BRDC F4 agrees Tatuus FIA F4 deal

BRDC Formula 4 will use the Tatuus FIA F4 chassis from late 2015 after agreeing an exclusive UK deal with the Italian constructor.

Series chief Jonathan Palmer has agreed a multi-year deal that will see the carbon-composite monocoque chassis replace BRDC F4's existing spaceframe car from next season's autumn championship to 2019.

The car, which is already used in the Italian F4 Championship and has been selected by German organising club ADAC to replace the country's Formel Masters category, will likely be powered by UK series' current two-litre Ford Duratec engine.

MSV has ordered 26 Tatuus cars, with an option on an extra four likely to be taken up in the next month, and will then sell the cars onto teams for 35,000, minus 15,000 for those trading in their old cars.

The Tatuus, which has been built to the FIA's F4 safety regulations and should make BRDC F4 open to 15-year-olds, will undergo a three-month testing programme with MSV before teams take delivery of their chassis in September.

"It's a very nice car and Tatuus clearly has an excellent reputation and experience from Formula Renault," said Palmer. "It was possible to introduce it for next year's championship but delaying it means the whole transition is smoother for the teams. We want to ensure the teams have plenty of time with the Tatuus – we don't want them to do any development.

Tatuus principal Gianfranco de Bellis added: "For us, it is just fantastic to have this opportunity to supply the new car for the BRDC Formula 4 Championship. This is a new and important partnership and we will do our best to reciprocate this trust."

The Tatuus will make its UK race debut in an expanded version of the current BRDC F4 Winter Series next autumn, before coming on stream in the main series for 2016.

The championship's existing teams can secure their orders if they confirm by next Friday, Sept. 12 and pay a five percent deposit by Oct. 1.