As the BRDC Formula 4 championship moved to Silverstone, the series unveiled the new car for the 2016 Season. It was made as to improve the performance and enhance the overall package. The MSV’s goal was to make it a logical feeder series to Formula 3 and GP3.
The car has taken on a carbon-fibre chassis that will use the Tatuus-Cosworth FIA F4 survival cell and is in-line with the latest FIA F3 safety standards. Continuing with its improvements, it will use the new Cosworth 230bhp 4 cylinder engine as to help increase the performance of the car.
Jonathan Palmer, MSV Chief Executive who was also at the car launch said “Our new BRDC F4 car is an extremely exciting new concept that is the culmination of a year of careful deliberation by MSV. Our current BRDC F4 car pioneered the introduction of affordable single-seater racing in 2012 and has been highly acclaimed.”
“We have now used our unrivalled and growing experience of junior single-seater racing to introduce a new car that will not just take over from our original BRDC F4 chassis but fill an obvious gap in the international single-seater career ladder.” The aim of the series is move away from the 15 year old racer and create a bridge between the FIA European Formula 3 Series and the FIA F4 championships already filled by MSA Formula in the UK.
BRDC F4 will also look at keeping cost down on top of the improvements. Despite this annual budgets for teams will go up from £80,000 – £120,000 for the season, to £90,000 to £135,000. This will need to be spread out over the eight weekends planned.
Despite the cost increase Palmer still backed it up by saying; “[The] New BRDC F4 will be the most incredible championship, combining high performance, great equality of equipment, highest levels of safety and remarkably low cost. BRDC F4 is sure to nurture the talent of F1 drivers of the future.”
As for Tatuus, the new chassis will be lighter, reducing weight from 515kg to 495kg as well as improvement of 47% on downforce compared with the current car. These changes along with the increased power should mean that lap times will reduce by around 4 seconds, as the Tatuus Racing directors flew in from Italy for the car launch.
While, Gianfranco de Bellis, the commercial director of the Italian company said: “This is a very significant venture for us and we wanted to be here at the launch personally. We are delighted that Tatuus was selected by MSV to provide the chassis for the next evolution of the BRDC F4 Championship. For us, the UK is an incredibly significant market and to be associated with such a strong championship is a very positive thing for Tatuus.”
The Tatuus-Cosworth MSV F4-016 will make its debut this winter with the Autumn Trophy that will feature eight races from 2 weekends. After this it is planned to be used in the championship for another four years. Currently, of the 26 commisioned cars, 24 have already been sold to existing and new teams with the hope of expanding the grid.
