For the majority of the last ten years the Mono2000 class has been the 'blue riband' class in the MRC. The class can claim one of the premier positions in the UK club single seater scene. These cars provide slicks and wings racing with the economy and reliability of a production 2000cc, 16v engine, in a state of tune that would be familiar to those driving the majority of road going Caterhams and Westfields that use similar engines.
The baseline parameters are: at least 170bhp with an all up minimum weight, including driver of 560kg. This equates to an adequate power to weight ratio with enough power to make the wings an asset rather than an adornment. Wings and tyres and chassis are free but for the club's requirement that the chassis be built for the 2003 season or earlier. Prices vary from around £6,000 for a FVL that may have been driven by Coulthard to £15,000 (or sometimes more) for a successful Dallara chassis.
Chassis fall into three main categories. Recent ex Formula Three cars use carbon fibre monocoques, inevitably the newer cars are Dallara. These combine incredible rigidity and peerless safety but are more expensive and higher technology. Space frames chassis are found in recent Formula Ford 2000 based Van Diemen and the Formula Ireland cars by the same manufacturer. Older Formula Three cars (for example, the classic RT3) tend to be aluminium monocoques as do the Formula Vauxhall Lotuses which formed the backbone of the class a few years ago. A minimum ride height of 40mm evens out the track performance by negating the hard won aerodynamic ground effects that Dallara spent a fortune obtaining in the wind tunnel. Pre 1999 Formula Renault Sport cars are also eligible.
In recent years the Mono2000 championship has been won by both carbon fibre and space frame chassis. Past lap records indicate that the older style of car with an aluminium chassis could be successful but the club recognises the current the position of these older designs and a new 'Classic Cup' class has been agreed for the 2007 season.
The rules require a 2l iron block production engine without VVT. The class leaders have recently used Vauxhall 16v, Ford Zetec, VW and Toyota engines. Camshafts are standard. Certain fuel injection systems are allowed but the majority of cars use twin Weber carburettors.
The club is aware that technological progress is inevitably distancing the specification of recent F3 cars from MRC regulations. The Technical situation for Mono2000 is under constant review but the situation for 2007 is broadly as described above.
It should be obvious from the above description that anybody wishing to run a Mono2000 car successfully will need to be reasonably technically competent or be backed by an able team. Mono2000 cars with their carburettor engines and H pattern gearboxes are straightforward but cars are usually modified from their original specification and the work must be competently done if the car is to be reliable and safe.
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