| Formula One Racing is, quite simply, the | | | | 1000 bhp (a scale for horsepower) has not been |
| paramount of karting. It is the professional form | | | | topped - it is up to the teams to produce an |
| of the sport in its entirety. Formula One is an | | | | engine which would fare well supporting speed as |
| international phenomenon, a media conglomerate | | | | well as support the chassis. And as we know, |
| that rakes in millions and millions of dollars a year | | | | there is a snug open cockpit for Jarno Trulli to |
| from advertising, sponsorship, and broadcast | | | | maneuver his machine in. |
| revenues. Professional drivers with millionaire bank | | | | Construction of Formula One race cars is |
| accounts race these majestic kart marvels that | | | | unprecedented. The first rule of thumb in |
| are unprecedented, flush with technological luxuries | | | | designing a bonafide piece of framework is to |
| - everything from hard to produce lightweight | | | | make it weigh as least as possible. Less kart |
| frames that glide the machine to tires with | | | | weight correlates to faster speeds. For this |
| unsurpassed grooving style that exemplify | | | | reason, team brains use lightweight material that |
| powerful movement on the circuit. | | | | is hard to construct. The minimum weight of a |
| There is no sport that bests epitomizes the term | | | | kart must be 600 kg including the driver. This |
| "global sport" like Formula One racing. Many | | | | ensures a level playing field, although teams are |
| countries serve as active participants in shaping | | | | allowed to keep their money making construction |
| the professional karting scene - for example, | | | | methods a secret from other teams. Team staff |
| Malaysia is a hot spot for racing (Fernando Alonso, | | | | is very highly regarded in the Formula One |
| a Spanish-born driver under Team Renault | | | | business. Their technological and dynamical |
| recently won a race there) and Italy plays a vital | | | | know-how of the machines they build is a valuable |
| role in designing and manufacturing first class, | | | | asset to any team. And like free agents, they are |
| top-of-the-line karts. Drivers and racing | | | | lured and signed by the likes of companies |
| personalities hail from all parts of the word - you | | | | creating a recruiting war for their services. Of |
| have the charismatic and popular Italian Renault | | | | course, there are restrictions for creating karts. |
| boss Flavio Briatore, the handsome young 23 year | | | | You cannot add nitro boosts to your machine or |
| old racing prodigy in Fernando Alonso who stars in | | | | use technology that resembles life in the year |
| a Renault Megane commercial with his pet pig, and | | | | 3000. Teams are always looking to bend the rules |
| one of the highest earning sports figures in world | | | | slightly and coming up ways to beat the |
| history in Michael Schumacher. Rivalries are | | | | competition legally. |
| common in Formula One - adding the edge of | | | | Professional kart tires have to have optimum |
| excitement with every zip of the curve and | | | | characteristics to ensure smooth driving. For one, |
| nitrous boost of the machine. | | | | tires have to have grooving technology built into |
| In order to better become acquainted with | | | | them. For the novices, grooves are indented lines |
| Formula One racing, we must understand its | | | | in tires that allow for it to slow down considerably |
| organization. Karting goes way beyond pitting 3 | | | | on turns and to adapt to the track surface. No |
| 2-cycle engine machines against each other on an | | | | matter what the technology, kart tires are simply |
| oval circuit. Formula One is divided into drivers | | | | not adept at withstanding the rigors of asphalt, |
| & their respective teams. Under such | | | | concrete, and dirt. For this reason, Formula One |
| trademark car companies like Renault, Ferrari, and | | | | racers are allotted two pit stops during the course |
| Toyota - each driver has an assembling cast of | | | | of a 57 lap race to change tires. If you've ever |
| staffers consisting of mechanics, engineers, and | | | | watched a Formula One race, team staffers with |
| designers all working towards one goal: to make | | | | lightning quick hands have an extremely limited |
| that speedster faster using all the resources at | | | | time for which to remove and replace tires in the |
| their disposal. Headed by team bosses that are | | | | pit stop - often times not exceeding over 7 |
| adept at creating sponsorship opportunities and | | | | seconds! Regulations are placed on tire grooves (a |
| assembling the best cast for each team, Formula | | | | minimum of four) to allow for an even playing |
| One employs the finest specialists in the business | | | | field for all racers. Remember enthusiasts, |
| with backgrounds in computer and automobile - | | | | grooves serve more to slow down the kart than |
| even specialists with aerospace experience! High | | | | to speed it up. |
| end, (rare technology reserved for space | | | | Chassis construction with its illustrious carbon fiber |
| projects) in some instances, create the fastest | | | | material, tires with indented grooves, team |
| and most efficient car possible. According to FI | | | | specialists with a knack for speed, and engines |
| rules, racing teams must design, construct, and | | | | which burn heat like calories is the epitome of a |
| built their own karts from scratch. The staff is | | | | Formula One race car. All of these attributes |
| the pride of each individual team - capable and | | | | contribute to the performance of the vehicle in |
| able to win every 57 lap enduro race from | | | | racing lap after lap. As a result of all this |
| Malaysia to Great Britain. | | | | technology, Formula One cars leave people |
| Formula One cars can be summed up in two | | | | breathless reaching consistent speeds of 200 mph. |
| words: technological marvels. These sleek, low | | | | on the race track. More impressive is the time |
| riding gems ripping through laps at speeds topping | | | | needed to go from 0 mph to 100 mph - 5 |
| 200 mph. consist of more than just a chassis, an | | | | seconds! Formula One is only moving forward with |
| engine, and four wheels. For starters, the engine is | | | | the advent of new features - like improved |
| located behind the cockpit as opposed to standard | | | | horsepower engines, more lightweight materials, |
| automobiles. They consist of 10 cylinder engines | | | | new ballasts to add weight to the car, and more. |
| that produce heat which propel the kart forward. | | | | Behind that stylish, mind blowing chassis that pique |
| Team engineers are always looking into ways to | | | | our interest is that top-class technology that |
| make their engines more powerful. Currently, | | | | makes Formula One racing so great. |