Motorsport Development UK

Approached positively, change can mean opportunity. The single-seater market is currently in a state of flux, perhaps more so than at any other time in recent history, so what does this mean for businesses in Motorsport Valley?

New (what might be called second division) formulae and changes to the regulations of current formulae, all appearing over the next 12 months, will alter the landscape. Some of these formulae may be the preserve of Italian or French suppliers. However, there is enough remaining in the hands of British chassis and engine manufacturers to provide meaningful work for the inhabitants of “the Valley”.

For years Formula 3000 was a British preserve. Indeed, since it became a spec formula in 1996 the chassis has come from Lola, while the engine has been the Zytek (née Judd) KV. A replacement formula, to be known as GP2, was announced for 2005, again mainly running alongside Formula 1. Lola was optimistic that it would continue to be the chassis manufacturer. Zytek, having just purchased the former Reynard chassis division and now offering itself as a one-stop solution for one make formulae, was hoping that it, too, might be able to win the chassis work itself and provide a complete car.

In the event the contracts for chassis and engine went to an Italian and French manufacturer respectively. As a Lola spokesman has said, “it could not get much starker than last January.” However, within 10 days the position had changed for Lola with the signing of the contract to supply as many as 50 chassis for the new A1 GP concept. Zytek's engine division could at least breathe a sigh of relief as it was chosen to supply 58 dedicated ZA1348 V8 engines for the series, all to be delivered by August. At its new Banbury chassis operation concerned faces could still be seen; man cannot live on sports car alone, however quick their 04S Le Mans contender is. Even these long countenances were not to last as plans for the first all Zytek (chassis, engine and electronics) single seater was soon announced, the GP Masters racer. Zytek will also supply its innovative EGS (electronic gearshift system) for both series.

Continued involvement at this level by the major British chassis and engine manufacturers must be reassuring news for the UK second and third tier companies. Lola, for example, points out how it looks primarily to British suppliers. “We understand our heritage,” says Lola's Sam Smith.

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