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.
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