Some write off the formula as merely for clubmen, this is unduly harsh though understandable. Many younger drivers entering the sport are looking for a career path. Formula First has Formula 2000 (which in turn has an F3 test for the champion and TV coverage), Formula Vauxhall Junior has Formula Vauxhall, Formula Renault 1700 has Formula Renault Sport. Formula Ford has no such obvious path towards the higher formulae. Fashion too comes into this, the new drivers want their cars to look the part, to look like Formula 1 cars with slick tyres for grip and wings to aid the aerodynamics, to have more powerful engines and all the razzmatazz of high-profile sponsorship. Maybe Formula Ford 2000 was ahead of its time after all.
Despite this there is still much support for Formula Ford. It is still taken seriously by the Scandinavians who impress every year at the Formula Ford Festival held at Brands Hatch, the formula’s spiritual home, every October. It still supports the most prestigious car racing series in the UK, The British Touring Car Championship. In short, it is extremely difficult to find a single car racing meeting in the UK that does not have a Formula Ford race in it.
Brief History
Towards the end of 1966 Geoffrey Clarke, M.D of the Motor Racing Stables racing school, fed up with students blowing up expensive Formula 3 engines took a 1500cc Ford Cortina GT engine (some sources say it was a BMC engine) and bolted it in to a Lotus 31 F3 chassis and was impressed by the results. His hybrid was discussed during a meeting with Motor Circuit Development’s John Web and Ford’s Henry Taylor at the 1966 Olympia Racing Car Show. The specification for a new low-cost racing series was agreed and Ford allowed their name to be used for the formula.
The specification was basic, to keep down the costs, a spaceframe chassis, standard Cortina J rims and 5½" tyres, and Cortina GT 1600cc ‘Kent’ engine and gearbox. Originally there was a cost limit for the chassis but this was quietly dropped later. The first cars had Lotus 31 chassis but Lotus soon produced the Lotus 51 chassis specifically for the series. One of BMRC’s correspondents in the USA is in the process of restoring one of the original Lotus 51 chassis. By the end of 1967 a total of 12 firms were offering chassis for FF.
The first Formula Ford race was at Brands Hatch on the 2nd July 1967 (the memory fades but I think I was actually there, a mere child of course). It was a effectively a match race between Motor Racing Stables and the Jim Russell Racing Driver School. 17 cars were on the grid. MRS star pupil, Ray Allen, won the race followed by Malcolm Payne (a Norfolk duck farmer) and Belgian Claude Bourgoignie (who became the European FF champion 3 years later).
By 1975 there were so many FF cars in circulation that drivers were being turned away from meetings. To ease this problem Formula Ford 2000 was introduced. These cars used 2 litre single overhead cam Ford Pinto engines with slicks and wings. For reasons which are unclear, this new formula was not as successful though the cars still race in the Pre '83 FF2000 Championship.
Formula Ford 1600 continued successfully and is still going strong today. The format got a little tired however and was not attracting the young drivers who have been enticed by the more modern single make formulae that have sprouted up in the wake of FF. Some changes have been made to redress the balance: in 1994 the new Ford Zetec 1800 engine was introduced to replace the ageing ‘Kent’ 1600cc unit and in 1995 slick tyres were introduced. Wings are still not allowed.
National Championships
Slick 50 Formula Ford Championship
The premier Formula Ford Championship administered by Ford Motorsport and an integral part of the TOCA package supporting the British Touring Car Championship. FF cars using the 1800cc Zetec engine, slick tyres and super unleaded fuel. Split into two divisions:
BRC FF1600 Championship (BARC/BRDC/BRSCC)
Championship for Kent engined FF1600 cars. Created in 1994 to accommodate cars superseded in the National series by Zetec powered cars. Currently a poorly supported series, many drivers venturing out only for their local races and not competing in the complete series. In fact 1995’s champion, Scott Ramsay, did not win a single race!
Pre '90 FF1600 (BRSCC)
FF1600 cars built between 1st January 1985 and 31st December 1989. Cars run by professional racing organisations or from Racing drivers Schools are not eligible.
Points Scoring: 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-1 plus 2 points for fastest lap(s)
Awards per round: Trophies to 1st, 2nd and 3rd
End of Season awards: Trophies to 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Pre '85 FF1600 (BRSCC)
FF1600 cars built between 1st January 1981 and 31st December 1984. Cars run by professional racing organisations or from Racing drivers Schools are not eligible.
Points Scoring: 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-1 plus 2 points for fastest lap(s)
Awards per round: Trophies to 1st, 2nd and 3rd
End of Season awards: Trophies to 1st, 2nd and 3rd
URS Classic FF2000 (Pre '83 FF2000, BARC)
A series for FF2000 cars in 2 classes: Class A: Post '81-Pre '83, Class B: Pre '81.
Qualifying rounds: all qualifying rounds less 2
Points Scoring: 15-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 plus 1 for fastest lap
Awards per round: awards to 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each class
End of Season awards: Trophies to 1st in each class
URS Classic FF2000 Race Reports
Classic FF1600 (BRSCC/BARC)
This series provides low-cost national racing for amateur FF1600 drivers in two classes.
Regional Championship Series
Champion of Oulton FF1600 Series (BRSCC)
A series in two classes, Class A: Post'87, Class B: Pre '87
Qualifying rounds: all qualifying rounds less 2
Points Scoring:
Kent County FF1600 Series (BRSCC)
A series based at Brands Hatch and Lydden.
Qualifying rounds: all qualifying rounds less 2
Points Scoring: 12-10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 plus 1 point for fastest lap(s)
Awards per round: Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd
End-of-season awards: Trophies to 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Everyman Star of Mallory FF1600 Championship (BRSCC)
A series in two classes, Class A: Post'87, Class B: Pre '87
Qualifying rounds: All to count
Points Scoring:
H.E.A.T. Castle Combe FF1600 Championship (BRSCC)
Qualifying rounds: All to count
Points Scoring: 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 plus 1 point for fastest lap(s)
Awards per round: £150, £100, £75, £55, £45, £35, £30, £25
End-of-season awards: Trophy plus £150, £100, £50, £40, £30, £20
If you have any suggestions for improvements please e-mail Ken Clark at kenc@bmrc.co.uk.
Lydden FF1600
WRDC FF1600 (Pembrey)
SMRC FF1600 (Knockhill)
Northern Ireland FF1600 (Kirkistown)
Republic of Ireland FF1600 (Mondello Park, Phoenix Park, Kirkistown)
..return to the BMRC : Championships page.
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