Scottish Formula Ford Championship

Last updated

Scottish Formula Ford Championship
Category Single seaters
Country United Kingdom
Inaugural season 1968
Folded 2014
Engine suppliers Ford

The Scottish Formula Ford Championship is a single seater open-wheel motorsport competition in Scotland. Championship events have been held since 1968, and there is a long pedigree involving 1600cc Ford Kent engined cars. By the mid-80s the FF1600 category was regarded as a mainstay of Scottish motor-racing. [1] Despite variations in the format of the race meetings over the years, the Formula Ford class has remained popular among drivers. [2] Several drivers have progressed to professional racing careers after gaining experience at this entry level.

Contents

Over the years, races have been held at Ingliston Motor Racing Circuit, near Edinburgh and the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife. The events are organised by the Scottish Motor Racing Club as part of meetings where the programme features a range of categories. [3]

In the early 1980s the races were watched by crowds that were 6000 strong. [4] In 2013 the races have crowds of around 3,000 spectators recorded. [5]

History

Since the championship was established in the 1960s, many competitors have had their performance at these events noticed, and gone on to race in higher level competitions, including Formula one. The championship has allowed competitors to be tested at faster speeds than karting, with vehicles able to reach a top-speed of 140 mph, compared to the kart’s 80 mph. [6] [7]

Events were initially held at the Ingliston Motor Racing Circuit but this track ceased to be used for regular motor sport events in 1992. [8]

Popular chassis for these events have included those manufactured by Crosslé and Van Diemen.

In 1985 the championship saw the debut of Scotland’s first home-built racing car, the “Rotor”. [9] The Rotor-Motive team continued to compete in the championship and were Scotland's only full-time professional racing manufacturer. [10]

Championship format

In 2014 there are two classes - one for current cars and another for older 'Classic' cars built before 31 December 1989. [11] There is also a Newcomers Cup which is open to drivers in their first or second year of open wheel competition.

In 2014 there were 15 rounds of racing. In one of the final rounds of the championship, competitors are also racing for the David Leslie Trophy named in memory of Scottish BTCC driver. The Angel Burgueño Trophy is awarded to the driver who completes the fastest lap.

Action from the races has been screened by Sky and Virgin Media channel Motors TV. [12] [13]

Champions

In 1969 Tom Walkinshaw won the championship in a Hawke DL2. [14] then moved on to race in Formula 3. [15]

After winning a few Scottish motocross titles, Stewart Roden then won the Scottish Formula Ford Championship five times. This led to him being offered a place in Eddie Jordan's F3 team in 1988, although he only drove once before being left unable to continue as he had run out of money. [16]

In 2011, Ken Thirlwall, was the first person to win every race of the season, also winning the championship in only his 2nd Formula Ford season.

In 2014, Ciaran Haggerty became Scotland’s youngest ever Formula Ford champion. [17] Haggerty had enjoyed the support of the retired racing driver Dario Franchitti. [18] [19]

List of Champions:

SeasonChampionConstructorClassic CarNewcomer's cup
2014Ciaran HaggertyIvor MairsAdam Mackay
2013Stuart Thorburn [20] Ivor MairsCiaran Haggerty
2012Ross McEwanJordan Gronkowski [5]
2011Kenneth Thirlwall [21]
2010Craig Brunton [22]
2009Rory Butcher [23]
2008Graham CarrollVan Diemen RF90 [24]
2005Joe Tanner
2003Jonathan Adam [25]
1998Stewart RodenStuart Robertson
1997Stewart Roden
1996Jim Forsyth
1995Ricki Steedman [26]
1986Cameron Binnie [27] Van Diemen [28]
1985Cameron Binnie [29]
1983Tom Brown [30] Van Diemen [31]
1982Vic Covey [32]
1981Vic Covey [32]
1980Tom Brown [33]
1969 Tom Walkinshaw [34] Hawke DL2 [14]
1968 Dave Walker

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Clark</span> British racing driver (1936–1968)

James Clark Jr. OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965. A versatile driver, he competed in sports cars, touring cars and in the Indianapolis 500, which he won in 1965. He was particularly associated with the Lotus marque.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Walkinshaw</span> Scottish racing car driver

Thomas Dobbie Thomson Walkinshaw was a British racing car driver from Scotland and the founder of the racing team Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). He was also involved in professional rugby union, as owner of Gloucester Rugby, and chairman of the team owners organisation for the Aviva Premiership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula Ford</span> Race car class

Formula Ford, also known as F1600 and Formula F, is an entry-level class of single seater, open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held across the world form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. Formula Ford has traditionally been regarded as the first major stepping stone into formula racing after karting. The series typically sees career-minded drivers enter alongside amateurs and enthusiasts. Success in Formula Ford can lead directly to other junior formula series such as a Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Three, or the W Series for female drivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walkinshaw Andretti United</span> Australian motor racing team

Walkinshaw Andretti United is an Australian motor racing team based in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton. The team currently fields two Holden ZB Commodores in the Supercars Championship for Nick Percat and Chaz Mostert, along with a Porsche 911 GT3-R in the Australian GT Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knockhill</span> Race track in Fife, Scotland, UK

Knockhill Racing Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Fife, Scotland. It opened in September 1974 and is Scotland's national motorsport centre. The circuit is located in the countryside about 6 miles (10 km) north of Dunfermline. It is the only FIA approved circuit in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecurie Ecosse</span> Former Scottish motor racing team

Ecurie Ecosse was a motor racing team from Edinburgh, Scotland. The team was founded in November 1951 by Edinburgh businessman and racing driver David Murray and mechanic Wilkie Wilkinson. Its most notable achievement was winning the 1956 and the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team also raced in three Formula One races. Ecurie Ecosse's cars were always distinctive in their flag blue metallic paint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula Ford 1600</span>

Formula Ford 1600 is a number of championships which cater to 1600cc, Ford Kent powered Formula Ford racing cars. These are cars that were disbanded when the UK national Formula Ford category adopted the 1800cc Zetec engine in 1993. However, it has been running as several regional club championships ever since and has recently renewed success. Several cars constructed to Zetec rules have been converted to accept a Kent engine, as well as the Duratec powered cars that followed. There have also been several recent purpose-built Kent cars which have enjoyed success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorsport in the United Kingdom</span>

Motorsport is a popular sport in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is a key player in the world of motorsport, hosting rounds of the Formula One World Championship, World Rally Championship and Grand Prix motorcycle racing, amongst others. It is also the home of many of the current teams in Formula One, such as McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin, while teams such as Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Alpine and Haas are also based in England. There are also a range of popular national series held such as the British Touring Car Championship. The Motor Sports Association is the official governing body of motorsport in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabian Coulthard</span> British racing driver

Fabian "Fabs" Coulthard is a British-born New Zealand professional race car driver, currently competing in the Repco Supercars Championship, driving as an endurance co-driver for Chaz Mostert with Walkinshaw Andretti United. Fabian is a second cousin of former Formula One driver David Coulthard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Birrell</span> British racing driver

Gerald Hussey Buchanan Birrell was a British racing driver from Scotland, who was killed in an accident during practice for a Formula Two race at Rouen-Les-Essarts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Formula Ford Championship</span> Auto racing championship in the United Kingdom

The British Formula Ford Championship was an entry level single seater motor racing category, designed to give racing drivers their first step into car racing after karting. Drivers from around the world were attracted to the United Kingdom to compete in the series, and successful Formula One drivers such as Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button won their first single-seater titles in the championship. The championship was run to various Formula Ford regulations over the years, based on the engines provided for the championship by Ford Motor Company. These engine based regulations/specifications include the Ford Kent engine, Ford Zetec engine, Ford Duratec engine and in the final years the Ford EcoBoost engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Coulthard</span> British racing driver

David Marshall Coulthard is a British former racing driver from Scotland, later turned presenter, commentator and journalist. Nicknamed 'DC', he competed in 15 seasons of Formula One between 1994 and 2008, taking 13 Grand Prix victories and 62 podium finishes. He was runner-up in the 2001 championship, driving for McLaren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Pye</span> Australian professional racing driver (born 1990)

Scott Robert Pye is an Australian professional racing driver. He currently competes in the Repco Supercars Championship, and drives the No. 20 Holden ZB Commodore for Team 18.

The 2010 British Formula Ford Championship was the 35th edition of the British Formula Ford Championship. It commenced on 5 April at Oulton Park's Easter Monday meeting and ended on 26 September at Brands Hatch after 10 rounds and 25 races, held in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaz Mostert</span> Australian racing driver

Chaz Mostert is an Australian professional racing driver competing in the Repco Supercars Championship. He currently drives the No. 25 Holden ZB Commodore for Walkinshaw Andretti United. Mostert was the winner of the 2021 Bathurst 1000 with Lee Holdsworth and has also previously won the 2014 Bathurst 1000 with Paul Morris and the 2010 Australian Formula Ford Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Malvern</span> British racing driver

Scott Aaron Malvern is a British racing driver, currently competing in the British GT Championship who is best known for winning the 2011 British Formula Ford Championship, the 2012 Formula Renault BARC championship and twice being nominated for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award.Malvern was also awarded the British Racing Drivers Club Henry Surtees Award in 2011 and the Autosport Club Driver of the Year in 2012.

Ingliston Racing Circuit is 1.03-mile motor racing circuit that was built at the Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston, Edinburgh. The circuit was created by widening and linking the network of access roads at the venue which had previously been used exclusively as an agricultural showground.

Sebastian Melrose is a British-Salvadoran racing driver who last competed in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup for Team HARD. He was born in Bathgate, Scotland. He is a holder of the Scottish Motor Racing Club (SMRC) rising star award, winner of the Ecurie Ecosse Hubcap and is also the godson of 4 time IndyCar Series champion and 3 time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 F4 British Championship</span>

The 2017 F4 British Championship was a multi-event, Formula 4 open-wheel single seater motor racing championship held across United Kingdom. The championship featured a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded drivers, competing in Formula 4 cars that conformed to the technical regulations for the championship. This, the third season, following on from the British Formula Ford Championship, was the third year that the cars conformed to the FIA's Formula 4 regulations. Part of the TOCA tour, it formed part of the extensive program of support categories built up around the BTCC centrepiece.

Rory Butcher is a Scottish racing driver from Kirkcaldy; Scotland, currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, having made his debut in the BTCC for Motorbase Performance in August 2017. Butcher has also competed in several other series during his career, including the Scottish Formula Ford Championship, the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, the British Formula Ford Championship, the British GT Championship and the European Le Mans Series.

References

  1. ↑ Hunston, Hugh (26 July 1985). "Ecosse raises home hopes". The Glasgow Herald . Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Finlay, Ross (16 January 1998). "The chequered-flag club action focuses on Knockhill". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Scots descend on Knockhill". The Scotsman . Johnston Press. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Hunston, Hugh (12 August 1983). "Hourie has high hopes". The Glasgow Herald. p. 22. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Gronkowski makes swift start to Scottish season". Banffshire Journal. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "One for the Future: Sarah Playfair, 19-year-old racing driver". The Sunday Times . News UK. 20 June 2004. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.(subscription required)
  7. ↑ "Jonathan's first chequered flag drives his ambitions". Fife Today. Johnston Press. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "RHC racetrack - 50 years in pole position" (Press release). Royal Highland Centre. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  9. ↑ Hunston, Hugh (10 May 1985). "Lure of TV makes life busy for Tom". The Glasgow Herald. p. 26. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Champion forced out of big race". The Glasgow Herald. 25 September 1987. p. 34. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Formula Ford 1600 Championship: Championship details". Scottish Motor Racing Club. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Podium spots put Jordan in the lead". Banffshire Journal. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Scottish FF1600 & Fiestas: episode guide". Radio Times . Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Miles wins Fraser Trophy". The Glasgow Herald. 6 October 1969. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  15. ↑ Tremayne, David (16 December 2010). "Tom Walkinshaw: Motor racing team owner who won the world title with Michael Schumacher and branched out into rugby union". The Independent . Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Rosen relishes 24-hour race with dream team". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 17 June 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "Ciaran Haggerty".
  18. ↑ Suttie, Heather (4 May 2014). "IndyCar series champion Dario Franchitti returns to Knockhill to cheer on Scotland's newest racing star". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "Scottish Motor Racing Championships return to Fife". The Courier . D. C. Thomson & Co. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  20. ↑ Bannerman, Gordon (11 October 2013). "Matthew making his mark". Daily Record . Trinity Mirror . Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  21. ↑ Miller, Dale (5 July 2013). "Racing driver back on track after funding loss". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Racer Craig beats diabetes to become Scottish champ". Dunfermline Press . 8 October 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  23. ↑ "Knockhill's Mini race no small challenge for Hobbs". The Courier. D. C. Thomson & Co. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  24. ↑ "Scots Ferraris lead the way at Knockhill". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Knockhill victory". Fife Today. Johnston Press. 6 November 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  26. ↑ Finlay, Ross (5 April 1996). "Our own Demon Hill is back in action". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  27. ↑ Hunston, Hugh (20 March 1987). "Binnie leads return of the Reivers". The Glasgow Herald. p. 31. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  28. ↑ Hunston, Hugh (13 October 1986). "Last-lap victory for cool Binnie". The Glasgow Herald. p. 10. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  29. ↑ Hunston, Hugh (4 October 1985). "Final meeting of fine season". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  30. ↑ "A Dumfries double still in prospect". The Glasgow Herald. 27 April 1984. p. 24. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  31. ↑ Hunston, Hugh (2 May 1983). "Fleming's switch pays off". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  32. 1 2 Mercer, Iain (3 October 2014). "Caught in the fast lane". Business Quarter. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  33. ↑ Hunston, Hugh (4 April 1981). "Strong field in the Herald race". The Glasgow Herald. p. 17. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  34. ↑ "Obituary: Tom Walkinshaw, Rugby club owner and former F1 team owner". Kirkintilloch Herald . 13 December 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.