Crawford Composites unveils Crawford FL15 racecar

Crawford Composites LLC (Denver, N.C., USA), a designer and manufacturer of autoclaved composites for the U.S. autoracing industry, reported on Nov. 6 that it has unveiled the highly anticipated Crawford FL15 race car, which is to be used exclusively in the newly announced Formula Lites racing series. The car was unveiled at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers AssociaYon (SEMA) show yesterday.

The new Formula Lites series, to be sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing beginning in 2015, is the brainchild of Dennis McCormack, Ryan Arciero and Max Crawford. Created to fill a longtime void in the United States open-wheel market, the Formula Lites concept incorporates the latest technology, high-quality engineering and a price point that offers a modern racing experience at sensible purchase and operating costs. Each FL15 is designed and manufactured to the latest F3 FIA safety specs, and the full carbon monocoque wraps a 2.4-liter, 16-valve Honda engine and a six-speed Hewland sequential gearbox featuring pneumatic paddle shifters.

Painted in an eye-catching bright red, the new Crawford FL15 incorporates state-of the-art components from some of SEMA’s most recognized names. The Formula Lites series has garnered corporate and technical partnerships from Pirelli, Honda/HPD, Eibach Springs, PFC Brakes, and Impact Race Products. The Crawford FL15 also features Penske Racing Shocks, an ATL Racing Fuel Cell, Fiske Wheels, Aurora Rod Ends, and GEMS Performance Electronics. Priced at just under $121,000 complete, the FL15 is slated to compete in a 12-race, six-weekend SCCA Pro Racing Formula Lites championship series in 2015, with a final schedule expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

“The unveiling of the Crawford FL15 is a very proud moment for Crawford Composites, LLC. This race car is the culmination of an incredible amount of hard work, innovation and collaboration,” says Max Crawford, founder and president of Crawford Composites. “We are proud to be associated with Dennis McCormack of High Performance Group and the new Formula Lites Series. We are also grateful to be working with such a strong partner like Honda on this new venture and very thankful to Pirelli for the opportunity to work with them and to showcase our newest race car at SEMA.”

Representing the Crawford Composites engineering and design team at SEMA is Max’s daughter, senior project manager and aerodynamicist Catherine Crawford. “From an engineer’s standpoint, I’m excited that the car has adjustability for young drivers coming up the ranks, so they can learn what the changes do and how to relay that to their race engineer,” shares Crawford. “The FL15 is a cost-conscious car, but has the best kit. You get so much for your money.”

Max Crawford’s passion for racing has been the driving force behind Crawford Composites’ industry success for more than four decades. The company's customers include teams from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, IZOD INDYCAR, Sports Car Club of America, World of Outlaws, American Le Mans Series, Vintage Racing, IMSA Tudor Series, and the World Endurance Championship. Crawford pioneered the introduction of autoclaved composite laminates for the U.S. race car industry and his company was the first American, privately owned, non-aerospace company to build a complete carbon fiber composite car in 1990, the Mazda RX7-92P, for competition in the IMSA series.

“The Formula Lites concept of designing a high-performance single-seater race car at an affordable cost level was always going to be a challenge. Fortunately, our racing heritage has given us a wealth of partners who were able to embrace this concept,” says Crawford Composites chief designer Andy Scriven.

Scriven adds that “Using manufacturers of tried and tested racing products, their input and collaboration allowed us to achieve the performance and cost criteria that gives Formula Lites its sound business model for the aspiring racer moving up to SCCA Pro level of racing. Key partners have been Hewland, with their renowned FTR gearbox, PFC for a complete braking solution, FIKSE with their lightweight wheels, Penske Shocks, Tilton driveline and hydraulic components, ATL Inc. fuel cells, Aurora bearings. The FL15 is the end result of these partnerships, and we’re proud to have all our partners represented by this car.”

Crawford High-Performance Composites Ltd. is the parent company of Crawford Composites LLC., known for its production of high-performance parts for the motorsports racing industry; General Composites Inc., a contract manufacturer of high-end composite components for virtually all markets; and Resolute Racing Shells, an international leader in carbon fiber rowing shells.