Formula LGB Swift is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport in India launched in 2003. The cars are powered by 1.3 liter Maruti Esteem engines (also used in the Suzuki Swift) and are driven by top and upcoming Indian drivers in the National Racing Championship. This car can be considered as an Indian equivalent of Europe's

Formula Ford Formula Ford, also known as F1600 and Formula F, is an entry-level class of single seater, open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held across the world form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. Formula Fo ...

series, where it is void of aerodynamic aids like wings. From 2006 this car replaced Formula Maruti as an entry level formula car. This series offers the first feel and insights into open wheel racing for an upcoming race driver.

Name

LGB denotes L. G. Balakrishnan Brothers, the manufacturers of Rolon chains and sprockets. LGB is the parent company of Super Speeds which designs and constructs the cars. Swift denotes the engine supplier Maruti Udyog. The car was named Formula LGB from 2003 till 2005. In 2006 Swift was added to avoid name confusion with the launch of another

Hyundai Hyundai is a South Korean industrial conglomerate ("chaebol"), which was restructured into the following groups: * Hyundai Group, parts of the former conglomerate which have not been divested ** Hyundai Mobis, Korean car parts company ** Hyundai As ...

engined Formula LGB ( Formula LGB Hyundai) which was slightly different in layout and design. Formula LGB Swift of B

Design

Early version

The car was originally named Formula LGB from 2003 till 2005 and the engines were the same 1.3 liter used in the Maruti Esteem but in carburated form with a

single overhead cam An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...

. Still the car had 50% more power (65 b.h.p. being its stock version in carburetor form), than the stock version in race trim.

Current version

In the 2006 season, the car was renamed Formula LGB Swift and Maruti Swift's 1.3 litre 16 valve MPFI engine was refitted. The new engines were left in stock form as the new engines could reach over . The engine is mounted in a transverse direction with the stock gearbox as in a

front wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longi ...

car. The wheelbase is between and the weight of the car (minus the driver) is .

Chassis

The chassis is a steel spaceframe monocoque with fire retardant composite GRP panels. The design is on the heavier side, mainly for structural and safety reasons. The steel tubes are of square section and the tyres are supplied by JK Tyres in a grooved slick pattern. The Formula Swift rides on aluminium wheels and both front and rear tyres are 185/60.

Costs

Along with Formula LGB Hyundai this is one of the cheapest formula cars in the world to race, with rental for Friday practise, Saturday qualifying and a double race on Sunday (15 laps each), costing only $800 (as of 2005). That rate includes tyres and

fuel A fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or to be used for work. The concept was originally applied solely to those materials capable of releasing chemical energy bu ...

Races

Races for the national championship are held at Coimbatore's

Kari Motor Speedway Kari Motor Speedway is a purpose-built Formula 3 auto racing circuit or race track, located in Chettipalayam, Coimbatore, India. The long track was inaugurated in 2003. The circuit is named after S. Karivardhan. History Part of the existin ...

and at

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of ...

's MMSC Irrugatukottai track. The car is designed and built by Coimbatore-based Super Speeds Pvt. Ltd. for LG Sports, makers of Rolon chains and sprockets, Coimbatore. The car was designed by ex-racer B. Viji (also known as B. Vijaykumar) with JK Tyres being the championship sponsor and also sponsoring some of the drivers. Maruti Udyog presents the championship winner a brand new Maruti car. In 2006 it was Maruti Swift.

Champions

* Denotes wins in Formula LGB

More pictures

*https://web.archive.org/web/20070520121336/http://www.thehinduimages.com:8080/hindu/photoDetail.do?photoId=4724733 *https://web.archive.org/web/20070522120707/http://www.thehinduimages.com:8080/hindu/photoDetail.do?photoId=4724739 *https://web.archive.org/web/20070520121824/http://www.thehinduimages.com:8080/hindu/photoDetail.do?photoId=4956633

External links

*https://web.archive.org/web/20060510012030/http://www.newstodaynet.com/05dec/cs4.htm
Ganpat Amarnath
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070310232841/http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B34E1CFAD-DD02-4545-9492-6D9B70DB8EED%7D&CATEGORYNAME=BUSINESS
Madras Motor Sports Club
{{Class of Auto racing Lgb Swift Indian racing cars One-make series