Formula Ford Festival
Encyclopedia
The Formula Ford Festival is an annual meeting of Ford powered single seat racing
cars which is held at the end of the British racing season, at the Brands Hatch
motor racing circuit in the county of Kent
, in Southern England
. The events are held over the course of a weekend and although various classes of past and present Formula Fords are present, the high point for many is the championship in which young but skilled drivers from Ford competitions in Europe and beyond race against one another. Often it is a rare chance to compare the skills of drivers who take part in different Ford competitions across the world. Many winners of the festival have gone on to enjoy professional careers in various branches of motorsport - including fourteen who have raced in Formula One
.
The event is administered by the British Racing and Sports Car Club
.http://www.brscc.co.uk/
, where the festival was held until 1975. It then moved to Brands Hatch where it has stayed to date.
was the lead engine in early Formula Ford , and so from the first festival in 1972 until the Zetec was introduced in 1993.
was the leading engine from 1993 until the Duratec took over in 2004.
Support races from other classes eg Caterham, Club F3 and Historic Sports 2000 have also been included in the program. This is because although the event still has the atmosphere of past years its position as a rite of passage
for young drivers has largely been usurped by other junior formulae and karting.
More "historic" FF1600 cars have been turning up for the supporting races than contemporary Zetecs, however in 2006 the Festival saw the Duratec engine for the first time thereby having a final for all 3 marques at one meeting for the first time. The Walter Hayes Trophy now recognises the continuing interest in 1600cc 'Kent' Formula Ford and attracted over 150 entries in 2006, including several drivers more commonly seen in much more senior formulae.
Formula racing
Formula racing is a term that refers to various forms of open wheeled single seater motorsport. Its origin lies in the nomenclature that was adopted by the FIA for all of its post-World War II single seater regulations, or formulae. The best known of these formulæ are Formula One, Formula Two, and...
cars which is held at the end of the British racing season, at the Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
motor racing circuit in the county of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, in Southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
. The events are held over the course of a weekend and although various classes of past and present Formula Fords are present, the high point for many is the championship in which young but skilled drivers from Ford competitions in Europe and beyond race against one another. Often it is a rare chance to compare the skills of drivers who take part in different Ford competitions across the world. Many winners of the festival have gone on to enjoy professional careers in various branches of motorsport - including fourteen who have raced in Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
.
The event is administered by the British Racing and Sports Car Club
British Racing and Sports Car Club
The British Racing and Sports Car Club is one of the major organisers of motorsport events in the United Kingdom.-History:The 500 Club, as it was then known, was founded in 1946. The club promoted racing in 500 c.c. single-seater racing cars, later known as Formula Three. Motor Sport reported in...
.http://www.brscc.co.uk/
Inception
The inaugural season in 1972 took place at SnettertonSnetterton Motor Racing Circuit
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Norfolk, England. Owned by MotorSport Vision, it is situated on the A11 road some 20 km north-east of the town of Thetford and 30 km south-west of the city of Norwich...
, where the festival was held until 1975. It then moved to Brands Hatch where it has stayed to date.
The Kent years
The Kent engineFord Kent engine
The Ford Kent is an internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. Originally developed in 1959 for the Ford Anglia, it is an in-line four-cylinder engine with a cast-iron cylinder head and block.-Pre-Crossflow:...
was the lead engine in early Formula Ford , and so from the first festival in 1972 until the Zetec was introduced in 1993.
The Zetec years
The Zetec engineFord Zetec engine
Ford Motor Company used the Zetec name on a variety of Inline-4-cylinder automobile engines. It was coined to replace "Zeta" on a range of 1.6 L to 2.0 L multi-valve engines introduced in 1991...
was the leading engine from 1993 until the Duratec took over in 2004.
The Duratec engine
The 1600 c.c. Duratec engine is currently used in the leading races although the Zetec and Kent engines are still used in junior and classic classes of racing.http://www.brscc.co.uk/formula-ford-ferstival.htmlLoss of prominence
For many years the festival was the highlight of the Formula Ford season. Entries of several hundred cars from all over the Formula Ford world were common into the 1990s, with racers competing in knockout heats to decide the grid for a grand final. Entries have been declining and recent Festivals have struggled to attract more than 40-50 cars, enough for two heats and a final.Support races from other classes eg Caterham, Club F3 and Historic Sports 2000 have also been included in the program. This is because although the event still has the atmosphere of past years its position as a rite of passage
Rite of passage
A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. It is a universal phenomenon which can show anthropologists what social hierarchies, values and beliefs are important in specific cultures....
for young drivers has largely been usurped by other junior formulae and karting.
More "historic" FF1600 cars have been turning up for the supporting races than contemporary Zetecs, however in 2006 the Festival saw the Duratec engine for the first time thereby having a final for all 3 marques at one meeting for the first time. The Walter Hayes Trophy now recognises the continuing interest in 1600cc 'Kent' Formula Ford and attracted over 150 entries in 2006, including several drivers more commonly seen in much more senior formulae.
Winners
- denotes later raced in Formula OneFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1972 |  Ian Taylor |
| 1973 | Donald Macleod |
| 1974 | Richard Morgan |
| 1975 | Geoff Lees Geoff Lees Geoffrey Lees is a former racing driver from England. He participated in 12 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 July 1978. He scored no championship points.-Career:... * |
| 1976 |  Derek DalyDerek Daly Derek Daly is a former racing driver from the Republic of Ireland. He won the 1977 British Formula Three Championship, and competed as a professional racing driver for 17 years participating in 64 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on April 2, 1978. He scored a total of 15... * |
| 1977 |  Chico SerraChico Serra Francisco "Chico" Serra is a racing driver from Brazil. He won the 1979 British Formula Three Championship. He participated in 33 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix for Fittipaldi and Arrows, debuting on 15 March 1981. He scored one championship point, for finishing sixth in the 1982... * |
| 1978 | Michael Roe |
| 1979 | Donald Macleod |
| 1980 | Roberto Moreno Roberto Moreno Roberto Pupo Moreno , usually known as Roberto Moreno and also as Pupo Moreno, is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 15 championship points. He raced in CART in 1986, and was Formula 3000 champion before joining... * |
| 1981 | Tommy Byrne * |
| 1982 | Julian Bailey Julian Bailey Julian Bailey is a former Formula One driver who raced for the Tyrrell and Lotus teams.Although born in the United Kingdom, he was raised in Menorca, Spain, and became an accomplished Formula Ford 1600 racer in Britain, winning the important Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch... * |
| 1983 | Andrew Gilbert-Scott Andrew Gilbert-Scott Andrew Gilbert-Scott is a former British racing driver.- Early career :He started his racing career in the Formula Ford British championship in 1981. In 1983, he moved to the Lola Formula Ford works team... |
| 1984 |  Gerrit van Kouwen |
| 1985 | Johnny Herbert Johnny Herbert John Paul Herbert is a British racing driver from England. He competed in Formula One, winning three races, and also in sports cars winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991 driving a Mazda 787B... * |
| 1986 |  Roland RatzenbergerRoland Ratzenberger Roland Ratzenberger was an Austrian racing driver who raced in Formula Nippon, Formula 3000 and Formula One... * |
| 1987 | Eddie Irvine Eddie Irvine Edmund "Eddie" Irvine, Jr. is a former racing driver from Northern Ireland. He grew up in Conlig, County Down, and was influenced by his parents, who were also involved in motor racing... * |
| 1988 |  Vincenzo SospiriVincenzo Sospiri - Early career :Sospiri started racing in the Italian 100CC Karting Championships at the age of 15. He spent a long time working his way through the karting ladder, eventually becoming World Karting Champion in 1987. Sospiri then progressed to Formula Ford, before working through to Formula 3000 in... * |
| 1989 | Niko Palhares Niko Palhares Niko Palhares is a Brazilian former racing driver.Palhares began in Formula Ford and won the Formula Ford Festival in 1989. He moved to the British Formula Three Championship in 1990 competing in 6 races but not scoring. He moved to Italian F3 the next year and finished 11th in points. He was... |
| 1990 | Dave Coyne Dave Coyne Dave Coyne is a British racing driver.Coyne was a rising star in Formula Ford, finishing 5th in the Formula Ford Festival in 1980 at age 22. In 1981 he moved up to the British Formula Three Championship and finished 20th while competing in only three races. He returned to the series in 1982 for... |
| 1991 |  Marc GoossensMarc Goossens Marc Goossens nicknamed The Goose is a Belgian racecar driver who drove in Formula 3000 from 1994 to 1996 and part-time from 1999 to 2001. In between he drove in endurance races and is a veteran of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. From 2002 to 2005 he then raced in FIA GT... |
| 1992 |  Jan MagnussenJan Magnussen Jan Magnussen is a racing driver from Denmark and a GM factory driver. He has competed in several of the most prestigious events in motor sport including CART, NASCAR, the FIA Formula One World Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.- Lower series racing :Magnussen dominated the 1994 British... * |
| 1993 |  Russell IngallRussell Ingall Russell Ingall is an Australian V8 Supercar driver. Ingall won the V8 Supercar Championship for the first time in 2005, he was also the Championship runner up in 1998, 1999 and 2001. Ingall has also won the Bathurst 1000 motor race twice, in 1995 and 1997... |
| 1994 | Jason Watt Jason Watt Jason Watt is a successful Danish racing driver. Jason enjoyed a fruitful karting career before moving into Formula Ford in 1992... |
| 1995 | Kevin McGarrity Kevin McGarrity Kevin McGarrity is a Northern Irish racing driver from Belfast.McGarrity won the Formula Ford Festival in 1995 after finishing second in the British Formula Ford series. He was nominated for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award but it went to fellow Northern Ireland driver Jonny Kane... |
| 1996 | Mark Webber Mark Webber Mark Alan Webber is an Australian Formula One driver.After some racing success in Australia, Webber moved to the United Kingdom in 1995 to further his motorsport career... * |
| 1997 | Jacky van der Ende Jacky van der Ende Jacky van der Ende is a Dutch racing driver. He won both the British Formula Ford Championship and the Formula Ford Festival in 1997.-External links:* *... |
| 1998 | Jenson Button Jenson Button Jenson Alexander Lyons Button MBE is a British Formula One driver currently signed to McLaren. He was the 2009 World Drivers' Champion.Button began karting at the age of eight and achieved early success, before progressing to car racing in the British Formula Ford Championship and the British... * |
| 1999 | Ricardo van der Ende Ricardo van der Ende Ricardo van der Ende is a Dutch racing driver. He won the 2001 Formula Chrysler Euroseries season with the Belgian team of Vortex Motorsport. He also won the Winter Series of the British Formula Ford Championship in 1998 and the Formula Ford Festival in 1999. Later on he went karting and became... |
| 2000 | Anthony Davidson Anthony Davidson Anthony Denis Davidson is a British former Formula One racing driver from England, born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. He has raced for Minardi, Super Aguri and been a test and/or reserve driver for the British American Racing, Honda and Brawn GP teams... * |
| 2001 |  Alan van der MerweAlan van der Merwe style="float:right; background:transparent;"|Alan van der Merwe is a South African race car driver.He won the 2001 Formula Ford Festival, he was the 2003 British Formula Three Champion and ran for Super Nova Racing in Formula 3000 in 2004... |
| 2002 | Jan Heylen Jan Heylen Jan Heylen is a Belgian racing driver who most notably competed in the Champ Car World Series.-Early career and F3000:... |
| 2003 | Joey Foster Joey Foster Joseph Lyle Foster is a British racing driver. He has competed in such series as Le Mans Series, Australian Formula Ford Championship and the German Formula Three Championship. He won the 2009 Australian Drivers' Championship for Team BRM. Foster also won the Formula Ford Festival in... |
| 2004 | Dan Clarke Dan Clarke Dan Clarke is a British auto racing driver born 4 October 1983 in Mexborough, most recently competing in the Firestone Indy Lights series with Walker Racing, having previously competed in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport and the Champ Car World Series... |
| 2005 | Duncan Tappy Duncan Tappy Duncan Tappy is a professional racing driver from the United Kingdom.-Career:Tappy began his racing career in 2003 in the Zip Formula Great Britain series.... |
| 2006 | Richard Tannahill |
| 2007 | Nick Tandy Nick Tandy Nick Tandy is a professional British racecar driver.-Ministox:Tandy followed brother Joe's route on the motor racing ladder, by starting out as an eleven-year-old in short oval Ministox machinery, in 1996. Immediate success came to him, as he won the Midland region of Ministox... |
| 2008 | Wayne Boyd Wayne Boyd Wayne Boyd is a British racing driver from County Antrim, Northern Ireland.Boyd won the British Formula Ford Championship in 2008 with Jamun Racing and later won the Formula Ford Festival Duratec class the same year. In 2009 he raced full-time in the British Formula Three Championship for T-Sport... |
| 2009 | Chrissy Palmer |
| 2010 | Dennis Lind |
| 2011 | Scott Malvern |
Snetterton results
Driver (Chassis)- 1972.
- 1st Ian Taylor (Dulon LD9)
- 2nd Derek Lawrence (Titan Mk6)
- 3rd Larry PerkinsLarry PerkinsLarry Clifton Perkins is a former racing driver and V8 Supercar team owner from Australia.-Career:...
(Elfin)
- 1973.
- 1st Derek Lawrence(Dulon MP15)
- 2nd Don MacLeod (Van DiemenVan DiemenVan Diemen International, Ltd. is a British race car manufacturer based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.The company has a reputation for high-volume production runs of its cars, the most well-known of which is its series of Formula Ford chassis, which have been at the forefront of that class of...
FA73) - 3rd Syd Fox (Hawke DL11)
- 1974.
- 1st Richard Morgan (Crossle 25F)
- 2nd Frank Hopper (Crossle 25F)
- 3rd Roy Klomfass (Hawke DL12) - mechanic Rory ByrneRory ByrneRory Byrne is a South African engineer and car designer, most famous for being the chief designer at the Benetton and Scuderia Ferrari Formula One teams....
- 1975.
- 1st Geoff LeesGeoff LeesGeoffrey Lees is a former racing driver from England. He participated in 12 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 July 1978. He scored no championship points.-Career:...
(RoyaleRoyale- Transportation :* Bugatti Royale, a luxury automobile* Ford Royale, an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company* MS Royale, a cruise ship operated by several companies* Daewoo Royale, an automobile manufactured by Daewoo Motors...
RP21) - designed by Rory Byrne - 2nd Mike Blanchet (Crossle 30F)
- 3rd Rad Dougall (Royale RP21)
- 1st Geoff Lees