Formula Ford Festival
Brands Hatch: the current host of the Festival | |
Category |
Single seaters (Formula Ford) |
---|---|
Country |
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Inaugural season | 1972 |
Classes |
Duratec Zetec Kent |
Engine suppliers |
Ford Duratec engine Ford Zetec engine Ford Kent engine |
Drivers' champion |
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Constructors' champion |
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Official website | Formula Ford Festival |
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.
History
Inception
The inaugural season in 1972 took place at Snetterton, where the festival was held until 1975. It then moved to Brands Hatch where it has stayed to date.
The Kent years
The Kent engine 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 engine was the leading engine from 1993 until the Duratec took over in 2006.
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.
Loss 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 e.g. 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.
Winners
Below is a list of overall festival winners.[1] Since 1993, a secondary festival was run in alongside for older specification cars running the Ford Kent engine. Since 2009, a third event has also been held for cars using the Ford Zetec engine.
* denotes later raced in Formula One
Year | Circuit | Overall Festival Winner | Kent Festival | Zetec Festival | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Driver | Chassis | Engine | Driver | Chassis | Driver | Chassis | ||
1972 | Snetterton | ![]() |
Dulon LD9 | Ford Kent engine | Not Held | Not Held | ||
1973 | ![]() |
Van Diemen FA73 | ||||||
1974 | ![]() |
Crossle 25F | ||||||
1975 | ![]() |
Royale RP21 | ||||||
1976 | Brands Hatch | ![]() |
Hawke DL17 | |||||
1977 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF77 | ||||||
1978 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF78 | ||||||
1979 | ![]() |
Sark 1 | ||||||
1980 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF80 | ||||||
1981 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF81 | ||||||
1982 | ![]() |
Lola T660E | ||||||
1983 | ![]() |
Reynard 83F | ||||||
1984 | ![]() |
Lola T644E | ||||||
1985 | ![]() |
Quest FF85 | ||||||
1986 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF86 | ||||||
1987 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF87 | ||||||
1988 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF88 | ||||||
1989 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF89 | ||||||
1990 | ![]() |
Swift FB90 | ||||||
1991 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF91 | ||||||
1992 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF92 | ||||||
1993 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF93 | Ford Zetec engine | ![]() |
Reynard 92FF | |||
1994 | ![]() |
Vector TF94 | ![]() |
Swift SC92F | ||||
1995 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF95 | ![]() |
Swift SC95F | ||||
1996 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF96 | ![]() |
Jamun M96 | ||||
1997 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF97 | Not Held | |||||
1998 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ98 | ||||||
1999 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF99 | ||||||
2000 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ00 | ||||||
2001 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ01 | ||||||
2002 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF02 | ![]() |
Reynard 89FF | ||||
2003 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF03 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF92 | ||||
2004 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF04 | ![]() |
Reynard 89FF | ||||
2005 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ04 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF00 | ||||
2006 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF06 | Ford Duratec engine | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF92 | |||
2007 | ![]() |
Ray GRS07 | ![]() |
Ray GRS07 | ||||
2008 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ08 | ![]() |
Ray GRS08 | ||||
2009 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ09 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF90 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ04 | ||
2010 | ![]() |
Van Diemen LA08 | ![]() |
Ray GRS09 | ![]() |
Vector TF93 | ||
2011 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ10 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF00 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ04 | ||
2012 | ![]() |
Mygale SJ11 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF00 | ![]() |
Van Diemen | ||
Year | Circuit | Overall Festival Winner | Duratec Festival | Zetec Festival | ||||
Driver | Chassis | Engine | Driver | Chassis | Driver | Chassis | ||
2013 | Brands Hatch | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF99 | Ford Kent engine | ![]() |
Mygale SJ10 | ![]() |
Vector TF93 |
Year | Circuit | Overall Festival Winner | Duratec-Zetec Festival | |||||
Driver | Chassis | Engine | Driver | Chassis | ||||
2014 | Brands Hatch | ![]() |
Ray GR13/14 | Ford Kent engine | ![]() |
Mygale Duratec | ||
Year | Circuit | Overall Festival Winner | Pre-1990 Winner | Pre-1982 Winner | ||||
Driver | Chassis | Engine | Driver | Chassis | Driver | Chassis | ||
2015 | Brands Hatch | ![]() |
Van Diemen MS13K | Ford Kent engine | ![]() |
Reynard FF88 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF79 |
2016 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF99 | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF89 |
See also
References
- ↑ "ROLL OF HONOU" (PDF). BRSCC. BRSCC. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
External links
Sources
- BRSCC Calendar
- Motor Sport Vision (Owners of Brands Hatch)
- Johnny Herbert
- Club Formula Ford
- Historics