This surely must be a first. A company in South Africa called Gouws Motorsport has designed, engineered and built the first Formula Vee (F1200) with a halo. The family run team is made up of Johan Gouws Jr. and Sr.
The halo cockpit protection device designed to ensures the driver’s head is protected during rollovers (and from flying debris) significantly enhancing safety without compromising visibility.
The halo was introduced in Formula 1 in 2018, and has been integrated into lower formulae over the past few years. The JForce Formula Vee is a first of it’s kind in this racing category.
The JForce was completed only this month, and went for its inaugural laps around Red Star Raceway in Delmas, South Africa last Wednesday. The day was a success and the man behind this engineering masterpiece, Johan Gouws, shed a tear when the car left the pits the first time.
The car is scheduled to compete at Kyalami Circuit on April 13 2024.
For more detail, or to contact Gouws Motorsport, you can reach Johan at johan@gouwsmotorsport.co.za or phone him at +27 83 378 4744
seems like a good idea
Sure is!
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Formula 1200 (also called Formula Vee) is a cost-effective series that’s been running for 60 years.
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Formula 1 is the top step of the racing ladder, certainly the most expensive.
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To see developments from F1 finally reaching our racing series is encouraging.
Wow, that is great!!! And the car looks awesome, too.
How much would it cost to import one of those? I bet the shipping might be very expensive.
You thought so too?
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One look.and I loved this car. It looks modern and retro (like the STP Indy 500 car from the 60’s) all at the same time.
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The builder’s website also mentions the car has side-impact (intrusion) protection, so this thing must weigh a lot, which means good luck paying for shipping from South Africa.
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But I bet we’ll see the halo retrofitted to American and Brazilian Formula Vees within 2 yeas.
Thanks for the article. This car is a 10 year dream in the making for us. The side impact is essentially a steel frame around the radiators to help absorb some of the impact, nothing fancy. Let me know if anyone has any questions
Hey Johan!
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Of course we have questions!
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What about the weight? In the Canadian F1200 Championship, minimum weight is 1075 lbs (if my memory works). How much more does your car weigh?
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P.S. What do you mean radiators? Isn’t it a 1200 cc air-cooled F-Vee?
Our rules are as follows:
Hi Michael, this is a standard South African spec Formula Vee.
– 530kg minimum mass wih driver
– Engine: 1400CC standard water-cooled Volkswagen engine as used on the Golf Chico range of vehicles. Limited modifications are permitted such as balancing of all engine components. An identical performance camshaft is used on all cars.
– Carburetors: Two side draught Webers 40DCOE on a custom designed manifold.
– Gearbox: Standard Volkswagen Type 1 gearbox with controlled ratios.
– Front Suspension: Standard double beam suspension as used on the Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle and Sedans. Minor modifications allowed to improve performance. Shock absorbers may be mounted inboard with push or pullrod systems
– Rear Suspension: Standard Volkswagen Type 1 swing axle system with free modifications on springing and shock absorber layout.
– Brakes: Disc brakes front and rear. Components sourced from the Volkswagen Chico range.
– Tyres: Dunlop Direzza 195’50’R15
– Chassis: Tubular space frame.
– Bodywork: Fibreglass panels
Hope that helps!
Whoa!!! 1400 cc of VW power? Those things must just FLY down the track.
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I think a similar spec series ran in Canada called Formula Super Vee (water cooled, etc.).
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You must have MANY people emailing you about the JForce. Please share some video of the car racing at Kyalami Circuit next month. Lots of interested people here in Canada want to see it go.