Last Updated on Saturday, 29 October 2011 21:44 Written by Administrator Saturday, 29 October 2011 21:36

Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, this true professional Series is the strongest step to a rewarding career in motorsports. The Formula 1000 Championship Series was designed to provide a truly innovative and relatively low cost arena for open-wheel racing in North America, while providing a world of future opportunities and preparing drivers and teams for Indy Lights, IndyCar, Formula 3, GP2 and Formula 1.

The 2012 Formula 1000 Championship Series features 10 rounds over 5 weekends in the eastern half of North America and is first-class in every aspect. At the beginning of each year, the Series will hold a pre-season orientation program for registered drivers at a select track, where procedures for race weekends will be covered, so that all teams and drivers understand completely the activities involved and their responsibilities, both on and off the track.

Operating budgets are some of the lowest in professional racing with average annual expenses far less than $100,000. Formula 1000 features high revving engines, a high horsepower to weight ratio, paddle shifters and open aerodynamics.

F1000 cars are more ecology friendly (requiring less fuel than most racecars) yet are powered by 1 liter, 4 cylinder racing engines that rev over 12,000 rpm with power ranges upward of 180 hp. Weighing only 1,000 lbs (with driver) these cars are capable of speeds in excess of 150 mph. They feature tremendous acceleration, braking and cornering speeds. With a performance range just under Formula Atlantic or Formula 3.

The Formula 1000 Championship Series is open to all SCCA homologated F1000 (FB) cars. This is not a spec series. Shifting systems are un-restricted but cannot be automatic. Goodyear Tires are the exclusive tires of the Series. Tire warmers are allowed. Sunoco 260 GTX is the exclusive fuel of the Series.

Aerodynamics are open (within the Series regulated dimensions) that encourage innovation by the teams and manufacturers. Again, this is not just another "spec" series. Drivers learn much more about how suspension and aero changes effect the cars handling and teaches them to give better feedback to their engineers, which in turn provides better driver development for the upper levels of motorsport.

Drivers 15 years of age and older are eligible with new criteria being established to enable drivers with strong karting experience to obtain their Pro license. This is a major step in a young driver's career. The Series will hold Marketing/Sponsorship seminars during the season for its registered drivers and teams to provide the knowledge to succeed in the world of auto racing.

All races feature live timing & audio and on-demand webcasts on SpeedcastTV that can be watched around the world, free of charge, by anyone with internet access at any time. This puts the drivers and sponsors in the Formula 1000 Championship Series truly on the World's Stage. The Series' on-demand episodes feature all drivers in the Championship with in-depth, behind the scenes footage, interviews and more, and all races will be produced and packaged for TV broadcast. The Formula 1000 Championship Series will also utilize the social media including FaceBook, Twitter and YouTube to keep fans up to date on current events and activities.

There is a significant Prize Purse for the Formula 1000 Championship Series. At the end of season, the Series Champion will receive over $50,000 in cash and awards with additional cash prizes to 2nd & 3rd in points. A per-race Prize Purse of over $119,000 ($23,950 / event) in cash and prizes will run all season with cash payouts to 9th place. Numerous specialty and contingency awards are also available and a season-long Tow Fund has been put in place to assist Teams with travel expenses.

Beyond a healthy cash prize at the end of the season, the Series Champion will receive the choice or either a test with Fortec Motorsports in England or an Indy Lights test. Fortec Motorsports is one of the premier Teams in Europe and currently runs American Alexander Rossi in Formula Renault 3.5. The Series Champion will test with Fortec Motorsports in Formula Renault 2.0, or in Indy lights with a prominent team.

In addition, the Series Champion will receive an i-race Lotus-Renault GP experience at the world-famous Hungaroring, where they will spend an extensive day with the Lotus Renault GP Team driving Formula Renault 2.0 cars, Renault GT cars and then finally a couple laps in a Renault Formula One car. Other activities during the day include telemetry debriefs, physiotherapy training and the in-depth experience of what its like in the European world of motorsports.

The top-3 drivers of each race receive significant trophies in addition to their prize winnings, with the top-5 in points being awarded Championship trophies at the series ending Awards Banquet. The Overall Champion will be presented the Suzuki Cup, a perpetual trophy. This trophy (similar in function to the Borg-Warner trophy at Indianapolis) will feature the names and dates of all Championship winners and will be awarded to each year's Champion. The Champion will receive a replica trophy for keepsake and the perpetual trophy will travel and be on display at all Series events and promotions.