Training Wheels: Dallara rolls out Formulino racer
Click above to view a high-res gallery of the Dallara Formulino
Typically, race cars – especially formula single-seaters – are designed and built for a specific series. Nobody knows that better than Dallara. The Italian motorsports engineering firm designed and fabricates the chassis for GP2, the World Series by Renault, practically the entire Formula 3 grid and the Indy Racing League, to say nothing of its occasional dabbling in Formula 1, sportscar and Grand Am racing. But now they've decided to shake things up a bit by building the Formulino.
Italian for "little formula", the idea behind the Formulino project is to give aspiring racing drivers a point of entry into the world of formula racing with a straightforward and affordable Dallara racer, similar to the ones they'd be driving in the big leagues, only smaller. Three different levels of Formulino spec are available – Base, Plus and Pro – each with different suspension and aero packages. The chassis is a carbon monocoque, outfitted with a Hewland FTR gearbox capable of handling a range of engine options up to 260 horsepower. Prices start at 38,500 euros (about $51,600 USD) for the Base model (not far off from the Formula Vee car we drove) and range up to 65k euros ($87k) for the full-on Pro model, a chassis that already approaches F3 spec. Follow the jump for the press release, and don't forget to check out the high-resolution images in the gallery below.
Gallery: Dallara Formulino
[Source: Dallara]
PRESS RELEASE
Dallara Entry Level 'Formulino' Range is now Complete
Dallara today released further information about its entry level range of cars titled the Formulino (Little Formula in Italian). The latest addition is the Pro version which completes a 3 step range of cars, the Base, Plus and Pro, which can take a driver from a simple no wing or diffuser car up to a car close in specification to a Formula 3 car.
The primary objective behind the Formulino concept was to offer the best price/performance ratio in the single seater market. Conforming to the 2008 F3 FIA crash test regulations the car is as safe as a Dallara F3 car and with the same suspension layout the car offers a sufficiently wide range of suspension and aerodynamic (Plus and Pro) configurations to allow a driver to learn about car set up and its effects.
The Formulino is a robust, durable, economic and extremely safe entry level car that bridges the gap in the Dallara range from Go-Karting to Formula 3 and on through World Series by Renault, Gp2 and to Indy Car. The car gives a driver the opportunity to experience a modern carbon monocoqued race car in an affordable, safe and sensible way.
Utilising the Hewland tried and trusted FTR gearbox the Formulino can accept a wide range of different engines, up 260 BHP and a maximum torque of 280NM. Prices range from 38,500 euros for the Base model, 43,500 euros for the Plus and up to 65,000 euros for the Pro model.
The first customer to launch a series with the car was the German ADAC which utilized a Plus version car with a 1.6 FSi VW engine. The series started earlier in 2008 with 23 cars and had a very successful season and is planning an expanded series next year.
With the current economic down turn, affordable racing is a major world requirement and Dallara is pleased to be able to offer racing schools and potential entry level championship organisers a chance to get young drivers racing in a Dallara product with the Formulino range.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
biggins 12:09PM (1/10/2009)
want want want want want one.
ohhhhhhh so bad.
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AZZO45b 12:15PM (1/10/2009)
Nice group of race cars... so why is their only butt-ugly car the IRL chassis???
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slicecom 12:59PM (1/10/2009)
You beat me to it! I still can't comprehend how they managed to make the IRL cars so hideously ugly. Hopefully the new spec in 2010 makes the cars a little easier on the eyes.
jrhmobile 12:27PM (1/10/2009)
THIS is the kind of original thinking that can keep racing alive in the challenging times ahead.
Relatively inexpensive, but appropriately high-tech, equipment. A range of adjustability that teaches real lessons, which can be applied in more "advanced" series. Designed to be safe, fast and easily maintained. Dallara has truly earned a feather for its cap for this concept.
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tankd0g 12:55PM (1/10/2009)
$51k for a carbon tub and a Hewland!? That's got to be the best deal in Formula cars right now. Suck it Star Mazda!
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Mobius_1 12:46PM (1/10/2009)
Very good idea, would make formula racing more approachable to more than the lucky few.
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esteva03 12:50PM (1/10/2009)
87K for a race chassis. and lets be exaggerated and think of a 20K engine affordable engine. that is still far less than a skyline GTR Vspec or ACR Viper or ZR1. This would be awesome for a track car. If money would be tight i would buy this for the weekends.
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Jim R 12:50PM (1/10/2009)
Even if you don't want to participate in a race series, this would be a great track-day toy. Bolt a small-displacement four-cylinder up to the base model and go nuts.
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Andrew 1:54PM (1/10/2009)
Watch out, Ariel Atom!
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HotRodzNKustoms 1:35PM (1/10/2009)
It's kinda like those "grow-with-you" clothes your parents would buy you as a child haha
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hashiryu 3:28PM (1/10/2009)
mmmmm This + Formula Atlantic 4A-GE FTW.
Do Want!
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Tom Winch 4:43PM (1/10/2009)
"Prices start at 38,500 euros (about $51,600 USD) for the Base model (not far off from the Formula Vee car we drove) and range up to 65k euros ($87k) for the full-on Pro model, a chassis that already approaches F3 spec."
$51,600 not that far off of the Formula Vee you drove? You can get good used Formula Vee's for less than $10K, brand new for $23,000 and that's with the motor. The prices for the Dallaras are for rolling chassis, you supply the motor, so it's going to be more in the $55 - 60K range, and that's for the base model. You can buy a new SCCA Enterprises Formula car with motor for that price, and it would be comparable to the $87K (without motor) Dallara. Check it out, http://www.scca-enterprises.com/fscca_srscca.html
Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on the Dallaras, I'm sure they're fantastic machines, it's just that the article is somewhat misleading as to how cost effective it would be to race one of these cars.
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Kilonum 5:32PM (1/11/2009)
If I had the money I'd start a spec series using those with 4cyl VW TDI engines.
Cars must get their fuel from the nearest Fry-o-later.
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JSams4131 7:00PM (1/10/2009)
Honestly when i graduated i always wanted an ariel atom...but this would be uber sweeeet.
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