What is a Litespeed R1 racing car?

The R1 in detail

Litespeed F3’s R1 racing car was born in 2005 from a pure engineering base with no compromises and delivered by the ATR Group, which was specifically responsible for the development and manufacturing of the Porsche Carrera GT, the Ferrari Enzo, and the Bugatti Veyron.

The skill of its creators lay in producing literally the world’s best sports, road, and racing cars by applying revolutionary design techniques and innovations, which, in the case of Litespeed’s R1, has created potentially the best F3 racing car on the grid.

In 2006, the Litespeed R1 underwent a full aero upgrade, which produced phenomenal results particularly on high-speed tracks such as Nurburgring in Germany, where it attained pole position. By having autonomy on suspension geometry and layout, the Litespeed R1 also has a slow-speed cornering advantage over most F3 cars due to its set-up capabilities.

The racing car’s uncompromised carbon fibre lightweight design and minimal frontal area therefore means it pushes the aerodynamic envelope, giving unrivalled racing speed and handling.

This cost-effective and reliable racing car is thus capable of fantastic race results.

Litespeed F3's racing car: the R1

Litespeed F3 R1 technical specification

Chassis:
The monocoque, or ‘tub’ as it is known, is made from carbon fibre with an aluminium honeycomb core. From 2005 it was manufactured to incorporate the HANS device and an extractable seat for added driver safety.

Engine:
There is a variety of choice when it comes to which power unit to install. Mugen-Honda, Mercedes-Benz and VW are the engines of choice when competing in British F3.

Transmission:
6-speed sequential gearbox.

Suspension:
Double wishbone, push-rod system. The Litespeed R1 is unique in that it has a choice of damper
configurations: single (mono-shock) conventional, twin or triple layout. Each system is particularly useful in the British F3 International series due to the wide variety of circuits visited.

Bodywork / aerodynamics:
Aerodynamics are a vital part of the overall design of an F3 car. With similar flow structures to that of an F1 Grand Prix car and with a stepped floor, the F3 racer is in essence a mini-F1 car. There are strictly regulated FIA-homologated parts of the car such as the engine, gearbox and chassis as well as mandatory ‘spec’ rear wing elements. However, creativity is given a free rein when it comes to designing the side-pods, undertray and diffuser. To confer a competitive advantage, the team at Litespeed F3 can optimize the R1’s aerodynamics by using a scaled-down (45%) wind tunnel model for minimum drag and maximum downforce and stability.

Performance:
Top speeds in excess of 160 mph depending on the circuit and gearing; 0–60 mph in 3.0 seconds and 130 to 50 mph deceleration in 2.8 seconds.

Litespeed F3 R1 detailed technical specification