US F4: Crawford chassis passes final crash test

SCCA Pro Racing and Crawford Composites are ready to move into production of its F4 chassis after the carbon-fiber monocoque passed its final crash test. Concerns over production delays surfaced last week when it was learned some chassis components had yet to pass FIA crash certification, yet with news of Thursday’s successful completion of that testing, SCCA Pro Racing president Derrick Walker says plans are moving forward and on schedule the series’ debut.

“Positive results for the SCCA Pro Racing’s F 4 introduction with the passing of the required FIA crash test with flying colors,” Walker told RACER. “Lime Rock, 25th of May, here we come!"

The FIA F4 United States Championship is set to launch at Lime Rock as part of a five-weekend, 15-round season. Honda engines and Pirelli tires will complete the American-built chassis. The decision on whether Honda’s 4-cylinder K20 C1 2.0-liter engine will be delivered as a turbocharged unit, or as a naturally-aspirated motor, is expected to be provided shortly, according to Walker.

“Honda Performance Development is doing the final tests, and from there, they’ll tell us which direction that will go,” he said. “They’re dealing directly with the FIA on that, and I don’t expect an answer to be that long in arriving.”