Formula Racing
The Formula Ford Engine Evolution
Car racing is a sensational feast, with a truckload of muscle thrown in. It doesn't matter whether you are a driver or a spectator, you can feel the adrenaline rush as the engines start. The celebration as the chequered flag waves in the victor is much like people welcoming back a victorious army and the skills of the drivers are very exciting to behold. Aside from all these, what makes this event greater are the automobiles themselves and, like all other forms of technology, the motors used in these cars have come a long way.
The first Formula Ford race cars utilised the 1500 cc Cortina GT. The engine was not made for racing, but for the company's mass market mid-size vehicle of the same name. However, its four-speed manual transmission meant that it could be driven fast. It was used at Geoffrey Clark's Motor Racing Stables in the United Kingdom. After a few British races in 1967, the Cortina was replaced by the OHV 1600 Kent Engine, which was originally developed for the Anglia. With this, the racing automobiles featured a longer stroke, huge torque, and higher capacity.
1994 saw a turning point when the Kent was replaced by the more modern and much powerful 1800 cc 16-valve Zetec. It was a 3.5 litre V8 motor, and it made its initial appearance with the Benetton team and powered Michael Schumacher's first world championship title during the same year. However, a slight problem of the motor was its weight. It was heavy, and this made handling more difficult. In 2006, a much lighter 1600 Duratec motor was introduced. It provided more power and addressed both speed and weight concerns. These features made the new machine the engine of choice in most races.
Despite these dramatic changes, the chassis continues to lack a wing to limit the cars to a mechanical grip. The vehicles also remain extremely light, enabling them to reach top speeds of around 150 miles per hour.