FORMULA JUNIOR HEADLINES AT NEC
Single-seat er category opens its 60 th celebration season
Former drivers and significant cars from the history of Formula Junior opened the category’s 60th anniversary season in a feature display at Autosport International.
Against a backdrop of landmark cars including a Lotus 18, a Brabham BT6, an early Stanguellini and a Lola Mk2, famous names from six decades ago came together at the NEC to celebrate Formula Junior. Several period drivers are still competing today, including Jeremy Bouckley and Caravelle creator Roger Utley.
The 2018 season will be the third and final season of an unparalleled Diamond Jubilee World Tour, which has already taken in Formula Junior races in South Africa, North America, Australia and New Zealand. This year will major on a unique Baltic Tour in June, spanning races in Lithuania, Latvia and Sweden over three consecutive weekends.
“The response to the Baltic Tour has been amazing,” said category promoter Duncan Rabagliati. “We’ve already got 40 cars going.”
Confirmed entries include John Delane from the USA and Marty Bullock from Australia as well as a strong British contingent. The races will be at the Nemunas Ring in Lithuania, Bikernieki in Latvia and Karlskoga in Sweden.
The three Baltic tracks will allow Formula Junior stalwart Bob Birrell to move closer to his ambition of racing at 100 tracks. “I added one new track last year, which was Sandown in Australia. These three will take me to 97,” said the Lotus 22 racer.
The Formula Junior 60th celebrations will conclude at the Silverstone Classic in July.