FORMULA FORD ORGANISERS OUTLINE FORMAT CHANGES Championship structure to be changed for 2017
The BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 National Championship will run to a new structure this year, which will allow cars of all ages to race together and instead split drivers into Pro and Clubman classes.
Instead of being divided into Post-’89 and Pre-’90 grids according to chassis age, two new classes called National Pro and Clubman will be created.
Drivers for the Clubman series will only be eligible provided they have not finished within the top three in any FF1600 championship event within the last three years, or unless they enter in an older Pre-’90 car. Clubman drivers will also have unlimited tyres, whereas the National Pro drivers will still have one set per weekend.
The new Clubman class will feature a full range of age-related classes, and championship chairman Ian Wolfenden believes it replaces what had become a poorly supported Pre-’90 national series.
“Last year we had the two national championships, I competed in Pre-’90. There were only four of us competing for it,” said Wolfenden. “There was a whole championship and no need for it. The new national Clubman series will allow drivers to run modern cars without competing with National Pro drivers. It’s for drivers like me, who are a bit long in the tooth, or ones who are just starting out and need the experience.”
The championship will also run a revised race format, switching from two 20-minute races per weekend to three 15-minute races.
The first race grid will be decided by qualifying, while the grid for race two will be decided by the finishing position in the previous race. The third race of the weekend will feature a ballot grid draw with the top eight from race two picking their starting spot out of a hat.
After experimenting with a control fuel at the Formula Ford Festival – also organised by the BRSCC – the championship will also roll out a controlled pump fuel system for all national rounds this year. ● Jack Wolfenden – son of Ian – will drive a Firman RF16 in the National championship in 2017. Wolfenden joins Josh Smith, who announced his plans at the Autosport Show, in a two-car Myerscough Motorsport team.