The starting category for CHAMPIONS Fantastic racing for the CLUBMAN Win a place in the MAZDA ROAD TO INDY SHOOTOUT HIGH PROFILE meetings with the TCR UK Package National, Regional and Single-venue CHAMPIONSHIPS Over 50 years of HISTORY LOW cost
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Mazda Road to Indy Shootout For more than 50 years Formula Ford 1600 has been a great training ground aimed at young drivers with many competitors going on to carve their names in history. These include Formula 1 stars Emerson Fittipaldi, Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, Jenson Button and Mark Webber. This tradition has been strengthened since the National Championship became a Feeder Series for the Mazda Road to Indy Programme. In 2018, the profile of the series is due to increase even further when it becomes one of the key supporting events at every round of the brand new TCR UK touring car championship. This will bring unprecedented levels of spectator attention and media coverage. With an emphasis on mechanical grip, Formula Ford 1600 enables drivers to develop skills that are vital for building solid foundations for a future career in motorsport whatever arena opportunities arise in. As regulations relating to chassis dynamics are completely open and there are no limits on testing, drivers can immerse themselves in gaining an understanding of how racing cars work. Despite this, costs are far lower than many series which are targeted at young drivers. Aside from being a great training formula, the racing in Formula Ford 1600 is arguably the best in the world and many compete in the Clubman Class of the National Championship for the sheer fun of it. This is because the lack of aerodynamic aids makes it possible for the cars to closely follow each other through corners while the open wheels discourage crash, bang, wallop antics. As a Feeder Series for the Mazda Road to Indy Shootout, the National Formula Ford 1600 Championship provides a fantastic opportunity to forge a career in top-line single-seater racing over in the United States. Subject to certain criteria, the winner of the title is eligible to take part in the end of season Mazda Road to Indy Shootout for the chance of winning a US$200k scholarship to contest the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. From USF2000, the Mazda Road to Indy provides a pathway which leads right the way up to Indycars. If you claim the USF2000 title, you receive a $325,000 scholarship for Pro Mazda; victory in the Pro Mazda series brings you $790,000 for Indy Lights; and the Indy Lights champion scoops a scholarship valued at $1 million to move into IndyCar with three guaranteed races, including the Indianapolis 500. In 2017, Josef Newgarden (pictured above on the right of Conor Daly) was the first graduate of the Mazda Road to Indy programme to win the Indycar Championship proving that the initiative can help a driver to reach the very top of motorsport.
NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP In Northern England, BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 offers intense on-track competition for drivers from a variety of backgrounds in pukka racing cars which have performance and handling capabilities far beyond that of roadorientated vehicles. But we offer much more than sport as the paddock provides a very friendly environment which makes each race weekend a great social event not to be missed. It is truly a family orientated arena in which Lad & Dad teams are commonplace. Indeed, there has been more than one instance where father and son raced against each other. Often our drivers are assisted by their wives, girlfriends and kids who all form close bonds with the support teams of their fellow competitors. When the red lights go out, the racing is as good as you find anywhere because aerodynamic aids are outlawed so that a pursuing car s cornerspeed is never affected by disturbed air. There is always plenty of overtaking but, due to the exposed wheels, all passing manoeuvres have to be made with precision. We cater for all budgets with a Northern Championship which comprises of 7 meetings including an away day at Silverstone - the Home of British Motorsport. Meanwhile our single-venue series - the Champion of Oulton and Star of Anglesey - have earned legendary status in their own right. A CLASS OF ITS OWN As the Formula Ford 1600 regulations have largely been unchanged since there were created in 1967 - more than 50 years ago - there is a large proliferation of cars eligible to compete in all of the BRSCC Championships. The Northern Championship provides just about everyone with something to race for as the cars are divided into the following 5 Classes according to their date of manufacture: Class A: Cars built from 1/1/99 Class B: Cars built from 1/1/90 to 31/12/98 Class C: Cars built from 1/1/87 to 31/12/89 Class D: Cars built from 1/1/84 to 31/12/86 Class E: Cars built before 1984
POTENTIAL COSTINGS DIRECTORY When asking how much does it cost to race Formula Ford 1600, the most realistic answer is in fact another question, How long is a piece of string? Competitors can spend as much or as little as they wish. A drive with a topline team on a turn up and drive basis can cost 50,000 for a season in the National Championship although competitive seats are available for 30,000. For those with the mechanical know-how and enough supportive friends to prepare their own cars, new chassis cost in the region of 25,000 while a competitive secondhand one could be purchased for 13,000. Cars are available for less but are likely to require a fair amount work to make them race ready. These prices excludes engines. A new power unit has a price tag of 7,000. Older chassis suitable for the Northern Championship can be obtained for a lower price. The nature of Formula Ford 1600 means that a finely-tuned chassis from the turn of the Millennium or even earlier can be competitive against the latest designs. Note, unlike a road car, the high stresses of racing means Formula Ford 1600s have to receive constant attention. They need to be thoroughly checked after every qualifying session and race then they require a substantial ovehaul between each meeting. The following is an estimated breakdown of costs for competing in the National Championship but excludes purchasing/hiring the car, accommodation, travel and testing BRSCC RACING MEMBERSHIP 150.00 CHAMPIONSHIP REGISTRATION 125.00 RACE ENTRY FEES 3,200.00 TYRES 3,878.40 CONSUMABLES (OILS, BRAKE PADS, ETC) 240.00 FUELS 320.00 SEASON TOTAL 7,913.40 CHASSIS BUILDERS Medina Sport Web: www.medinasport.co.uk Email: john@medinasport.co.uk Tel: 01606 881727 / 07850 595028 Ralph Firman Racing Web: www.rfrcars.com Email: info@rfrcars.com Tel: 01953 888500 Ray Racing Cars Web: www.rayracecar.com Email: enquiries@rayracecar.com Tel: 07801 899178 Swift Cooper Web: www.swiftcooper.com Email: alan@swiftcooper.com Tel: 01249 783000 SECOND HAND CARS Web: www.racecarsdirect.com RACING TEAMS Medina Sport Web: www.medinasport.co.uk Email: john@medinasport.co.uk Tel: 01606 881727 / 07850 595028 Don Hardman Racing Email: donhardmanuk@gmail.com Tel: 07860 248232 Oldfield Motorsport Web: www.oldfieldmotorsport.co.uk Email james@oldfieldmotorsport.co.uk Tel: 07516 811266 Team DPA Web: www.teamdpa.co.uk Email: liam@teamdpa.co.uk Tel: 0798860680 Graham Brunton Racing Web: www.facebook.com/grahambruntonracing/ Email: GBruntonRacing@BTInternet.com Tel: 01383 720046 Souley Motorsport Web: www.souleymotorsport.com Email: Souleymotorsport@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07968847033 Cliff Dempsey Racing Email: cdracing@icloud.com Tel: 07516 430173 Bernard Dolan Racing Email: bernarddolan7@gmail.com Tel: 00353 851391510 UCLan Racing Tel: 07503 167689 Swift Cooper Web: www.swiftcooper.com Email: alan@swiftcooper.com Tel: 01249 783000 B-M Racing Web: www.b-mracing.co.uk Email: Andy.Brickles@hotmail.co.uk Road and Stage Motorsport Web: www.rsmmotorsport.co.uk Tel: 07970 784436 Wayne Poole Racing Web: www.waynepooleracing.co.uk Email at: waynepoole@btopenworld.com Tel: 01453 546 208 / 07884 138 583 Kevin Mills Racing Email: kevinmillsracing@hotmail.com Tel: 07804306513 Dave Hart RacePrep Email: dalunhart@aol.com Tel: 07973 368285 Formula Ford Hire Web: www.formulafordhire.co.uk Email: Use contact form on website Tel: 07800 715450 J. R. T. (Belgium) Web: www.johnracing.be Email: info@johnracing.be Tel: +32 87 341666 / +32 475 350538 Enigna Motorsport Web: www.facebook.com/enigmamotorsport Email: linton@enigmamotorsport.co.uk Tel: 07804306513
Fast Facts Power: 117 BHP* Torque: 150 N-m* Max Revs: 6,800* Weight (inc driver): 500kg *Typical figures The Tech Single-seater Racing Car Advanced In-board Suspension Cutting Edge Data Logging Work with the Entire Package Unlimited Testing 2018 PROVISIONAL CALENDARS NATIONAL 31st/1st Apr - Silverstone 12th/13th May - Knockhill 2nd/3rd Jun - Brands Hatch 22nd/23rd Jun - Kirkistown 14th/15th Jul - Castle Combe 4th Aug - Oulton Park 8th/9th Sep - Croft 13th/14th Oct - Donington Park TRIPLE CROWN 31st/1st Apr - Silverstone 2nd/3rd Jun - Brands Hatch 13th/14th Oct - Donington Park All meetings, except Kirkistown, will be part of the TCR UK package. TOURIST TROPHY 12th/13th May - Knockhill 22nd/23rd Jun - Kirkistown 8th/9th Sep - Croft NORTHERN 24th Mar - Oulton Park 28th/29th Apr - Anglesey 16th Jun - Oulton Park 29th Jul (Sun) - Silverstone 11th/12th Aug - Anglesey 2nd Sep - Mallory Park 29th Sep - Oulton Park Winter Meeting 18th Nov - Anglesey Get Involved Although you ll not find fiercer competition out on the track, the BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 Paddock is a very friendly place with many willing to assist newcomers. While there are Lad & Dad operations who run their own car, many prefer to pay established teams, who have a wealth of experience, to take care of the technicalities. For more information: Visit our website www.brsccff1600.co.uk and click the Join In tab or telephone the Championship Co-ordinator, Ian Smith, on 07939 107888 Compiled by Gramtext Photographs by Bourne Photographic