(FIN)
(FIN)
| FORMULA
4 (FIN) Story by Seppo Pitkanen Updated 10.11.00 Formula 4 class, as name is quite new in Finland. AKK (ACN of Finland) started to use this name after active drivers borrowed it from Sweden in 1990.
In the beginning class was based on german Volkswagen’s own make-class Fomula Super Vee, that was developed by Finnish monopostomens 500 club with co-operation with Swedes in 1980’s into a lighter class, Formula VW 1600. As Volkswagen later took the financial support off from most of its own make classes, active drivers decided as a favor to quit advertising Volkswagen. The finnish national Formula 4 class was born.
VW Golf GTI ‘s 1800 cc engine has however maintained its monopoly position. Top engines create power about 150 hp and speed of the cars are almost comparable to genuine Formula 3 machines. At Alastaro track Formula 4 cars are about 1-2 seconds slower as Formula 3 Nordic (24 mm) monoposti.
Actually Formula 4 classes top drivers use nowadays former Formula 3 cars such as Italian Dallara, British Reynard and Ralt, which has just fitted for new regulations. Most of the cars have been transported here from England by Pertti Kurki-Suonio, but also Sweden and Germany has equipped this class. Every year there are expected to see also more Italian Dallaras that has dominated last seasons in international Formula 3 circus.
Old Formula 3 Cars
According regulations a new Formula 3 car isn’t allowed to be converted into Formula 4 car. This way the costs can be controlled. Actually there was exception from the rule when Estonian factories (Esttec, Kavor, Estonia) new cars with Russian Lada 1600 cc engines were allowed to take part in the Finnish Championship class in the beginning of 1990’s
Formula 4 classes racing activity in Sweden has been decreasing during past years and Finnish Formula 4 gang has over the years developed new contacts to Baltic countries and Germany, which also have room and intresse for cheaper Groups and classes.
As a class Formula 4 is good option for drivers, that don’t have a chance to invest hundred thousends of marks into monoposto cars. Relatively good and useful B-class car can be purchased for couple of ten thousands at the cheapest. Newest cars costs as much as a small family house. Spesially new F 3 topengines are valuable.
And there is speed. Formula 4 was in 90s undoubtedly the fastest track class in Finland. Lap-times don’t lie. The come back of Formula 3 class in 2000 will change things.
F 4 (FIN) General Regulations 1998 Monoposto FIA Appendix J 1989 art 275. Minimum weight including driver 535 kg. Max. Height 900 mm. Max. Width 1400 mm. Tyres Dunlop slick 13". Engine VW (or Audi) GTI 1.8. Max. capacity 1808 cc. Or VW 1600 cc. Supercharching not allowed. Max. fuel capacity 60 l.
These pages are under constant construction ! |
