It’s time for Vintage Formula Ford to fire up once more, as the season starts tomorrow at Snetterton with the HSCC.
The SDC Classic Formula Ford series enjoyed a great year last year, aided by support from SDC and a money-back scheme for drivers which helped to increase grid numbers. This year’s opening meeting has the added potential for a new winner, as 2023 champion Ben Tinkler has sold his Van Diemen RF80 and Joe Ahrens and Jake Shortland are not yet racing. Series stalwarts Rick Morris (Royale RP29) and Mike Gardner (Crossle 32F) have no great love lost between them and are likely to run at the front, but on the Saturday at least, they will be challenged by Simon Toyne’s Lola T200 and also by Chris Porritt in his Titan. Toyne won last year’s Snetterton opener and Porritt triumphed twice later in the season, at Croft.
Fresh from his race-winning return to Formula Ford 1600 competition in 2023, Benn Simms is trying his hand at Classic this year, in a JOMO that is probably the oldest car on the grid. The multiple FF2000 and Historic FF1600 champion pushed Callum Grant all the way last year in Historics and is always a front-runner.
Other new faces include BallPark’s Grace Parkington in her Crossle 25F, the first outing in Classics for the new all-female team. The series also welcomes Ben Powney, more familiar to 750MC members in Ma7da, F1000 and Locosts. He will race a Jamun T3.
Historic Formula Ford has a much smaller grid, but there is strong anticipation of a new winner and perhaps the beginnings of some new rivalries after the stellar scraps at the front in 2023 between Simms and Grant. Neither is taking part this time, which could allow Toyne to capitalise on the pace he has shown. There is also the challenge from Spencer Shinner, who improved dramatically over the course of 2023 and whose Merlyn Mk20/50 will be on the pace.
Porritt is taking on both championships and has the pace and tenacity to challenge at the front. With him will be several members of Team Garagista, including Christian Goller in a Lola T202 and Mark Wilkes in a Merlyn. Both of these drivers showed flashes of great speed in 2023.
If Oliver Chapman can keep it on the track in his Lola, he could be in contention, as his lap times can be spectacular. Cormac Flanagan, drivign an Alexis Mk14, has not always had the best luck at Snetterton but has a decent chance to put that right this weekend.
Ross Drybrough is likely to be the quickest in the Over 50 class in his Merlyn Mk20 and could also make an impact at the front.
In Formula Ford 2000, last year’s battles are likely to continue at the top end of the grid. Graham Fennymore’s hints that he would switch to FF1600 have proved to be a bluff, and his Reynard SF81 will still be the car to beat. Chasing him down will be Marc Mercer in his SF79, hoping for a dry track and no repeat of his 2023 controversial move.
Jordan Harrison has had a year to develop his Lola T580 and will be hoping to dodge some of the bad luck that plagued his debut FF2000 season. He is more than capable of taking the fight to Fennymore and like Fennymore, can even do it from the back of the grid if necessary. All three will be targets for Richard Coleman in his SF79, another driver who had some bad luck in 2023.
Two newer faces will have last year’s leaders looking nervously in their mirrors. Samuel Harrison is back in Adrian Reynard’s SF79, after impressing on his Silverstone debut. He is reliably good in any car and will be near the business end. Do not discount Benn Tilley either, who will be racing a Delta T79, one of four Deltas expected on the grid. Tilley and Harrison are old rivals from Classic FF1600.
Other rapid regulars include Ben Glasswell (Reynard SF77) and Ian Pearson in his Royale RP30, hoping he has solved some of the car problems he had in 2023.
Vintage Formula Ford 