The entry-level class that opened the door to racing stardom for countless drivers around the world, Formula Ford, turns 50 in 2017, and the anniversary will be celebrated in grand style at next summer’s Silverstone Classic, set for July 21-23.
The anniversary will be a highlight of a busy schedule at the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival, and include two special showdown races for Historic Formula Fords. This will be the first time the FF single-seaters have featured on the Classic bill since 2013, and a pair of full-capacity 54-car grids are expected to produce close and exciting racing, a hallmark of the formula since its introduction in July 1967.
Over the past 50 years, Silverstone has witnessed countless Formula Ford showdowns, with the circuit’s high-speed layout producing epic slipstreaming duels. Next summer, the Silverstone Classic will recreate some of those memorable battles with Historic Formula Fords.
“We are thrilled to be bringing Formula Ford back to the Classic in 2017 for what will be its biggest 50th anniversary celebration,” said Nick Wigley, CEO of event organizer Goose Live Events. “Formula Ford has played such a major role, in both global motor sport history and the careers of just about every young racing driver, that it has earned its place in history. What’s more, it’s going to be another real crowd-pleaser, with lots of incredible wheel-to-wheel action – something for which Formula Ford racing has always been renowned.”
The two FF races join those races already on the 2017 Silverstone Classic docket for: Group C prototypes; FIA Masters Historic Formula One and FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars; the International Trophy for Classic GT Cars (Pre ’66); the Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 Sportscars; the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for Pre ’56 Sportscars; the JET Super Touring Car Trophy; the Maserati Trophy for HGPCA Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars and, of course, the recently announced HRDC Austin A35 Celebrity Race.
Early Bird tickets for the Classic are now on sale with prices and details available by visiting www.silverstoneclassic.com.
