Monoposto Racing 1000 &1400 Class

The Monoposto Racing Club has played a large role in the introduction of modern motorbike engined single seaters to UK race circuits. Approximately ten years ago the club regulations permitted motorcycle engined cars to race as part of the 1800 class. At that time the 1000 & 1400 grid contained Jedi, re-engined chassis and even one of the Gordon Murray designed, road going, Rockets.

The 1000 & 1400 cars rapidly outpaced the other types in the 1800 class. This was recognised by setting up a Mono1000 & 1400 class. At the time there were few purpose designed 1000 & 1400 cars. Mono1000 & 1400 regulations recognised this by being the only Monoposto class to allow new cars to race.

The Mono1000 & 1400 class allows the club competitor to race a state of the art single seater with the advantage of having a manufacturer as backup. A 1000 & 1400 motorcycle engine produces a light car, the minimum weight, including driver is over 100kg less than that of the other single seaters racing in the MRC. With approximately 170bhp available the power to weight ratio is 400bhp/tonne. The result is a lively, rewarding, seriously fast race car; these cars hold the outright lap record at some circuits.

The driving experience is up to the minute, with an engine that can rev to 13 500rpm, a sequential gearchange and downforce. Flat shifters and other refinements are available to those that desire them.

Any chassis may be used providing that it was manufactured before 2004. There is an approved list of new chassis. Any manufacturer of chassis, that they consider suitable, is free to approach the MRC and request that their chassis be added to the approved list. Home built chassis are permitted. During the 2007/08 seasons the Speads was well represented in this class and naturally Jedi were also present in numbers but one of the front runners was a home built special.

Motorcycle engines, like their donor motorcycles continue to evolve. Historically, the class has free (modified) engines and stock engines. However, the evolution of stock engines is such that their performance now matches, or is superior to the club's older free engines. The MRC's intention is to merge these two classes at some date in the future. However the two seperate classes persist for the 2009 season. This enables the MRC 1000 & 1400s to run stock engines while allowing MRC regulations to accommodate motorcycle engined cars that satisfy the regulations of other clubs.

A newcomer to the class would be wise to look at cars with stock engines.

P.S. Mono1000 & 1400 is something of a misnomer as most modern cars have engines between 900 and 1000cc with few at the 1340cc.