Proposal for new Open-Wheel Racing Series

 When a longtime racing marque is unhappy with the direction their series is going, they have the ability to make some serious noise in their neck of the woods. Ferrari has shown great disinterest in the proposed Formula One regulations to take effect in 2013, and may possibly pull out of the sport.

Ferrari will race, it's just a matter of where. Ferrari has the money, and could make a serious splash by announcing a brand new open-wheel racing series to compete against Indycar (with the new Dallara chassis) and Formula One (with the new turbo engines).

A lot of disappointed parties could come together to make a great racing series. This is my proposal...

 The World Open-Wheel Racing Championship (WORC)

Teams may have no more than two cars, and will adopt an F1 style Constructor's Championship. Individual points will be awarded only the Top 8 drivers.

Points Standings

The points work as follows:

1st Place: 20
2nd Place: 14
3rd Place: 10
4th Place: 8
5th Place: 6
6th Place: 4
7th Place: 3
8th Place: 1

All WORC vehicles would use the same Swift #23 concept tub for their vehicles. This was a design rejected by Indycar in favor of longtime partner Dallara. It shows great promise for road racing and would likely be much more flexible across the globe.

Manufacturers could build their own aerodynamic body kits so long as they meet some specific requirements.

• Must include "Mushroom Buster" technology from Swift designed to improve the handling of the trailing car. In many open-wheel series, the trailing car is at a significant disadvantage in the corners, usually due to 'aero push', the abnormal understeer caused by lack of air to the front of the car. This technology is currently used in Formula Nippon.
• Underbody must partially shield front suspension arms from debris damage.
• Must incorporate fuel and position "SwiftLights" on both sides of the chassis. Fuel will be indicated in a color-coded strip. Green for full, gradually turning to yellow at 50%, then to orange at 25%, and finally to red at 5% fuel.
• Downforce levels will be set to 2007 Champ Car levels, and changes are not to exceed a 3% change of the base downforce (average angle for both front and rear).

WORC teams will be allowed to run either naturally aspirated or turbocharged, with varying specifications for each type of engine.

Teams will only be allowed to use ten (10) engines during the season per car. Teams who exceed the amount incur a 5 position grid penalty for every race afterwards. This rule goes into effect for the second season; the first season is exempt.

Turbocharged/Supercharged Engines:

• 2000 cc (2.0 Litre) six cylinder single turbocharged or supercharged engines (I-6 or V6 is acceptable)
• May not run higher than 29.4 psi (2 bar) of boost from a single turbocharger. The turbocharger itself may be no larger than 88 mm. Turbo 'spikes' may also not exceed 2 bar. Power output may not exceed 700 horsepower, but may be no lower than 625 horsepower.
• Enigne may not exceed 14,000 rpm (Rev limiter may be installed between 12,500 to 13,500 rpm only).
  

Naturally Aspirated Engines:

• 2400 cc (2.4 Litre) V8 engines
• Power output may not exceed 700 horsepower, but must not be below 625 horsepower.
• Enigne may not exceed 16,000 rpm (Rev limiter may be installed between 14,500 to 15,500 rpm only).

Cars are targeted to reach a maximum speed of 225 mph on the largest ovals (i.e. Michigan) and be able to go around 200 mph on fast road courses (i.e. Spa-Francorchamps, Monza).

Fuel economy should be roughly 3.0 miles per gallon under green flag conditions, under caution the economy should double to around 6.0 miles per gallon.

Innovation:

Immediate problems are subject to constant scrutiny and development by WORC engineers and part concepts are provided to each team to test.

Minor Innovations: Proposed technological advancements to the engine and chassis are up for development during three-year periods.

• Year 1: Discussion/Debate on Merits
• Year 2: If passed by majority of teams, prototypes are tested by WORC development team. Parts will be available to teams for practice to acclimate themselves with new equipment.
• Year 3: If passed again, implemented to race vehicles

Major Innovations: New chassis/engine formulas will be reviewed in five-year periods.

• Year 1: Discussion/Debate on Merits
• Year 2: If passed by majority of teams, prototypes are tested by WORC development team. Engines and chassis will be subjected to significant wind tunnel and chassis dyno testing.
• Year 3: The WORC development team will perform on-track testing/evaluations on the proposed new racing engines and chassis. Revisions will be made if needed.
• Year 4: Final revisions to the concept will be made if needed. During the second half of the season, teams will have complete cars available to test during practice with the new regulations.
• Year 5: If new engines/chassis are passed, they will be put into effect immediately.

No dates are included, just implied targeted dates for cetain events. Oval races will be in bold, breaks in italics

1. Darlington
2. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal, Canada)
3. Long Beach
4. Laguna Seca
   
   One Week Break
5. Circuit of the Americas (Austin, Texas)
6. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico City)
7. Interlagos
   
   Three Week Break
8. Monza
9. Donington Park
10. Spa-Francorchamps
11. EuroSpeedway Oval (Lausitz, Germany)
    
    Two Week Break
12. Cleveland
13. Michigan
14. Phoenix
15. Miller Motorsports Park
    
    Two Week Break
16. Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi)
17. Sepang (Night Race)
18. Twin Ring Motegi Oval (Japan)
19. Macau

The feeder series will be using the same chassis as the major division (Swift #23 concept) but will have different engine specifications. This is designed to acclimate drivers and teams with the characteristics of the chassis, as the rules are the same, while having much lower engine costs for the Lites.

There will be three separate series in the WORC Lites, a European division, an Asian division, and an American Division. The season finale will be a joint meeting in Macau to determine the best of the best.

The division driver's champions in Lites will have a chance to compete in the series-owned WORC All-Stars team for the next season. They will have a one-year contract with the team, in hopes of advancing to a private team in the future.

Teams will only be allowed to use eight (8) engines during the season per car. Teams who exceed the amount incur a 5 position grid penalty for every race afterwards. This rule goes into effect for the second season; the first season is exempt.

Engine Specifications:

• 2000 cc (2.0 Litre) naturally aspirated 6 cylinder engines
• May produce a maximum of 400 horsepower, no less than 350.
• Rev to 12,000 rpm (with an optional rev limiter from 10,000 to 11,000 rpm only).

Designed to reach speeds of 180 miles per hour on large ovals and road courses. There will be seven (7) dual Lites America and WORC events, which will be marked in Bold Italics on the schedule. There will be four (4) dual Lites Europe and WORC events. WORC Lites Asia will have three (3) dual events with the WORC .

1. Darlington
2. Irwindale
3. Long Beach
   
   Two Week Break
4. Circuit of the Americas
5. Virginia International Raceway
6. Interlagos
   
   Nine Week Break
7. Cleveland
8. Atlanta
9. Lime Rock
10. Miller Motorsports Park
    
    Five Week Break
11. Macau

The Lites America Series will not run the European or Asian portion of the WORC schedule, staying in the Western Hemisphere for every race but the finale in Macau. This will keep team costs down to promote lasting partners in the feeder series.

1. Navarra
2. Brands Hatch
3. Sachsenring
   
   Seven Week Break
   
4. Monza
5. Zandvoort
6. Spa-Francorchamps
7. EuroSpeedway Oval (Lausitzring)
   
   Two Week Break
8. Rockingham (UK)
9. Paul Ricard
10. Algarve
    
    Five Week Break
11. Macau
    
    

The Lites Europe Series will not run the American or Asian portion of the WORC schedule, staying in Europe for every race but the finale in Macau. This will keep team costs down to promote lasting partners in the feeder series.

1. Abu Dhabi
2. Dubai Autodrome
3. Kyalami (South Africa)
   
   Seven Week Break
4. Yeongam
5. Shanghai
6. Surfer's Paradise (Australia)
   
   Three Week Break
7. Okayama
8. Sendai Highland Raceway (Japan, Miyagi Prefecture)
9. Bathurst
   
   Two week break
10. Sepang
11. Twin Ring Motegi Oval
12. Macau

The Lites Asia Series will not run the European or American portion of the WORC schedule, staying in the Eastern Hemisphere for every race but the finale in Macau. This will keep team costs down to promote lasting partners in the feeder series.