US Formula 1000 Championship

The series

The US Formula 1000 Championship was created in 2013 when the F1000 Pro Series and the Formula 1000 National Championship joined together to create a new national racing series for Formula 1000 cars. The series consists of three championships in one. The US Formula 1000 Championship West, The US Formula 1000 Championship East, and an overall US Formula 1000 Championship.

The format for the US Formula 1000 championship calls for each of the championship series (East and West) to run an equal number of events independently of each other as part of the SCCA SafeRacer national racing program, with points to be awarded based on in-class finishing positions at each event. Each series will crown a separate US Formula 1000 East and US Formula 1000 West Champion with an overall US Formula 1000 Champion decided at the SCCA National Runoffs in September at Road America.

The series first race was held as a joint East-West shootout event at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on March 9, 2013 and was won by Lawrence Loshak in a JDR F1000. It was followed by a second race the next day which was won by Jose Gerardo in a Stohr.

History

The Sport Car Club of America (SCCA) created the Formula 1000 (otherwise known as FB) class in 2007. The SCCA granted the class national status immediately, allowing Formula 1000 to participate in all national club races with the exception the SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

To be able to compete as a class (FB) in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, the class was required to have an average of 2.5 entries per national race. The class achieved that in 2009 and was invited to the National Championship Runoffs for the first time in 2010.

Beginning with the first year of SCCA FB national competition, the Formula 1000 National Championship was created to increase interest in the class and build entries. In 2007 and 2008, the Formula 10000 National Championship was a single race, held during American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta. Justin Pritchard won the race both years in a Piper chassis.

In 2009, the Formula 1000 National Championship became a true national championship and was a series within a series. While it was run as a separate entity to the SCCA, it counted SCCA races as part of its series. This meant that all drivers throughout the US scored points at their respective SCCA races that counted toward the season-long Formula 1000 National championship. Glenn Cooper won the first Formula 1000 National Championship in 2009.

In 2010 the West Coast-based F1000 Pro Series was formed. It was run in a similar manner to the F1000 National Championship as a series within a series, separate from SCCA FB but counting races within the SCCA as part of its series. The first year consisted of a format of 15 selected races where drivers counted points earned from 10 of those races towards a drivers championship. It also had a Manufacturer's Cup for F1000 constructors. The series first race was held at Phoenix Raceway in March 2010 and was won by Phil deLaO in a Phoenix Raceworks F1000. The series first driver's champion was Nicholas Belling of Canada driving a Firman RFR-F1000. The Manufacturer's Cup was won by Stohr Cars, who would go on to win the cup in 2011 and 2012.

For 2011 the format was changed to ten races over five weekends at selected events (mostly SCCA national races) with points scored in all races. The format would be continue in 2012. It is under this format that the US Formula 1000 Championship is primarily based.

At the end of the 2012 season the F1000 National Championship and the F1000 Pro Series decided to join forces. As of 2013 the series was to consist of a US Formula 1000 Championship East and a US Formula 1000 Championship West. The US Formula 1000 Championship will be decided at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Because the US Formula 1000 Championship will be decided based on season-long points the driver who wins the US Formula 1000 Championship may be different from the SCCA National champion.

Cars

The SCCA General Competition Rules define the Formula 1000 car as follows: "A formula for purpose built, open-wheel, open cockpit racing cars. F1000 allows converted Formula Continental, Formula 2000, Formula F, and purpose-built motorcycle-powered tube frame chassis."

With more than 13 manufacturers Formula 1000 boast more manufacturers than other open-wheel formula class in the world. Manufacturers build purpose built Formula 1000 cars as a rolling chassis or provide kits for converting F2000 cars into F1000. Most provide cars race ready complete with engine and data system package. Purpose built manufacturers include Stohr, Firman, Phoenix, JDR, Astra, Speads, Philadelphia, Edge, and Elan. Manufacturers that convert existing cars include Piper, Citation, and Novak, who convert the Van Dieman. Others provide modified upgrade designs for existing purpose built cars.

Formula 1000 is also one of the few open-wheel racing classes that allow paddle shifters. There are multiple manufacturers of paddle shifters in Formula 1000.

It is possible to use any 4-cycle motorcycle based 1000cc engine. Most popular is the Suzuki GSXR engine. But there are also cars with Honda, Kawasaki, BMW or Yamaha engine.

2014 US Formula 1000 Championship Race Winners

Note: 2014 saw the first standing starts in SCCA club racing when the US Formula 1000 Championship conducted standing starts at Pacific and Portland.

Current points system

Points are awarded to finishing drivers in each race using the following system:

Drivers take their best 8 out of possible 10 finishes to determine their positions in East or West Driver's Championship. Those points are then combined with double points earned in the final championship race to determine the overall US Formula 1000 Drivers Champion.