N.technology S.p.a. and Tatuus s.r.l. have signed a deal to produce new single-seater formula car, to be known as the N.T07. Leading Italian racing car constructor Tatuus will take care of building the cars for N.technology’s latest - and highly ambitious - project idea. Tatuus will also provide technical assistance and a spare parts service to the teams set to be involved in the new series. 

The new single-seater car will have a 2-litre, 4-cylinder, 250 bhp engine, gearbox and clutch controls mounted on the steering wheel and - most interestingly - it has been conceived to be fitted with an hybrid engine system. From the next year (2007) the Formula N.T07 cars will compete in a new international series that takes place within the European rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Eurosport will manage the TV production and broadcasting of the events that will make up the new international series.

N.technology currently manage Alfa Romeo's FIA World Touring Car Championship campaign with the Alfa 156 racer. The firm have managed Fiat Auto's diverse racing and rally programmes in recent years, and the Turin-based car manufacturer also held a minority stake in N.technology, although this relationship and shareholding was dissolved earlier this year.
 

Tatuus have a wealth of experience building low-cost, entry-level identical single-seater racers for manufacturer-supported championships since its formation in 1980. Currently Tatuus builds cars used in Formula Renault and Formula Toyota. Formula Renault is a central plank in the French carmaker's strategy of supporting young drivers as they make their way up the "ladder" towards F1. The very successful Tatuus Formula Renault single seater started life in 1995, with a major redesign of the car taking place in 2004.

The chassis features a tubular space-frame and carbon composite or GRP moulded bodywork and is of an FIA-approved impact break-away design. The carbon-fibre cell and other components in this material are manufactured for Tatuus by ATR, an Italian company who have produced carbon-fibre chassis for a string of cars, including the Ferrari Enzo. Engines are based on the eight-valve 1998cc Renault Laguna unit, modified to give around 175 bhp in the "Club" class or 192 bhp in the larger FR2000 category, both outputs coming via a remapped and sealed ECU and special Renault Sport camshaft.

Meanwhile, Tatuus also construct a purpose-built monocoque carbon fibre chassis for the Formula Toyota series, whose cars feature a 1.8-litre in-line four-cylinder engine and identical tyres and parts, in a championship that focused on assisting drivers to show off their talent. Very popular in Japan - Toyota's homeland - the low-cost series concept has been successfully exported to a number of other countries, including New Zealand where it arrived in 2005. Tatuus have a wealth of experience building racing cars for specialist single seater championships and their credits include creating chassis for Formula Alfa Boxer, Formula Panda Monza, Formula Ford FF1600/2000 and Formula Konig.