| Manufacturer | Super Speeds(Pvt) Ltd, India |
|---|---|
| Production | 2006 - Present |
| Class | Open Wheeled Formula Racing Car |
Formula Rolon Formula Rolon, also known as Formula Rolon Chevrolet is an open wheel single seater Formula Racing car made and raced in India. They run in the single make championships held in the tracks of Coimbatore and Chennai. The car is similar to Formula Asia and is powered by Chevrolet engine with a racing gear box. The car was launched in Mumbai December 2005 and made its debut in Coimbatore track on September 2006. The 2010 season was its last season as LG Sports announced that it will not enter Formula Rolon for the 2011 season.
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Rolon is the brand of Automotive chains and sprockets, owned by L.G.Balakrishnan Brothers Ltd. Coimbatore.They are the main sponsor and parent company of Super Speeds.
The car is built around a monocoque steel space frame and the body panels are of Composite Fire retardant GRP. Aerodynamic aides include adjustable front wing, and adjustable Flower type rear wing.The Racing Tyres are from JK tyres and the cars have a choice of grooved semi-slick and ungrooved slick version on the Race day.
The car was entirely designed and constructed by Coimbatore based Super Speeds, the same company that designed the Formula Maruti in mid 80’s, which is now a division of L.G.Balakrishnan and Brothers. The Chief designer of the car is ex-racing driver B.Vijaykumar. The car has a high indigenous content of over 97%.
After remaking the car in 2010, the engine has now been changed to Maruti Esteem engine which is 1300cc. The Engine is supplied by General Motors India. The Chevrolet 1600 cc engine produces 120 bhp (89 kW) in race trim as of 2006 with a re-chipped ECU; otherwise it’s the same stock engine as used in Chevrolet Optra model sold in India. Notable race modifications from the passenger car engine include a re-chipped ECU, K&N Air filter and tuned Exhaust pipe while the Head, Block and Camshaft remain the same as in Stock.This also makes a first for Chevrolet’s involvement in Racing outside USA.
The Gearbox is a Racing gear box, with straight cut-dog ring gears and in-built LSD (Limited Slip Differential) manufactured in-house at Coimbatore by Super Speeds.
JK tyres of India makes and supplies the tyres specially designed for this car. JK Tyres also sponsor the National championship and few drivers in this series. The tyres are available in Wet and Slicks.
The entire season of 12 races (6 Double races) would cost less than one tenth compared to a full season in or Formula Asia in other South East Asian countries or Formula Ford in UK, and is considered the best way to select racers for the Formula Asia and Formula BMW series.
The cars were built for LG Sports, to run in the JK National Road racing championship, which is the breeding ground for young racers in India.
The Cars are sold with the Engine on lease or the complete car leased with three different springs supplied per car. All engines are sealed by LG Sports with the maintenance of the engine by Super Speeds.
The class in which the car races is a single make championship class, with the cars sold or leased to several teams, who in turn engage or hire drivers. The races are annual championship series held in Kari Motor Speedway in Chettipalayam, Coimbatore and in MMSC track in Irungattukottai in Chennai. The Drivers with most number of points accumulated from his wins and finishing positions becomes the Formula Rolon Chevrolet champion for the respective year.
Notable drivers who have taken part in the series and still involved include ex-formula 3 champion Akbar Ibhrahim,ex-Karting champion Ameya Walavalkar, Gaurav Gill (Aisa-Pacific Rally winner , ex-formula Maruti champion Gaurav Dalal, 2005 Formula LGB Champion Reo Banajee,2006 formula LGB swift national champion Saran Vikram Tmars,Aswin Sunder and Vikash Anand formula Maruti champion 2009.
| Season | Driver | Team | Chassis/Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Gaurav Gill, New Delhi | WSRF with Leela - JK Tyre | Super Speeds - Chevrolet Optra 1.6L DOHC |
| 2007 | Adithya Patel, Chennai | NK Racing - Speed Petrol | Super Speeds - Chevrolet Optra 1.6L DOHC |
| 2008 | Gaurav Dalal, Chennai | Red Rooster Racing | Super Speeds - Chevrolet Optra 1.6L DOHC |
| 2009 | Ashwin Sunder, Chennai | NK Racing | Super Speeds - Chevrolet Optra 1.6L DOHC |
| 2010 | Saran Vikram, Chennai | Mars Racing | Super Speeds - LGB Rolon Esteem 1.3L DOHC |
| G.Vikash Anand, Chennai | 1st Runner up- VA Racing | Super Speeds - LGB Rolon Esteem 1.3L DOHC |}
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