Series overview - Formula
Ford has been the cornerstone of junior motor racing since Ray Allen
won the inaugural race at Brands Hatch in July 1967. Since then the
category has blossomed, launching the careers of a host of motor racing
champions, not least Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell and the late Ayrton Senna.
Of the 20 drivers cometing in the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, 10 of them
were schooled in Formula Ford, including champion Michael Schumacher
and runner-up Kimi Raikkonen.
One of the major factors behind the Formula's success has been the
consisten technical regulations. While the chassis have evolved on almost
an annual basis to improve performance and also conform to increasingly
stringent safety requirements, the 1600cc 'Kent' engine was used from
1967-1992, until being replaced by the 1800cc 'Zetec' unit from 1993
to the present day.
