Class of the Field

 

Formula F is a purpose-built, open-wheel road racing car that has competed throughout the world since 1967.

 

The venerable 1600cc Ford engine was originally built in the county of Kent, England. This engine remains as the primary powertrain choice for international use — regardless of the various class names given.

 

In its day, when used in street cars and in various configurations, the Kent engine powered the British Ford Cortina, Escort, and some Lotus cars. Here in the US, it was used in the Ford Pinto, Capri, and Fiesta, so in racing was simply referred to by its Cortina and Pinto brand namesakes.

 

Though known as Formula Ford, F1600, or FF1600, and Formula F, the class can be a solid step for the professional or a destination for longtime amateurs. In contrast to the vast majority of racing series in the current age, there have been hundreds of chassis constructors building FF cars over its 59 seasons of existence — all using the venerable, 1600cc, English-built Ford Kent or Cortina engines until recently.

 

The first standalone Formula Ford race took place at the Brands Hatch circuit in England on July 2, 1967. Belgium hosted the first race outside England, and Formula Ford racing quickly spread across Europe and North America, with the first official Formula Ford race in the United States on March 23, 1969. 

 

The new class met with such rousing success it was included in that debut year’s Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championships, then known as the American Road Racing Classic — and since as the SCCA Runoffs.

 

"Fast Eddie" Miller sat on the first Pole, but issues handed that first National Championship win to Skip Barber.

 

Formula Ford almost instantly established itself as a direct path to Formula One grand prix racing, the highest level of motor sport in the world.

 

Formula Ford was re-classified as Formula F in the States in 2011, when a tuned Honda Fit engine intended to equalize itself against the Ford was written into the rulebook. Those two engines are still the basis of Formula F here, and either can win races on any given day.

 

 

Driving Passion

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These cars are so nimble that they literally become an extension of your body — as if you’re wearing it — and are extremely obedient to drive. The entire experience is almost surreal, as you become capable of achieving millimeter-accuracy in hitting your marks through the turns. Being able to achieve cornering forces nearing twice your body weight is far more physical than you'd first imagine. You are bolted into the car with a custom-fit seat and a six-point seat harness, and at first it can be hard to breathe in the corners. 

 

The engine is solid-mounted into the chassis, and the suspension is so stiff you feel every vibration and pebble in the road. The air flowing over your helmet buffets your head around just like on a motorcycle. You feel tremendous feedback from both car and tires, the experience being nothing at all like any street car. The brakes and steering are solely mechanical and you’re sitting 1.5 inches off the road, feeling intensely connected to both chassis and pavement. When done correctly, time changes, everything slows down, and nothing else in the world even registers. 

 

As Mario Andretti once said "The gyro in your butt is connected directly to the car.”

 

At first thought, 120 horsepower does not sound like much. But these cars have the same power-to-weight ratio as a Corvette — though with massively better braking and corning speed, and thus are much faster in lap time. You'll appreciate having ear plugs to manage the engine sound.

 

Because the cars and drivers are so precise, Formula F cars can and do run within inches of each other safely. Every Formula F driver runs as hard as they can, but crashes are comparatively rare. There’s no bodywork to use as an excuse for bad behavior, so car-to-car contact and damage is very rare.

 

We trust this paints a picture of what it’s like to drive a Formula F race car.

 

We have also posted YouTube videos and more on our Links page to pump you up.

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Specs

 

Engines:

Ford Kent 1600cc

or 1.5L Honda Fit

 

Weight: 1,110 lbs with driver

Power: 120 horsepower

Top Speed: 156 mph

Cornering Force: 1.8g

Braking Force: 1.5g

Chassis: Tubeframe

Gearbox: 4-speed manual