Formula Ford History

Formula Ford was established in Great Britain in 1967, as a cost effective starting point for young hopefuls beginning a career in motor racing. Since then, the sport has rapidly grown to become the world's premier junior development category.

Formula Ford is the accepted proving ground for the nation's champions, on a local and international level.

Its links with this country go back to the original series in the UK, the 1968 Guards Championship, which was won in an outstanding fashion by young Australian driver, Tim Schenken. Schenken was the first of many driving superstars to cut his teeth in the competitive category en route to Formula One.

The first Australian Formula Ford race was held at Sandown Raceway in 1969, won by Richard Knight in an Elfin 600, a precursor to his victory the following year in the inaugural Australian Formula Ford series.

Since those early days many of the world's top drivers have come through the ranks of Formula Ford to score major international successes.

No less than eight World Formula One champions have come from the stables of Formula Ford Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Jody Scheckter, Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Mikka Hakkinen have all competed in the junior racing category.

The international pedigree of the Australian Championship is also alive with Mark Webber who, having made his mark in Formula One with Jaguar Racing, Minardi and Williams, this year takes the wheel of the Red Bull Racing Renault Formula 1 car.

Meanwhile, the 1996 Australian Formula Ford champion David Besnard won the US Formula Ford 2000 championship in 1998 and in 2000 contested the Formula Atlantic series in the states.

The Australian V8 Supercar Championship is rich with Formula Ford champions, including Mark Larkham (1989 Champion), Russell Ingall (1990), Craig Lowndes (1993), Steven Richards (1994), Jason Bright (1995), David Besnard (1996), Garth Tander (1997), Greg Ritter (1999), Will Davison (2001), Jamie Whincup (2002).

In addition to the national championship, state series championships are held in most Australian states, both as a cost-effective introduction to the sport for new drivers from karting and Formula Vee, and for vintage Formula Ford competition.

More than ever, the formative skills learnt at Formula Ford level prepare emerging young drivers for successful careers, both locally and internationally.