If you haven’t heard of Formula Lites, that is because it is a one-year old idea and not yet a full-fledged racing series as such. It will kick off at the end of May at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway for its first six weekend, 12-race season, and this is the car the participants will be driving, the new FL15 open-wheel single seater.

The first Formula Lites Crawford FL-15 car features a monocoque and a 2.4-liter, 16-valve Honda engine mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox featuring pneumatic paddle shifting. The car is built to the same sort of standards as the FIA F3 specs in Europe and receives technical support from Pirelli, Honda/HPD, PFC Brakes, Eibach Springs, Fikse Wheels, Bosch and Impact Race Products.

Formula Lites FL-15 has already enjoyed a successful shakedown at the Carolina Motorsports Park where  three teams and four cars set impressive lap times without any engine, drivetrain, suspension or chassis issues. The FL-15 also looks quite handsome for a baby Formula car; kind of like of shrunken down Indy car!

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been surrounded by so much support so early in the growth of this concept,” explained Formula Lites Managing Co-Partner Ryan Arciero. “From our close relationship with Crawford Composites to corporate partners to the SCCA to some very enthusiastic teams and drivers, a growing Formula Lites family is laying a solid foundation for 2015 and beyond.”