais pour favour?

Whats the matter with you? Can't you understand Chav? Did you learn anything at school for goodness sake!

Edited by andygo on Tuesday 28th July 12:46

[silly chap]

That little 4 cylinder engine is actually a VTEC model that is fitted as an option to the US and japanese model FIT/JAZZ.

It is isn't especially fast but is quite energetic and even sounds quite satisfying at full rpm ( for those of us who aren't used to more expensive cars).

I have a FIT/JAZZ with this engine and i love it, all 115 ps of it. Can't believe that even a part of my car has made it on to pistonheads.

The engine is quite popular in entry level motorsport and is used exclusively in Formula Junior with a west racing chassis

http://www.west-racing.co.jp/catlog/west07j.html

or with Tokyo R&D chassis (manufacturers of VEMAC sports cars)

http://www.r-d.co.jp/division2/racemen.htm

[gary_tholl]

I was at the 40th reunion with my '84 Reynard. I saw the Swift DB-1 with the Honda engine, and chatted with the guys responsible.

1. The 'race' motor is detuned from the street motor to come in just under a National level kent engine (I believe 115 hp). They added a restrictor and re-did the ECU mapping to very nearly match the dyno curve of the kent.
2. The exhaust is cast into the head - leaving only a single 2.5" (or so) outlet pipe that needs to be created for individual cars.
3. That was a prototype engine - the intake was a rapid prototype plastic part - if they get the go-ahead from SCCA, it will be cast aluminum. The dry sump pan and gearbox adapter were done from billet, but would be cast as well.
4. The car ran with my grid (110 cars!) over the weekend, it had 4 different National Champions drivers, and ran solid mid-pack with little chassis tuning.
5. These guys are all grassroots enthusiasts. The top guys of HPD USA were there, chatting with us and asking questions about what we would like to see. Some of them race FF, which is what started the idea.
6. The weekend was an absolute blast - Road America is an incredible track - just over 4 miles long - 14 corners, elevation, long, fast straights... and this is the FF pic... about 200 cars!

[gary_tholl]

SCCA announces alternative Honda Fit engine to FF.

SCCA said:

The Board of Directors approved the Club Racing Board recommendation to accept the 1.5-liter Honda Fit engine into the class, offering a modern, low-cost alternative to the venerable 1600cc Ford engines moving forward. The proper class name has also been shortened, simply to “Formula F” or “FF.”

The new engine is an addition, rather than a replacement. SCCA recognizes that many racers will retain the Ford engine configuration that has been used for 40 years. It is the intention of SCCA to maintain competitive parity between the powerplants for many years to come.

Gary

[andygo]

gary_tholl said:

SCCA announces alternative Honda Fit engine to FF.

SCCA said:

The Board of Directors approved the Club Racing Board recommendation to accept the 1.5-liter Honda Fit engine into the class, offering a modern, low-cost alternative to the venerable 1600cc Ford engines moving forward. The proper class name has also been shortened, simply to “Formula F” or “FF.”

The new engine is an addition, rather than a replacement. SCCA recognizes that many racers will retain the Ford engine configuration that has been used for 40 years. It is the intention of SCCA to maintain competitive parity between the powerplants for many years to come.

Gary

Here you go - try something a bit more up to date. Might not happen, but......

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1...