Requesting an idiot’s guide to Formula Ford racing in the UK from 1976 to present

[GeeVeeF1]

HinAll

I’m requesting an idiot’s guide to Formula Ford in the UK from the first official championship in 1976 to the present day please.

Namely, I’m looking to understand which various series ran from which seasons (Kent, Zetec, Duratec, the season they added wings just before the main series became MSA Formula/F4 etc.) and am especially trying to understand which series were continuous of each other and which series were new to the main series and run parallel to it, as well as which of these series were considered ‘pro’ and which ‘club’?

Not looking for anything too fancy here.. just dates really... and thought they’d be a wealth of insight here in this forum so thanks in advance for all your help

[GCCheddaris]

Formula Ford Kent 1976 to 1992 . Zetec 1993 to 2005 . Duratec 2006 to 2011 . Eco Boost no wings 2012 . Eco Boost with wings 2013 to 2014 . MSA Formula 2015 . Formula 4 2016 to date .

[GeeVeeF1]

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

Formula Ford Kent 1976 to 1992 . Zetec 1993 to 2005 . Duratec 2006 to 2011 . Eco Boost no wings 2012 . Eco Boost with wings 2013 to 2014 . MSA Formula 2015 . Formula 4 2016 to date .

Thank you. So the current BRSCC FF1600 Avon series is not a continuation of any of the series you mention, yet was launched as a new series, running during the same time as the main MSA series at the time, and somewhere for Kents and Duratecs to race in from 2013 when the main FF UK series moved to EcoBoosts?

[coppice]

General rule of thumb for FF - the newer the version the faster they are , at the expense of being the worst looking , the most expensive and offering the most processional racing .



Best of all in recent , and I am sure future years, HSCC Historic FF1600 - sublime racing, ultra close , well supported , clean and unmatched by anything else in UK .Ecoboost/F4 ? Get outta here

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by GeeVeeF1

Thank you. So the current BRSCC FF1600 Avon series is not a continuation of any of the series you mention, yet was launched as a new series, running during the same time as the main MSA series at the time, and somewhere for Kents and Duratecs to race in from 2013 when the main FF UK series moved to EcoBoosts?

There hasn’t been a championship or series for the Duratecs since Ford dropped them for the truly awful Ecoboost cars. BRSCC tried in their usual way, no surprise it failed.

[GCCheddaris]

What tended to happen with the British Formula Ford championship was that when a new championship was announced the previous era's cars were allowed to compete in a separate class for a season or two to help bolster grids . Therefore in 1993 the Kent engined cars competed alongside the Zetecs , in 2006 and 2007 Zetecs competed alongside Duratecs and in 2012 the Duratecs were allowed in against the Eco Boost cars .

What happened to all the Zetec and Duratec cars ? Most have been converted into Kent specification although some in their original guise compete in the multi class Monoposto championship alongside many other obsolescent single seaters.

In spite of the fact that Zetec and Duratec engines are apparently more economical to run than the older Kent engines British Formula Ford has concentrated on the older engines in recent years . The Avon Tyres National Formula Ford championship has grown out of the North West Formula Ford championship , a popular regional series based at Oulton Park and Anglesey and is probably not aimed at the professional career driver , more the ambitious amateur . Grids have generally been in the twenties or even thirties far exceeding the low teens of the British Formula 4 championship .

After fifty years the Kent engined Formula Ford still allows many enthusiasts to compete in single seater racing either competing in single circuit championships , Castle Combe , Brands Hatch and Knockhill come to mind while series such as the Historic Formula Ford ( pre 1972 ) , Classic Formula Ford ( pre 1982 ) and Heritage Formula Ford ( pre 1993 ) provide an opportunity for enthusiasts to use their older cars

[GCCheddaris]

Just noticed that the National Formula Ford begins this weekend with a triple header at Snetterton . A twenty one car entry bodes well for the season with several intriguing entries .

Rory Smith and double Scottish Champion Ross Martin began their seasons by taking a win apiece last week at Oulton Park , with Smith pipping Oliver White the following day at Donington .

Other likely front runners are 2016 Scottish Formula Ford champion , Neil MacLennan and former USA Scholarship winner Aaron Jeansonne . An intriguing entry is that of Brendon Leigh who will hope to translate the talent he showed competing for the Mercedes eSport team when making his real life racing debut for Kevin Mills Racing .

It will be interesting to see if any of this season's intake will be able to climb the racing ladder . Maybe National Formula Ford needs to be on the British GT/F3 package to provide more exposure for competitors .

For those unable to make it to Snetterton , Castle Combe's circuit championship celebrates it's fiftieth anniversary with a vastly improved twenty plus entry led by reigning champion Luke Cooper while Classic Formula Ford's are also on the programme . Their first round saw Formula Ford legends Rick Morris , John Village and Tim Harvey take three of the first four places . Morris and Harvey are joined by former Grand Prix driver Tiff Needell this Monday .