Formula racing
This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (February 2024) |
Characteristics | |
---|---|
Contact | No |
Team members | Yes |
Mixed-sex | Yes |
Type | Outdoor |
Equipment | Open-wheel racecar |
Formula racing (known as open-wheel racing in North America) is any of several forms of
Categories such as Formula Three and Formula Two are described as feeder formulae, which refers to their position below top-level series like Formula One on their respective career ladders of single-seater motor racing. There are two primary forms of racing formula: the open formula that allows a choice of chassis or engines and the control or "spec" formula that relies on a single supplier for chassis and engines. Formula Three is an example of an open formula, while Formula BMW is a control formula. There are also some exceptions on these two forms like Formula Ford where there is an open chassis formula but a restricted single brand engine formula.
World championships
Formula One
In the process of reviving Grand Prix racing after the end of World War II, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's Commission Sportive Internationale was responsible for defining the standardised regulations of Formula One (F1) in 1946. The first race to be run to the early Formula One regulations was a non-championship Grand Prix in Turin in September 1946. The first officially recognised Formula One season was held in 1947 and the World Championship for Drivers was inaugurated in 1950.
Formula E
Formula E is the highest class of competition for single-seat,
International championships
Formula 2
The FIA Formula 2 Championship was introduced in 2017 by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore following the rebranding of the long-term F1 feeder series – GP2 Series. Designed to make racing affordable and to make it the perfect training ground for life in F1, F2 has made it mandatory for all of the teams to use the same chassis, engine, and tyre supplier.
Formula 3
In 2019, the GP3 Series was replaced by international Formula 3, just in the same way that GP2 was rebranded as Formula 2 in 2017. The series' first drivers' champion was Robert Shwartzman driving for Prema Racing, who also won the Constructors' Championship for that year. At the end of the year, the FIA Formula 3 World Cup takes place during the Macau Grand Prix as a non-championship, season-ending event.
Regional championships
Formula Regional
Formula Regional is the last category that takes place outside the F1 events format. It was created to take over from the various F3 championships around the world after the FIA deemed that the title "Formula 3" would be exclusively used by the series that runs on F1 weekends known previously as GP3. Each championship corresponds to one specific region: Asia, Americas, Europe, India, Japan, Middle East and Oceania (New Zealand).
National championships
Formula 4
FIA Formula 4, also called FIA F4, 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.
North America
IndyCar Series
The IndyCar Series is the premier level of
Indy NXT
Indy NXT, previously known as Indy Lights, is the top feeder series for the
USF Pro 2000 Championship
The USF Pro 2000 Championship formally known as Indy Pro 2000 Championship has been an officially sanctioned development series since 2011, when it became governed by IndyCar, although the original series started in 1991 as the
USF2000 Championship
The USF2000 Championship formally known as U.S. F2000 National Championship is an American variation of the
USF Juniors
The USF Juniors is a new addition to the
Japan
Super Formula
Super Formula, previously known as Formula Nippon, is the premier level of Japanese formula racing. It began as the Japanese Formula 2000 series in 1973 and continued to use Formula Two regulations after European Formula Two had ended in 1984. In 1987 the series switched to the
Super Formula Lights
FR Japanese Championship
JAF-F4
Other formula series
- ADAC Formel Masters
- Atlantic Championship
- China Formula Grand Prix
- EuroBOSS Series
- Euroformula Open Championship
- F1 Academy
- F1 in Schools
- Florida Winter Series
- Formula 1000
- Formula 4000 powered by Holden
- Formula 500
- Formula Acceleration 1
- Formula Atlantic
- Formula BMW
- Formula Car Challenge
- Formula Continental
- Formula Ford
- Formula Ford 1600
- Formula LGB Hyundai
- Formula LGB Swift
- Formula Maruti
- Formula Masters China
- Formula Renault
- Formula SAE
- Formula SCCA
- Formula Student
- Formula Vee
- Formula Volkswagen South Africa Championship
- Formula Woman
- GB3 Championship
- Masters Historic Formula One Championship
- Monoposto Racing Club
- S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship
- Toyota Racing Series
- W Series
Defunct series
Formula series from the 21st century that could be categorised between Tier 1 and Tier 5 (see top of page), but are now defunct, are described below.
Formula Two (1947–1985; 2009–2012)
The Formula Two regulations were first defined in 1947 as a form of B-class below Formula One.[4] It was not unusual for some Formula One events to include a number of F2 entries in the same field and the entries in the World Championship seasons of 1952–53 comprised exclusively F2 cars for reasons of cost. F2 had a patchy history until the inauguration of the European Formula Two Championship in 1967. F2 was an open formula that allowed the use of any chassis that met the prescribed regulations; it was well supported during the 1970s, with chassis from Tecno, March Engineering, Toleman, Ralt, Matra and others. The European championship ran continually until the creation of its successor, Formula 3000, in 1985. In 2008 it was announced by the FIA that Formula Two would return in 2009 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship. This series was discontinued after the 2012 season.
Formula 3000 (1985–2004)
The Formula 3000 was created by the
International Formula Master (2005–2009)
International Formula Master, a.k.a. Formula Super 2000, was conceived as a competitor for Formula Three. It started in 2005 as the 3000 Pro Series, organised by Peroni Promotion. MTC Organisation took over in 2006 and turned it into a support series for the WTCC. Drivers used second-hand Formula 2000 cars made by Tatuus that were powered by a 250 hp Honda K20A engine.
A1 Grand Prix (2005–2009)
A1 Grand Prix (A1GP) was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport". Also, the series attracted equal numbers of (former or future)
Superleague Formula (2008–2011)
Using 750 hp V12 engines, Superleague Formula introduced team sponsorship by association football clubs. In qualifying, the link with football was also present as the series employed a system based on a group stage to knock-out format used in some football tournaments. Another unique feature of Superleague Formula was the Super Final, a five-lap shootout between the six best drivers of a weekend. In 2010, the series offered the biggest prize fund in European motorsport with the champion set to earn €1 million. In theory, it would be possible for a driver to earn up to €2.2 million over the course of the season. This was all done to give drivers a chance to earn a living from motorsport. By 2011, the link with football was fading with more than half the teams no longer associated with football teams, The later races of the season did not take place, and no further seasons were organised.
Formula Dream (1999–2005)
See:
Formula V6 Asia (2006–2009)
Formula Asia V6 (Renault) was launched in 2006 to give
Auto GP (1999)
The Auto GP World Series' roots can be traced back to 1999 and the Italian Formula 3000 series. At first, nearly all races were held in Italy, but the series expanded throughout Europe quickly. In 2001 the series became European Formula 3000 and in 2004 Superfund became the title sponsor, planning to set up the Formula Superfund series. However, the funding was pulled and the series was cancelled. Therefore, Coloni Motorsport re-established the Italian Formula 3000 and expanded this in 2006 to the Euroseries 3000. In 2010, the first-generation A1 Grand Prix cars replaced the Lola F3000 chassis and the Auto GP name was adopted.
See also
Notes and references
- ^ FIA (2017). "Formula E Season 2017-2018". Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ "Championship Overview". fiaformulae.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ Formula E (31 July 2017). "Agag: This has been our take-off season". Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ Formula Two Archived 20 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine From formula2.net. Retrieved on 28 August 2007.