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