Formula 4
FIA Formula 4, also called FIA F4, is an
The category was created in March 2013
Initially, these 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 160 bhp (119.3 kW), higher than Formula Ford and lower than 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.
In practice, costs for competitors considerably exceed this goal; the cost of participating in the 2022 French Formula 4 series (including all equipment) was €118,000, excluding tax.[3] Costs in other F4 championships can be considerably higher, with one estimate of the costs of a realistic attempt at the now-defunct German F4 series championship in excess of €350,000.[4]
Homologated chassis manufacturers
To become eligible for FIA Formula 4, the chassis must meet the FIA homologation requirements respecting technical and commercial regulations. Four chassis manufacturers have been approved by the FIA:[5] Tatuus, Mygale, Dome and Ligier.
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Tatuus F4-T014 (2014–2021)
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Dome F110 (2015–2023)
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Mygale M14-F4 (2015–2023)
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Ligier JS F4 (2016–2023)
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Tatuus F4-T421 (2021–present)
-
Mygale M21-F4 (2022–present)
Homologated engines
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 have a maximum purchasing price of €9,500.
Manufacturer | Abarth | Ford | Geely | Honda
|
Renault | TOM's-Toyota
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine name | 1.4L FTJ | 1.6L EcoBoost | G-Power JLD-4G20 | Honda K20C2 | 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
|
DOHC
|
i-VTEC DOHC | DOHC
|
DOHC
| |
Engine management
|
Magneti Marelli
|
Life Racing F88GDI4 | GEMS Honda GDi80 D[8] | 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 Sadev six speed | Sequential Toda Racing six speed |
Fuel | Panta Racing Fuel | Sunoco |
Performance
Formula 4 is the first step out of
Compared to road-legal supercars, Formula 4 cars are less accelerative and have a much lower top speed of approximately 240 km/h; most modern supercars are capable of in excess of 300 km/h. The F4 cars have far superior braking and cornering capabilities, particularly in high-speed corners where the aerodynamic downforce of the Formula 4 cars has the most effect.[9]
According to official information from the F1 Academy, the Tatuus race car (virtually identical to the one used in some F4 series) has a peak lateral cornering acceleration of about 2.0g,[10] far in excess of a typical (non-sporting) road car which peaks at less than 1g, but considerably less than Formula 3 cars (which peak around 2.5g).
To give some idea of the gap between F4 and F1 performance levels, the fastest qualifying lap for a 2023 F4 round at the Silverstone GP circuit was 2:01.651;[11] the pole lap in the 2023 British Grand Prix in an F1 car was 1:26.720.
However, F4 cars still lap considerably faster than most production-derived racing categories. The F4 pole time is about 2 seconds faster than the Porsche Carrera Cup lap record and about 10 seconds faster than the TCR Touring Car lap record.
Active FIA-sanctioned championships
These championships are held to Formula 4 regulations and approved by the FIA as the national Formula 4 series.[12] Drivers participating in these series can receive FIA Super Licence points, which are required to drive in Formula One. For a series to be eligible for Super Licence points, a season must be held over at least five events at a minimum of three circuits, according to FIA Appendix L.[13]
Years | Name | Country/Region | Chassis | Engine | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014–present | Italian F4 Championship | Italy | Tatuus F4-T014 (2014–2021) Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) |
Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2014–present) | Replaces Formula Abarth |
2015–present | F4 Japanese Championship | Japan | Dome F110 (2014–2023) Toray Carbon Magic MCS4-24 (2024) |
TOM'S-Toyota 2.0L (2015–present) | Organised by GT–Association to host the JAF Japan Formula 4, organised by Japanese ASN JAF .
|
F4 British Championship[14] | United Kingdom | Mygale M14-F4 (2015–2021) Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) |
Ford 1.6L EcoBoost (2015–2021) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2022–present) |
Replaces the British Formula Ford Championship | |
F4 Chinese Championship | China | Mygale M14-F4 (2015–2023) Mygale M21-F4 (2024) |
Geely G-Power JLD-4G20 (2.0L) (2015–present) | Organised by Narcar International Racing Development Co., Ltd. to host the China Formula Grand Prix. | |
NACAM Formula 4 Championship[15][16] | Mexico | Mygale M14-F4 (2015–2023) Tatuus F4-T421 (2024) |
Ford 1.6L EcoBoost (2015–2023) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2024) |
Newly established series by Mexican ASN — OMDAI. | |
Formula 4 Australian Championship | Australia | Mygale M14-F4 (2015–2019) Tatuus F4-T421 (2024) |
Ford 1.6L EcoBoost (2015–2019) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2024) |
The inaugural championship, known as the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship, was organised from 2015 to 2019. China-based Top Speed will promote the revived Formula 4 Australian Championship, starting from 2024. | |
2016–present | F4 Spanish Championship | Spain | Tatuus F4-T014 (2016–2021) Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) |
Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2016–present) | Newly established series by Koiranen GP.[17]
|
Formula 4 United States Championship[18] | United States | Ligier JS F4 (2016–2023) Ligier JS F422 (2024) |
Honda K20C2 (2.0L) (2016–2023) Ligier Storm (2024) |
Organised by SCCA Pro Racing (Sports Car Club of America) and United States ASN — ACCUS.) | |
Formula 4 South East Asia Championship | Malaysia Southeast Asia |
Mygale M14-F4 (2016–2019) Tatuus F4-T421 (2023) |
Renault F4R (2.0L) (2016–2019) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2023) |
The inaugural season was held over COVID-19 Pandemic put a momentary stop to the championship in 2020, but in 2023, the championship was revived under a new promoter Top Speed Shanghai Ltd .
| |
Formula 4 UAE Championship[19] | United Arab Emirates | Tatuus F4-T014 (2016–2021) Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) |
Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2016–present) | Organised by Automobile & Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates and AUH Motorsports Dubai. | |
2017–2023 | F4 Danish Championship[20] | Denmark | Mygale M14-F4 (2017–2023) | Renault F4R (2.0L) (2017–2023) | Organised by Dansk Automobil Sports Union. |
2018–present | F4 French Championship[21][22] | France | Mygale M14-F4 (2018–2021) Mygale M21-F4 (2022–present) |
Renault F4R (2.0L) (2018–2019) Renault HR13 (1.3L) (2020–2021) Alpine (2022–present) |
Replaces the previous Fédération Française du Sport Automobile .
|
2022–present | F4 Brazilian Championship[23] | Brazil | Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) | Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2022–present) | Organized by Brazilian Auto Racing Confederation and Vicar, the Stock Car Pro Series promotor. |
2023–present | F4 Indian Championship | India | Mygale M21-F4 (2023–present) | Alpine 1.3L Turbocharged Engine (2023–present) | Supports the Formula Regional Indian Championship and the Indian Racing League. |
Formula 4 CEZ Championship[24] | Austria Croatia Czechia Hungary Poland Slovakia |
Tatuus F4-T421 (2023–present) | Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2023–present) | Organized by the Automobile Club of the Czech Republic and Křenek Motorsport, the ESET V4 Cup Series promotor. | |
Euro 4 Championship[25] | Europe | Tatuus F4-T421 (2023–present) | Autotecnica 414TF 1.4L (2023–present) | Organized by ACI Sport and WSK Promotions | |
2024 | F4 Saudi Arabian Championship | Saudi Arabia | Tatuus F4-T421 (2024) | Autotecnica 414TF 1.4L (2024) | Centrally run by Meritus.GP.[26] |
Other Formula 4 championships
F1 Academy
Formula Winter Series
The Formula Winter Series is a racing series regulated according to FIA Formula 4 regulations, based in Spain. The series is organised by Gedlich Racing with the approval of the RFEDA.
Formula Academy Finland
Ligier JS4 Series
The Ligier JS4 Series is the developmental series for the Formula 4 United States Championship starting in 2024, utilising the first-generation Ligier JS4 chassis that has been rendered obsolete after the 2023 season. The series champion will win a Formula 4 United States Championship ride for the ensuing season.[31]
Fórmula Academy Sudamericana
The Fórmula Academy Sudamericana (Portuguese: Fórmula Academy Sul-Americana), previously known as Fórmula 4 Sudamericana, was 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
Canada CASC Formula 4/F4
This is based on a non-FIA formulae, instead using 750cc motorcycle engines as power plants. Chassis are typically locally produced such as Xpit and Gamma and cars are fueled by methanol. Popular in the CASC Ontario region at a club level only since 1974.
FIA Central European Zone Championship / Drexler Formel 4 Cup
Although it's an FIA zone championship, the single-seater races in the FIA CEZ Championship have a division for Formula 4 cars, but they are not part of the FIA ladder. The races are co-organized with the Austrian, Czech and Hungarian national championships, as well as the Italian Topjet F2000 Trophy and Austrian Drexler AFR Pokale, the latter allowing cars of similar performance to FIA cars in its F4 division, such as Formula BMW, Czech F1400 and ADAC Formel Masters.[32]
USF Juniors
The USF Juniors is an F4 series for 14 and 15-year old drivers transitioning from karts. It is organised by Andersen Promotions, the promoter of the USF Pro Championships USF2000 and Pro 2000, with sanctioning from the United States Auto Club.
The series began in 2022 with the Ligier JS4 currently used by United States Formula 4 with the homologated Honda engine provided by their series' spec engine builder (which is different from the US F4 championship, where the engines come from Honda itself). It then switched to the
GB4 Championship
Organized by MSV in the collaboration with
Fórmula 4 Chile
Organised by Campeonato Nacional de Carreras Federado, the series uses the Tatuus FA010 chassis from Formula Abarth, one of the predecessors of the Formula 4 car.
Former Formula 4 championships
ADAC Formula 4 Championship
The ADAC Formula 4 Championship was held from 2015 to 2022. On 3 December 2022, ADAC announced that ADAC Formula 4 would not be organized for the 2023 season, with the focus on placing the German junior drivers in the French F4 Championship instead.[35] The main reason for the decision was the low number of participating drivers due to the high costs compared to other Formula 4 championships.[36]
F4 Argentina Championship
The F4 Argentina Championship was held in 2021.
SMP F4 Championship
The SMP F4 Championship was held from 2016 to 2019 before losing its FIA certification.
BRDC Formula 4 Championship
The
References
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- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Sutcliffe, Steve (21 June 2014). "Can Porsche's 911 Turbo S outrun a Formula 4 car?". Autocar (Video.). Retrieved 6 June 2024 – via YouTube.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "F1® Academy". F1® Academy. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
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