What happenned to the "Star of Tomorrow" Championship?

[paulzinho]

I was just wondering what happenned to the Formula Ford Star of Tomorrow championship.

Did it become Junior Formula Ford or are they completely different?

[Andrew Kitson]

I guess the Avon Junior Formula Ford series of today is a good equivalent to the 70s/80s Dunlop 'Star of Tomorrow' series. I recall it was for drivers under 21 and some quick successful drivers came from it such as Sean Walker and Mike Thackwell. It was for any FF car ( contemporary or old ) yet the Juniors now are in year old cars.
There was a long period between then and now when there was not a Junior FF category. There has been a lot of talk lately about the state of FF and the fact the senior grids are low - however in 1990 the grids were often only 8 cars!
It always seems to bounce back.

[Chris Griffin]

Back in the mid 80's the Esso Championship needed 2 heats and a final there were that many entered. (at each round) The Star of Tomorrow championship was based at Mallory wasn't it?

[Rob29]

The 'Star of Tomorrow' was run by BRSCC and used most of the circuits they use. In thr 70s the BOC/MCD series needed 3 heats and a final-100 entries!
BTW does anyone know why the system of qualifying heats died out?

[Andrew Kitson]

The Star of Tomorrow Championship went everywhere I believe.
There were a lot of heats in those days weren't there! I have a race programme here from Silverstone in 1972 and the F3 race was also 2 heats and a final with (get this) 75 entries! F2 was also 2 heats and a final at some circuits. I remember it being so at Crystal Palace in 72. I think the heats / final thing faded away when the FF series divided into so many regional championships. For example in the late 70s there were three main championships plus Champion of Brands, etc. Drivers would then pick the series they wanted to do diluting the grids.

[Barry Pomfret]

One of the last drivers to win the Dunlop Star of Tomorrow was Derek Watts.He drove a self prepared Van Diemen RF92 in the National Ford championship which had a separate class for the Juniors.At the time Derek was working at Lolas building the Indy car chassis and at night he would prepare his race car in a commercial vehicle premises in Leighton Buzzard with the help of his dad.He switched to F3 the following year and stunned the experienced drivers at the early Silverstone round in damp conditions when he had a top three time but this was disallowed due to minor technical infringement.He soon ran out of money and became disillusioned with motorsport, working at various part time jobs until he decided to become an airline pilot. He now lives in London and flies 737s for British Midland.