FORMULA LITES: Honda Racing/HPD announce new engine package for 2016 season

Honda Performance Development (HPD) announced at the PRI Show its long-term commitment to the Formula Lites series by unveiling a new engine package for 2016 and beyond. Working with Formula Lites and chassis supplier Crawford Composites, HPD plans to provide its new Honda Civic-based K20-series engine as a replacement for the current K24 used with great success in this year's Formula Lites debut season.

Powerful and compact, the powerplant is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder currently found in European models of the Honda Civic Type-R. A retrofitted Formula Lites Crawford FL-15 chassis and K20 Honda engine package was unveiled at the Honda/HPD booth today as part of the announcement, complete with a striking new series graphics scheme.

The announcement also signals a significant boost in power, torque and performance for future Formula Lites teams and drivers. While final horsepower ratings and launch date have yet to be determined, the flexibility and efficiency of the new turbocharged K20 will be well above the current K24 Formula Lite rating of 220 horsepower. The increased performance will easily be adopted into the current Formula Lites chassis and drivetrain, which was originally designed by Crawford for even greater reliability and cost-effectiveness demands.

The announcement also further defines Formula Lites' unique step on Honda's American open-wheel racing ladder, with the recently announced Formula 4 program serving as the entry point. Both series sharing the Formula Lites' created Crawford FL-15 carbon fiber chassis, but the F4 platform currently houses a naturally-aspirated Honda K20 2.0-liter engine, producing the FIA-mandated 158 horsepower.

As seen from behind the Formula Lites chassis, the Honda K20 power plant fits very well into the car's carbon fiber monocoque. Testing of the new engine package is expected to commence soon. (Formula Lites image)

Both series also share the corporate and technical support of Pirelli Tires, a supporter of the Formula Lites concept from the project's onset.

"This announcement is an exciting next step in the evolution of our Formula Lites series," explained co-managing partner Dennis McCormack. "Our rapidly growing list of teams and drivers for the 2016 season will now experience an even more cutting-edge Formula Lites racecar that builds on a nearly bulletproof package. Honda's willingness and ability to provide such a great engine upgrade is a testament to their commitment to our vision of world-class open-wheel racing at an affordable cost."

Formula Lites expects to release a final 2016 race schedule over the coming weeks, as well as additional corporate partnership news.

Left-side view of a newly installed Honda K20 engine in the Formula Lites Crawford FL-15 shows placement of turbocharger and exhaust for 2016. (Formula Lites image.)