Speedcar Series will feature an eight-date, 16 race calendar on tracks across Asia and the Middle East.
GRAND RACING EVENTS
Speedcar Series will form part of the Grand Racing events featuring exciting 2-day race meetings in partnership with GP2 Asia.
The Grand Racing events will feature more than 6 hours of combined racing action offering spectators a similarly thrilling program on both Race Day 1 and Race Day 2.
Tough competition, cheering crowds, globally renowned drivers, action-packed events, an audience of billions and millions of dollars in prize money – it’s a whole new level of motorsports excitement from the region, for the region. The inaugural SPEEDCAR Series Championship will start its annual tour on the grid in November 2007 and accelerate across several countries, spanning the Middle East, Asia and Australasia. Featuring 24 drivers competing in identical V8 620bhp stock cars, deliberately lacking electronic driver aids – meaning the racing is close, exciting and thrilling for TV and trackside spectators.
Legendary Formula One champions fighting high calibre international drivers and young, upcoming aces, for the SPEEDCAR Series Championship title - pushing limits in numerous exciting races, across several thrilling events. All drivers primed for the challenge as they fix their sights on the chequered flag. The SPEEDCAR Series brings unique motorsports entertainment that will enthral spectators in these regions.
Jean Alesi, Johnny Herbert, Gianni Morbidelli, Narain Karthikeyan and Stefan Johansson, to name but a few, join Speedcar Series entertaining fans over the 2-day race events featuring the following racing action:
RACE DAY 1
Free Practice
Qualifying
Race 1 (90 miles – or 45 minutes)
RACE DAY 2
Warm Up
Race 2 (90 miles – or 45 minutes)
Below are the race calendar:
1. Bahrain Circuit - Nov 3rd, 2007
2. Dubai Autodrome - Nov 17th, 2007
3. TBC - Dec 16th, 2007
4. Dubai Autodrone - Jan 26th, 2008
5. Sentul Track, Jakarta - Feb 17th, 2008
6. Sepang Circuit, Malaysia - Mar 22nd, 2008
7. Bahrain Circuit - April 5th, 2008
8. Dubai Autodrome - April 12th, 2008
Drivers:
- Jean Alesi #27
- Johnny Herbert #69
- Nahrain Karthikeyan #05
- Gianni Morbidelli #10
- Stefan Johansson #07
- Ukyo Katayama #06
- GPC #20, #21
- Team First Centreville #17, #71
Racing Cars Specifications:
MANUFACTURER
Custom-built for Speedcar Series
ENGINE:
Type: V8 Speedcar Engines
Capacity: 6 L
Power: V8 620 hp @ 7500 rpms
Torque: 680 Nm
Gearbox: 4 gears H type
Clutch: Clutch assembly and bell housing
CHASSIS AND BODYWORK:
Chassis: Tubular
Bodywork: Fiberglass and Metal
Braking system: Steel, 6 pistons front, 4 pistons rear
Weight: 1200 Kg (excluding driver and fuel)
Length: 5283mm
Width: 2032mm
Height: 1321mm
CHASSIS:
Made and designed by Speedcar Series, the Speedcar stock car chassis are made of fibreglass and metal bodywork material.
Driver protection is ensured through the roll cage as part of the frame of the race car,
DIMENSIONS:
Overall length: 5283mm
Wide track: 2032mm
Height: 1321mm
The car's overall height can be adjusted and changed depending on track conditions and driver preferences.
ENGINE:
The Speedcar Engine was developed specifically for the Speedcar Series. Using type V8 engines Speedcar Series developed, through extensive testing sessions in the US and the Middle East, a reliable engine that will serve stock car racing on road tracks well.
Due to severe weather conditions expected at most Speedcar tracks special attention was paid to engine cooling and engine insulation to prevent overheating and extensive dust absorption.
The 6 litre V8 Speedcar unit developing 620 bhp will perform during the entire season.
DETAILS:
Max Torque: 680 Nm
Max Power: 620 bhp
Gearbox: 4 gears H-Type
Clutch: Clutch assembly and bell housing
A key component to any high-powered racing engine is air. Air is the essential ingredient for combustion to take place in the engine. The air needed is sucked through the multiple air intakes, located in the front bumpers, onwards to the air filter located on top of the engine below the engine cover.
FRAME:
Protecting the driver during race accidents SPEEDCAR Series race cars are equipped with what is known as a roll cage, as opposed to the monocoque used in open wheel racing cars.
The roll cage forms part of the frame, which consists of a structure of steel tubes varying in thickness and reinforced by gussets at many of the crossing points.
While the roll cage is made of the thickest tubing, the front and rear sections of the frame, called the front and rear clip, are built of thinner steel tubing in order to allow for crushing and thus shock absorption upon impact. In addition, the front clip is designed to push the engine out of the bottom of the car, rather than into the driver's compartment, during an accident.
Race Principles:
UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES
The same car for each team means the following:
- same engine (Speedcar Engines)
- same chassis (Speedcar Series - Tubular Stock Chassis)
- same fuel
- same tyres - 2 types: wet and dry
SPEEDCAR FUEL
All Speedcars run on control race fuel rated at 100 RON. This 100 octane unleaded gasoline is similar to the high performance fuel available to buy from regular service stations.
The fuel tank is a flexible bag (aka fuel cell), which can contain 121 litres (32 gallons) of fuel, enough to last the duration of a Speedcar race. The fuel cell is designed to be flexible preventing fuel leaks and potentially a fire in case of an accident, deforming the bag rather than puncturing it.
SCRUTINEERING / INSPECTION
Scrutineering checks serve the purpose to ensure that all Speedcar Drivers compete under the same conditions.
Checks are performed on the car's measurements as well as on fuel mixture and general set up and take on average between 5-10 min. A team of specialised Speedcar Engines personnel and Speedcar technicians performs this process.
WHAT IS CHECKED AND HOW?
Jigs are used to measure the car's set up and measurements, while a computerised process is used to check fuel samples.
WHAT HAPPENS IN CASE OF NOTED DISCREPANCIES?
In case of noted discrepancies to the regulations set out in the SPEEDCAR Technical Regulations a sporting fine is determined by the Stewards and rectified by the local National Sporting Authority (ASN).
The Stewards Team consists of 2 local ASN representatives and 1 Speedcar representative.
Speedcar encourages its fans to view these inspections during its race events.
RACE FORMAT
The event is held over 2 consecutive days.
RACE DAY 1:
Official Practice Session
Qualifying
Race 1
RACE DAY 2:
Warm Up
Race 2
Both Races comprise of a rolling start and a distance of 90 miles or 45 minutes in duration.
No refuelling is allowed during either race.
Glossary of Speedcar Racing can be found here.
Racing Brochure can be downloaded here (PDF)
Source: Speedcars Series
