MSA FORMULA ON TARGET TO DELIVER
French constructor Mygale are on schedule to deliver the first batch of chassis. Photo: www.jakobebrey.com
As promised at launch, the first 15 of the FIA-certified Ford EcoBoost-powered chassis which will contest 2015’s new MSA Formula championship are on target for release to teams by the end of this month.
Work on the carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, designed to meet exacting FIA safety standards, continues apace at the Magny-Cours factory of respected French constructor Mygale, with a target date of 30 or 31 December for completion of the first batch. “We have finalised the development of the prototype and now we are pushing to deliver the first batch of 15 cars by the end of the year,” said Mygale chairman Bertrand Decoster. “It has been very hard work; we have more than 40 people here working on assembly, and everything is going well so far. By the end of January we plan to have completed a further 12 cars, with the rest finished during February.”
The fulfilment of the completion date promise means that all 12 of the teams who have secured the 32 available MSA Formula chassis will receive at least one car by year’s end to enable them to begin preparation work and driver testing ahead of the 4/5 April opening rounds of MSA Formula – Certified by FIA, powered by Ford EcoBoost. The order book was opened at the car’s September launch event at Silverstone and was oversubscribed within an hour.
“We made a promise at Silverstone that 15 cars would be available by the end of the year and, thanks in no small part to the diligence of Mygale, we are on target to deliver on that promise,” said Gerard Quinn, Head of Ford Racing in Europe. “Our 12 teams will be able to schedule their workshop time effectively, get to know the new chassis, and prepare themselves well for pre-season testing to begin as soon as the weather permits.”
The new chassis, which Mygale is supplying also to the Australian, Chinese and Spanish markets, is designed around FIA F3-level safety requirements, including front and rear impact-absorbing structures, anti-intrusion side panels, roll hoops, FIA head restraint system, wheel restraining cables, FIA safety seat and retractable steering wheel and column. Its maker Mygale was founded in 1989; its first car was a Formula Ford and Mygale chassis have gone on to win championships around the globe, including the last 10 Formula Ford championships in Britain.
The motive power for the new car, the 1.6-litre DI turbocharged EcoBoost – a mainstay of Ford’s performance car range – is a 160 PS development of the unit which has successfully powered Formula Ford in Britain for the last three seasons, designed and manufactured by Ford in Britain. The engines and their electronic management systems will be supplied in sealed form following dyno testing and power matching by France-based engine tuner Sodemo.
MSA Formula – Certified by FIA, Powered by Ford EcoBoost is Britain’s official version of the FIA’s Formula 4 concept and will be the British Touring Car Championship’s single-seater support series, enjoying live TV coverage and bumper raceday spectator attendance. The 12 teams who will contest it are Arden Motorsport, Carlin, Double R Racing, Falcon Motorsport, Fortec Motorsport, JHR Developments, JTR, MBM Motorsport, Richardson Racing, Scorpio Motorsport, SWB Motorsport and Team Pyro.
The championship will be decided over 30 races; three at each of the 10 BTCC meetings to be held between April and October.
