Of all the junior open wheel racing series being run today, none has the history or staying power of Formula Ford. Since 1967 Formula Ford has been run in countries all over the world and it is still the preferred level for junior drivers looking to graduate from karts to race cars. Simple, robust and always exciting, Formula Ford racing has more excitement on a lap by lap basis than almost any other racing series you can name and just watching one of these races reminds you of why you fell in love with motorsports in the first place. The British Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship is the granddaddy of them all and it has produced an incredible number of Formula 1 drivers and world champions.
F1 Prospects recently talked with Nick Carter about the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship and what the series offers aspiring race car drivers. If you are a fan of motorsport I urge you to seek out your local Formula Ford series in general and the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship in particular. We have added a number of Formula Ford series to the Racing Series Around the World page and we will update it as we become aware of new series occuring around the world. A big thank you to Penny Mattocks for coordinating everything and making this interview happen.
F1 Prospects: Formula Ford racing in Britain has enjoyed a long and illustrious history. Please Introduce the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship to our readers.
Nick Carter: In 2007 Formula Ford passed a significant milestone – its 40th birthday. The first race for the fledgling formula took place at Brands Hatch on 2 July 1967, and this event within a very few years led to the birth of a multiplicity of championships in the UK and right around the world. The list of drivers who started their racing careers in Formula Ford reads like a who’s who of motorsport. This heritage is what makes Formula Ford such an superb championship in which to take part. Nothing is a certainty in motorsport, but it always has been and always will be a good bet that any driver who excels in Formula Ford is on their way to great things.
It is interesting to note that Formula Ford, unlike all the other single seater series which have come and gone in the UK over the past 20 years, is not a one-make championship. By allowing freedom of chassis design, engine build and numerous technical items of specification on the car, this drives the technical standards to exceptionally high levels from both teams and drivers. Contrast the fixed specification of rival cars with the engineering freedom permitted for Formula Ford, and you will rapidly appreciate why Formula Ford drivers leave the series with exceptional levels of understanding of car set-up. This tends to be the reason their careers progress so far thereafter. There are only two other single-seater racing formulae in the world that work on this freedom of chassis and engine build – Formula 3 and Formula 1.
F1P: How full do the fields usually get and what is a “typical” budget for those trying to compete?
NC: We are expecting a grid of 25 cars in 2010. A realistic budget for a season with a top team is around £120,000, but there are drivers spending a third of this.
F1P: At what level driver does the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship attract? Why do you feel this is one of the best series that a young driver can compete in if they are serious about their career?
NC: Formula Ford tends to attract youngsters fresh out of karts. It’s not a huge step, the cars are reliable and there’s a wealth of technical information available, and because they run without wings, there’s no better single-seater in which to learn about mechanical grip.
F1P: Tell us a bit about some of the past drivers who have graduated on to bigger and better things.
NC: We don’t want to take up too much space, so let’s just stick with the Formula Ford drivers who went on to win the World Championship: James Hunt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jody Scheckter, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Mika Hakkinen, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button.
F1P: Are their many drivers from outside of the UK competing in the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship?
NC: In recent seasons the championship has attracted drivers from Ireland, Brazil, Australia, India, Spain, the Netherlands, the United States and Finland.
F1P: Tell us a bit about the technical aspects of the cars.
NC: The cars are powered by the Ford’s 1.6-litre Duratec engine. Lighter, more compact and offering greater power than the previous 1800 Zetec power unit, the Duratec has been adopted by Formula Ford championships the world over.
F1P: Anything else you would like to add that our readers or potential drivers should know?
NC: From the 2011 season, cars will have to comply with new FIA safety regulations which will include safety cell strengthening,
You can get more information on the championship by visiting their website at http://www.britishformulaford.co.uk/
Related posts:
- Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain – Pye’s perfect start to the Formula Ford season
- British Formula Ford: A Great Start For Thriving Formula Ford
- British Formula Ford: Exciting international field gathers for Formula Ford
- British Formula Ford: FRESH TEAMS FOR FORMULA FORD HOPEFULS
- Formula Ford teams to attend UK Ford Fair
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