|
The F3 car will be more expensive to run and maintain although they tend to be quite reliable if maintained properly.
They require special fuel for a start - eg Sunoco FR 102 or a similar type of racing fuel. Normal road car petrol is not suitable as the compression ratio is usually 13:1 - 14:1.
Full F3 engines has a mileage allowance and they require a refresh and rebuild after a certain distance covered - maybe every 4000km or so. Often has to be sent away to the manufacturer or the manufacturers recommended engine builder. Cost may be € 10,000 a time.
However, an option would be to consider cars from Spanish F3, later named European Open F3, now EuroFormula as they use a long-life Toyota engine more closely related to a road car. Engine mileage is longer than a full F3 engine and they will run quite happily on road car super unleaded fuel. Not as fast as a full F3 spec engine, but if you are not racing against other F3 cars, you wouldn't know.
Most F3 of this era do not have an alternator, so the car is started using an external battery which needs disconnecting once started, and you generally need help to tighten the belts fully without help from someone else, so at least one helper is desirable to help with the car.
---
A Formula Ford is simpler, and no aerodynamics to worry about, but with either the suspension setup needs to be accurately done to get the best out of them.
|