The First Computer Generated Image Of The Sinter Formula Ford

Norfolk-based Sinter have unveiled their new Formula Ford chassis, the first British-designed chassis for the new EcoBoost era. The new chassis is taking shape in the workshops of Southern International with design input from the Caterham F1 team.

The Sinter was developed by Lindsay Allen and his Fluid Motorsports Development team are hoping to field three of the new cars in the 2012 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain and Formula Ford Eurocup.

The first computer images of the new machine have been unveiled and the first example of the machine is hoped to be running by early next month.  French constructor Mygale have also been developing a new car, which can be seen on the BRSCC stand at the Autosport International Show this weekend.

Allen said: “It’s 100 per cent new. Our designer Sam Owen and I started work on it 18 months ago, from scratch, we have been helped enormously by our technical partnership with Caterham F1, whose technicians have designed the bodywork.

“Hopefully the Sinter will be running by the end of January or early February, and we are all very excited about its prospects. The introduction of the new technical regulations and the new EcoBoost power unit has levelled the Formula Ford playing field for everyone and it’s a good time to be launching a new chassis. The last thing that anyone here wanted was for Formula Ford to become a one-chassis series.”

Sam Roach of RacingLine, the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain promoter, commented: “It looks like being an exciting addition to the championship; I am sure that with expertise of Lindsay and his team at Southern International that the Sinter will be a front-running proposition.

“Freedom of chassis design has driven Formula Ford since the inception of the category in 1967. Only Formula 3 and Formula 1 offer the same levels of freedom, which help drive technical standards to exceptionally high levels. The different implications of car set-up and each individual chassis variation create a steep learning curve for drivers, helping to accelerate the development of their abilities.”

SuperSeries Will Feature Formula Ford 1600 Racers From Across Europe

Motorsport Vision Racing (MSVR) have announced details of a brand new Formula Ford ‘SuperSeries’, a four round championship set to bring together the best Formula Ford 1600 racers from across Europe.

The new series is the brainchild of James Beckett and follows the resurrection of the Champion of Brands event in 2011. SuperSeries aims to bring drivers from across Europe together at some of the continent’s most challenging circuits.

The series will visit Kirkistown in Northern Ireland, before heading to France and the technical Croix-en-Ternois circuit. The series will join up with the Champion of Brands event around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, before rounding off the season at iconic Italian track Monza.

Series co-ordinator James Beckett said: “Formula Ford has been breeding champions since 1967 and the SuperSeries will provide drivers the opportunity to race in a European series at superb tracks. The SuperSeries visits four circuits. Kirkistown is a hotbed of Formula Ford talent, and Croix en Ternois will host the opening European mainland races. The Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit will offer the ultimate challenge to competitors, and the famous Monza track in Italy will be a ‘must do’ event for every FF1600 racer.

“I am delighted that James Beckett Motorsport will be organising the SuperSeries for Formula Ford 1600 cars with MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR) in 2012 and beyond. This is an extension to our excellent relationship that has grown out of the reintroduction of the Champion of Brands Formula Ford 1600 series to racing schedules at the start of 2010. The SuperSeries offers competitors a great opportunity to race at some of the world’s most famous circuits. The SuperSeries is open to Kent-engined FF1600 cars of all ages, and will grow on the success of the category that enjoys superb support around the globe.”

SuperSeries 2012 Calendar

Round 1: Kirkistown (Northern Ireland) April 28

Round 2: Croix-en-Ternois (France) June 9

Round 3: Brands Hatch GP August 19

Round 4: Monza (Italy) September 21/23

Malvern did plenty of champagne-spraying in a record-breaking 2011 campaign - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Champion of Great Britain Scott Malvern will take part in the official FIA Formula Two test at Barcelona next week ahead of a possible step up to the series in 2012.

Malvern, who won the Formula Ford in style with a record 18 wins from 24 races, will be joined at the test by the driver who finished runner-up to him – Dutchman Jeroen Slaghekke. Both have been given the test as a prize for their success this season.

“I’m looking to make the jump up to a higher category and F2 offers that at great value for money, together with racing on Grand Prix circuits and ensuring everyone has the same chance,” said Malvern.

“If I were to race it would be a two-year campaign as F2 is very competitive. This test is certainly a great prize to be awarded, especially with F2 fast becoming a recognised route on the motorsport ladder, and I’m hoping to use it as a springboard to F2 next year.”

22-year-old Malvern has already experienced the 500bhp JPH1B car as a finalist in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award for the past two years.

“It’s a very good car that has been well designed and thought out. I’m looking forward to the test and to get some good mileage, as although I’ve sampled it before that was very stop/start.”

19-year-old Slaghekke added: “I’m definitely looking forward to the test. The F2 car is a lot more powerful with a big speed difference to the Formula Ford so it will be a new experience for me and on a new track. We’ll have to see how it goes but F2 could be a possible option for a future season.”

Formula Ford championship co-ordinator Penny Mattocks commented: “Scott Malvern and Jeroen Slaghekke will get to enjoy a very special test and one we’re confident will enrich their future choices in motorsport, and help give recognition to their promising racing careers.”

Malvern and Slaghekke join F3 champions Aaron Steele and Alex Fontana, Italian F3 graduate Edoardo Liberati and German F3 racer Riccardo Brutschin as being confirmed for the test.

Jack Le Brocq In Action At The Formula Ford Sampler Day - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Drivers interested in competing in the 2010 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain visited Silverstone last week for the series’ annual Sampler Day, which gave them the first chance to test the new Formula Ford EcoBoost and meet prospective teams.

Top teams Jamun, JTR. Myerscough College, Engima/Rendez-Vous Racing, Getem, Fluid and RaySport were all in attendance, giving tests to a range of experienced Formula Ford racers and single-seater newcomers. Reigning series champion Scott Malvern was in attendance, continuing his development work for the next car.

Malvern said: “The EcoBoost is quite a bit different now to how it was when I first drove it. We’ve had some good test days and made a lot of progress. For example, the throttle is now much more controllable and the car is now nice under power. There are a few tweaks still to come to make it a bit more comfortable for a new driver.

“The EcoBoost is definitely much easier to drive than a Duratec car, for a new kid coming in, and that is a good thing. It’s also going to make it a lot harder for the guys at the front to find the extra time, which will keep things close. The Duratec was hard to drive, so a driver really on top of his game could get an advantage, whereas the EcoBoost with its sequential ’box and superior levels of grip will make that harder. It’s definitely not lost the Formula Ford feel, though.”

18 year old Jake Cook used the day to try out the EcoBoost chassis for the first time and was impressed. Signing with Jamun Racing, Cook has signalled his intention to battle for the GB title and Eurocup honours in 2012. Cook said: “I really enjoyed the experience. The new car seems a lot better than the old one, with loads more grip, and it looks great.”

Australian Jack Le Brocq, the runner up in this year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship, was in action too. The 19 year old, who has just secured a spot in the FIA Institue Young Driver Excellence Academy for 2012, is close to finalising a deal to race in the UK next season.

Le Brocq said: “I think it’s a really good car. The way the chassis and the tyres work together give it a lot of grip, and I like the sequential gearbox: it’s good experience for the categories a driver will come to further on in his career. I’m hoping to get my deal sorted out soon and then start to think about testing and learning the car and all the new circuits.”

Over twenty drivers were in action at the Sampler Day, testing not only the EcoBoost car but also the older Duratec chassis. Amongst them were Scottish Formula Ford 1600 Champion Kenneth Thirlwall, Ginetta Junior race-winner Sennan Fielding, Formula Ford 1600 racer Alex Drabble and karting graduates George Blundell, Fred Martin-Dye and Laura Tillett. Reigning Scholarship Cup winner Cavan Corcoran was also in action, the teenager driving the EcoBoost car for the first time as he aims to put the budget together for next season.

Championship promoter RacingLine’s Sam Roach concluded: “It was a really worthwhile day for everyone who took part. It was the first opportunity for several drivers to go behind the wheel of the new Formula Ford car and I know that it impressed all who sampled it.”

The New Formula Ford EcoBoost Will Make Its Debut In 2012 - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Trips to Spa Francorchamps, Zandvoort and Nurburgring top the bill in Formula Ford for 2012, after RacingLine unveiled the provisional 2012 calendars for the 2012 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain and the Formula Ford EuroCup.

The British championship will once again support the British F3 and British GT series for most the year, joining them for Oulton Park, Rockingham, Brands Hatch GP, Snetterton, Silverstone GP and Donington Park GP. The series will also join the support bill for the DTM at Brands Hatch, as well as a trip to the Nurburgring, with the season consisting of 24 races in total.

The Nurburgring and Brands Hatch GP races will also form part of the EuroCup, which will once again see the British racers joined by the best drivers from the Benelux and Scandinavian championships. The EuroCup will also have standalone events at Spa and Zandvoort, the latter in support of the F3 Masters event.

RacingLive has also confirmed that 2012, which will see the debut of the new Formula Ford Ecoboost, will once again see Formula Ford benefit from TV coverage on Channel 4 in the UK and across Europe on Motors TV.

RacingLine chief Sam Roach: “It is a great set of dates. Not only will Formula Ford support British Formula 3 at all of its six UK meetings, we will also share the stage with the DTM German touring cars at Brands Hatch, the Masters Formula 3 event at Zandvoort, and also top events at Spa and – for the first time – the Nürburgring in Germany. It is a great calendar for us and the circuits being visited will offer the young drivers taking part a suitably impressive challenge.” 

2012 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain & Formula Ford EuroCup – Provisional calendars

All dates and circuits are provisional and subject to change.

Scott Malvern Celebrates His Title Success - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Dunlop MSA Formula Ford of Great Britain champion. Formula Ford Eurocup champion. BRSCC Formula Ford Festival winner. Autosport McLaren BRDC Award finalist. It’s fair to say 2011 has been a sensational year for Scott Malvern. The Checkered Flag caught up with him recently to reflect on his incredible campaign.

Malvern headed into 2011 off the back of a strong year in British Formula Ford in 2010, the Jamun Racing driver taking the runners up spot in the championship. While the champion Scott Pye and fellow top five finishers Josh Hill, Tio Ellinas and Daniel Cammish all moved on, Malvern was forced to stick around and have a second crack at the single-seater series.

Malvern said: “Having had such a good year in 2010, it was a tough winter to be honest, going into the new year we were looking at various options, Formula Renault, Formula 3, Formula 2 and GP3 with an open mind, unfortunately due to their own circumstances, two of my main sponsors had to withdraw in early January meaning my options were then somewhat limited.

“By mid January we started looking at a second year in Formula Ford, we knew it would be a big risk as winning the championship by racking up lots of points wouldn’t be enough after coming so close last year; I would also have to go out and win lots of races along the way.”

Staying in Formula Ford paid off for Scott though, the Essex-based racer dominating the whole season, taking eighteen wins in 24 races to win the championship by over 100 points. This came despite a tough start to the year at Silverstone, where he picked up two retirements in three races, though he bounced back instantly and went on a record-breaking run of thirteen consecutive wins, going on the seal the championship a weekend early.

Malvern commented: “It’s a fantastic feeling, after the first weekend at Silverstone it seemed as though we might have made the wrong decision, we had to regroup and plan how we could resurrect the season. With the points system being so close I just had to win as many races as possible.

“At that early stage winning all those races seems like such a tall order but I just treated each race like it was my last and it paid off! I can’t describe how it felt to be on the top step after the third race at Brands Hatch GP having just taken my third hat-trick of wins, when you achieve something like that it gives you the confidence that you can do anything!” 

BRDC Rising Star Malvern believes that his previous experience in the series has helped him be successful this season, reflecting: “Being a second year driver always helps, you understand how the championship runs and also the importance of certain races and circumstances, sometimes it can be crucial to take full advantage of a situation that may seem irrelevant when you are learning the championship.

“I think a large part of the reason we had such a god year has come from the fact that I was confident that I knew the car well, I knew the team well and I had a great relationship with my mechanic and my engineers. We set out a program for each test and race and everyone did their best to maximise every aspect of the weekend.”

Malvern’s success makes him the seventh consecutive champion for Jamun Racing, with Malvern really praising the team: “Jamun Racing is made up of a great bunch of people, they work tirelessly to make their cars the best on the grid, the preparation of the cars is flawless. James and Tony Mundy are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the setup of the car, the car works in every situation on every circuit due to the hard work and endless research & development that all of the guys work towards. Their main priority is to win!”

The 2011 season also saw the introduction of the Formula Ford Eurocup, which saw Malvern and his British colleagues compete against the best Formula Ford racers in Europe around some of the best tracks on the continent. Malvern’s dominance in Britain continued in Europe, the Brit taking nine wins in eleven races to win all four Eurocup weekends.

Scott commented: “I think it was a great idea from the series organisers to introduce such a concept, for the drivers it’s great experience to race on some of the European circuits such as Spa and Zolder, it’s great preparation for when a driver progress’ through their career and it’s also a new and enjoyable experience for the British teams to race abroad and see some new circuits.

“For me it was brilliant, the Eurocup was an extra for us, so to win all four weekends was a dream really. When you go to race against people you have no experience of in their back garden you’re not sure what to expect but we had some great races on the new circuits and managed to win 9 of the 11 races even after having to start last for all three races at Spa!”

Scott Malvern Enjoyed Much Success In His Jamun Racing Formula Ford - Photo Credit: Chris Gurton Photography

Malvern followed up his championship and Eurocup wins with what he describes as his biggest win of the season, a comprehensive victory in the 2011 BRSCC Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, a result that Malvern admits is a dream come true: “All year I have been thinking about the Festival, winning the championship is one thing but winning the Festival is another and requires a completely different approach. I knew that it would be a very tough weekend; no one has anything to lose its just every man for himself with no consequences.

“It was massively important to me as it is a race that I have always wanted to win, so many past winners have made it to the top, it is a real test of your ability consistently finish at the front and yet save enough so as you don’t peak before the final. I think I’m right in saying that I am only the third person to win both the Championship and the Festival in the same year, it was a fantastic way to round out the season.”

Malvern’s achievements have been recognised once again this year with the Barkingside-based racer getting nominated for the Autosport McLaren BRDC Award for the second year running, which will see him compete against five other young British racers for a prize fund that includes a McLaren F1 test and £100,000.

Malvern enthused: “It’s such a prestigious award; to be nominated twice is a real honour. For me it is of huge importance, it has been the springboard for so many great drivers in the past and I would love to be in that list. To be approved by some of the most influential people in British motorsport is what dreams are made of, also to be a member of the BRDC is something that is so hard achieve. Not forgetting the test with Mclaren! The prizes truly are money can’t buy and the £100,000 would be a massive help towards my budget for 2012.”

Malvern has already started looking ahead to next season and within a week of winning the Formula Ford Festival, he was heading out to Spain to test a GP3 car for the first time. Running with the Status Grand Prix team, Malvern had a big learning curve to overcome, jumping from a Formula Ford to a GP3 car, but he impressed and set some competitive times at Barcelona.

Reflecting on the test, Malvern said: “For me it was a huge learning curve, heading into the test I had to learn a new car, new tyres, a new circuit and a new team. There is so much to take in when you’re in a situation like that, I knew that I wasn’t going to just turn up and be quickest so my objective were just to learn as much as I possibly could about aero cars and that things I need to work on before I make the step up.

“In terms of top speed the cars are not much different, however what is so vastly different is the grip and braking power available to you, making the most of the grip sounds relatively easy however compared to a Formula Ford the apex speed can sometimes be as much as 30mph faster so it’s more about commitment.

“Left foot braking was also new to me, when you have been braking with you right foot for the past three years it feels more than a little odd when you start having to master your braking technique with the other foot. Overall it was a great experience, I learn a lot and I’m looking to put it to good use in the near future.”

As well as GP3, Malvern is exploring other avenues ahead of next season, as he concludes: “My aim for 2012 is to continue to build on the momentum that we have accumulated over the past year and to ensure that we put a good package together for my new and longstanding partners. At the moment we are looking at either Formula 2 or GP3, both series I feel have their strong points and now it is down to where we can get the best value for our supporters. I think both are great cars and both present a different challenge but my aim is to win wherever I go.”

James Nash - Photo Credit: btcc.net

2011 British Touring Car Championship Independents champion James Nash took his first Formula Ford win since 2007 during an impressive showing in the 2011 Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone.

Nash has plenty of Formula Ford experience in his locker, having raced in Formula Ford in 2006 and 2007, finishing second in the Walter Hayes Trophy in 2006. This years running of the event saw Nash competing in a Formula Ford 2000 Van Diemen RF82 engineered and run by Simon Green Motorsport.

Racing on the National Circuit, Nash enjoyed a good start to the weekend in qualifying, leading the session until the last lap when he was just pushed into second. A flying start in the race saw Nash lead into Copse corner, maintaining the lead until Maggotts, where he was re-passed. A lap later, Nash exacted his revenge and regained the lead, holding on until the end for victory, setting the fastest lap of the race.

Nash commented: “I was beating myself up a bit after qualifying as I’m never that happy taking second place but it’s how your perform in the race that counts and winning meant a lot to me. Since September, I have won the BTCC independent Championship, a British Touring Car Race, a GT4 Race and now the Walter Hayes 2000 trophy, I can’t wait to get back in the car, probably in the Dubai 24 Hours.”

James Nash - Photo Credit: btcc.net

British Touring Car Independents champion James Nash will make a return to Formula Ford racing when he competes in the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone this weekend.

Nash will race in the Formula Ford 2000 category, driving a Van Diemen RF82 run by Simon Green Motorsport. The car is owned by Lanan Racing and was driven this year in the BARC Classic Formula Ford 2000 Series by Scott Temple.

Nash has form in the Walter Hayes Trophy, having finished second in 2006. He raced in Formula Ford in 2006 and 2007, finishing runner-up in the championship in 2007.

“I can’t wait to get back into a Formula Ford,” said Nash. “I know it’s only been three weeks since the end of the BTCC season, but I’ve missed being in a car. Plus I’ve got unfinished business in the Walter Hayes as I came 2nd in 2006.”

Green said: “We’re delighted to have James on board this weekend, it will be nice to see what our car can really do at the hands of a British Touring Car Independents Champion.”

Geoff Uhrhane - Photo Credit: Jako Ebrey Photography

Geoff Uhrhane had a mixed campaign in the 2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford of Great Britain, the Australian showing strong pace throughout the year, however a host of bad luck restricted him to fifth in the championship. The Checkered Flag spoke with Uhrhane at the conclusion of the season to discuss his Formula Ford year and his Formula Renault UK debut.

Uhrhane headed into 2011 off the back of a strong 2010 campaign in Australian Formula Ford, where he took fifteen podiums in twenty-two races, including one win, on his way to second in the championship standings. Initially uncertain of where to continue his career, at the turn of the year Uhrhane made the decision to head over to the UK and race in the ‘heart of motorsport’.

Uhrhane said: “I didn’t really decide to come over until early this year, I was really uncertain on where to go after last year but I thought while I was still young and in the early stages  of my career, it would be of best interests to come to the UK and have a go over here. It’s the heart of motorsport, where there are so many good opportunities for young drivers with various different pathways.”

The decision to switch to the UK seemed to pay off as Uhrhane enjoyed a competitive 2011 season. The 20 year old ended fifth in the GB championship standings, with ten podiums including two wins, but with more mechanical reliability and some better luck, the Australian felt he could have finished much higher.

Geoff commented: “To be honest finishing fifth wasn’t what I had expected especially after the first round, due to various mechanical issues and just general problems. Unfortunately it just didn’t go my way this year, but that is racing, you take the good with the bad, it has been disappointing to have the speed to win but not be able to show it, but then again at least I have the speed to win.

“All the retirements definitely didn’t help, especially  when you’re trying to fight for a championship .The reliability factor always plays in the back of your mind, which never helps and brings your confidence down, but I did my best to look beyond that and just focus on my driving.

“I wasn’t as satisfied as I could be but it could have been a lot worse, I’m positive about next year I will have a good year and hopefully be in a championship challenging position.”

Uhrhane Took One GB Win In His JTR-Mygale - Photo Credit: Chris Gurton Photography

The Formula Ford GB season saw Scott Malvern totally dominate on his way to the 2011 title, the Jamun Racing driver taking eighteen wins in the twenty-four races. Uhrhane, running with the JTR team, felt Malvern wasn’t unbeatable and is frustrated he couldn’t have beaten him more often.

Uhrhane said: “I’ve been frustrated I haven’t been able to challenge him more often and win more races, he wasn’t unbeatable, it’s just he had every little thing go his way that could of this year and in my favour I had no such luck, but in saying that you can’t take anything away from Jamun and Scott.”

This season saw Uhrhane also compete in the new Formula Ford Eurocup, putting the GB runners up against the best Formula Ford racers in Europe on iconic circuits Spa Francorchamps, Zandvoort, Zolder and Brands Hatch. Uhrhane loved the experience, particularly enjoying taking a race win at the world famous Spa.

Uhrhane enthused: “The Eurocup was the highlight of the year for me, racing at the best tracks in the world and against the best drivers in your category there is. I definitely think they should continue to race over there next season because you just don’t realise the experiences you get.

“Winning a race in that style was the highlight of my year, Spa is the best track I have ever driven on. All the corners are different and challenging let alone the speeds you reach. Eau Rouge is the best corner I have driven in my career so far and most challenging because it counts for so much of the lap.” 

Uhrhane Running With Atech Reid GP At Brands - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

As the Formula Ford season drew to a close, Uhrhane made a guest appearance in the CERTINA Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship at Brands Hatch, his first experience of ‘slicks and wings’ racing. Uhrhane found the step up to be a big one, taking two thirteenth place finishes in the races.

Uhrhane commented: “The experience was something different that’s for sure, and my lack of time in the car definitely showed, as it’s all about laps and time in the seat with wings and slicks. It was a bigger step than what I was expecting, not in straight line speed just on the entry speed into the corners, which is something I’m sure I will pick up with a few more test days. I have learnt a lot through my time in Formula Ford but now I have to step up to another level to continue on in my career and it’s something I’m really looking forward to.”

Uhrhane, who comes from Gold Coast, Queensland, is now looking ahead to the winter and 2012. He will compete in the Formula Renault UK Winter Series in November, but has not yet decided what to compete in next year.

Uhrhane concluded: “I’m not too sure yet as I have a few different options so far. If I was to do Formula Renault it would only be in the Eurocup, for the winning prize they offer. I’m still not ruling out a move back to my home country Australia to race for next year, but I’ll just have to wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks. Until then I’m racing in the Formula Renault Winter Series with Atech and I’m really looking forward to that new challenge and step up.”

Scott Malvern - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

The 2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Champion Scott Malvern gave the new-for-2012 chassis its first public outing at Brands Hatch last weekend with the initial impressions positive. Malvern’s demonstration runs came during the Kent circuit’s traditional Formula Ford Festival, which he also won, beating Steijn Schothorst in the final.

The new-generation Formula Ford uses a production-based 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost direct injection, turbocharged engine, limited to producing around 165PS and 220Nm, and mated to a six-speed sequential transmission with mechanical shift mechanism.

With safety prominent in everyone’s thoughts, more so than ever after the events in the U.S. last weekend, the all-new Formula Ford is the first racing car of steel spaceframe construction in the world to comply with the FIA’s rigorous safety standards and receive its stamp of approval.

After the initial shakedown, Malvern was impressed with the feeling of the car and is excited to improve it ahead of next year.

“The new car is really very good. It’s nicely balanced and feels good to drive straight out of the box, with loads of potential. I’m looking forward to helping with the development and fine-tuning the details.”

The festival also saw Geva Racing become the first team make public its plans to buy a 2012 Formula Ford EcoBoost. The Dutch squad will run at least one Mygale car in the British series next season.

Sam Roach of championship promoter RacingLine is delighted with the news and expects more teams to follow soon in going public with their 2012 plans.

“The new Formula Ford was well received, not least by Scott, who thoroughly enjoyed driving it. It is great news that Geva Racing will be running in Britain next year with the new car. Many of our other teams, plus some newcomers, are discussing their orders with Mygale, Van Diemen and Ray and there will be further announcements in the coming weeks.”

Scott Malvern - Photo credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

The 2011 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch was all about one man, much like the 2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford season… Scott Malvern.

The 22-year-old capped a near perfect year which has seen him dominate the series with an equally impressive performance around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit to take pole position and wins in his heat, quarter final and semi-final races before fending off the challenge from Dutch driver Steijn Schothorst to take the win in the Duratec final by just 0.4 seconds.

“It couldn’t have gone any better for me,” said Malvern. “This was the one I wanted to win all year. The plan was to try to run away and hide and I nearly achieved that. I struggled a bit for pace early on in the final but was just able to keep Steijn behind. It’s a great end to my Formula Ford season.”

Unfortunately the edge would be taken off the weekend as the new of Dan Wheldon’s death filtered through. Wheldon first made an impact in Formula Ford and was a highly regarded figure and idol to many drivers past and present in Formula Ford. In 1998 Wheldon finished in the runner-up spot to Jenson Button.

“I went to bed last night over the moon and woke up to the news about Dan. It’s very hard to take and a double blow coming so soon after the death of Martin Hines. They will both be missed by British motorsport.”

“Everyone in the Formula Ford community is shocked and saddened,” said Sam Roach of Formula Ford promoter RacingLine. “Dan Wheldon was a driver of whom everyone connected with Formula Ford was proud. Our thoughts are with his young family and his many friends in the sport.”

Scott Malvern - Photo Credit: Chris Gurton Photography

The newly crowned 2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford of Great Britain champion Scott Malvern is, for the second year running, in contention for the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, the biggest prize for young racers in UK Motorsport.

22 year old Malvern is one of six drivers chosen as finalists for the 2011 award, the young racers set to fight it out at a test day at Silverstone in November for a massive prize, including £100,000 and a McLaren F1 test. Malvern will be up against a familiar face in the contest, with his former team-mate Emil Bernstorff also in the running, Emil having finished in seventh place in Formula Ford in 2010.

Scott said: “I’m delighted. This vindicates what was seen by many to be a risky strategy in returning to Formula Ford this season, having had such a brilliant 2010. If I hadn’t dominated this category in my second season I would have been thought of as a failure.

“I’ve done the job I set out to do. It was in the back of my mind that I could earn a second crack at the award but I never take anything for granted. A big thank you to the judges for selecting me and a massive thank you to the Jamun Racing team and all of my supporters for helping to get me here. I am really looking forward to the competition and intend to enjoy every second of it.”

Jeroen Slaghekke On His Way To The Final Race Win Of 2011

At the opening rounds of the 2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain at Silverstone, Scott Malvern, Geoff Uhrhane and Jeroen Slaghekke shared the race victories and six months later when the series returned for its final weekend, those three drivers took the wins once again. 

Round 22

The opening race proved to be a superb encounter, with between five and seven cars vying for the lead during the majority of the races, with multiple lead changes early on. It was Slaghekke who started from pole and the Dutchman got away well to lead, but was soon passed by Jamun Racing team-mate Malvern.

They were soon under pressure from Uhrhane though, the front three passing through Abbey three abreast, with Urhhane emerging ahead. Malvern nipped by soon after, before JTR’s Uhrhane re-took the lead, only to lose it to Malvern again on the next lap.

Malvern’s race was to end soon after though, the 2011 champion dropping to third by lap five, before retiring on lap six as his engine died. This had given Uhrhane the lead from Slaghekke, but he soon lost ground to Dan de Zille and Antti Buri on lap seven, though Slaghekke felt he was unfairly overtaken under a yellow flag.

At the front, Uhrhane cruised home for victory, with Slaghekke working his way back to second on the final lap. De Zille took third, but was later excluded for passing under yellows, giving Buri third ahead of JTR’s Tristan Mingay and Australian duo Nick McBride and Jack Le Brocq, the latter making his debut with Jamun.

Taking eighth as the only non-mygale in the top ten was Neil Alberico in his Cliff Demsey Racing Ray, just behind Phillipe Layac, but ahead of Spike Goddard and Steijn Schothorst. Taking the Scholarship class victory was Max Marshall.

Round 23

Overnight saw Malvern’s Jamun team working frantically to repair his Mygale, with a borrowed engine from Geva Racing getting fitted to ensure his weekend could continue. Malvern started from pole and a great start saw him lead away, while a sluggish getaway from Uhrhane saw him slip to third behind Slaghekke.

Malvern held the lead throughout the race, coming under pressure from his team-mate early on, before a slight mistake for Slaghekke saw him slip away, allowing Malvern a clear run to the line for his eighteenth win of the season.  

Slaghekke came home second, while Uhrhane completed the podium, overcoming pressure from Buri early on, the Finn left to defend fourth from four cars behind. De Zille took sixth, with Matt Parry seventh, while Layac, Le Broc and Luke Williams completing the top ten. Marshall once again took the Scholarship win.

Round 24

The Formula Ford stars produced a season finale to remember in the weekend’s final race at Silverstone. Uhrhane started from pole, but Slaghekke got the jump at the start to lead the field. Uhrhane was back in front soon after though and went on to lead by 1.2s by the end of the opening lap.

Malvern dropped to sixth at the end of the opening lap, but within two laps he had fought his way back to third and soon closed on Slaghekke. The duo looked unable to catch Uhrhane until a small error on lap five by the leader allowed them onto his tail.

The final three laps proved to be a frantic affair, with the front  three passing, counter-passing, attacking and defending to the highest quality, as the season’s only race winners looked to add to their tally. Slaghekke crept ahead on the penultimate tour but Urhhane soon forced his way alongside on the way to Luffield, where he locked up and slide wide, giving Slaghekke the advantage.

Uhrhane fought back on the final lap and tried to repass, while also defending from a determined Malvern behind. Slaghekke held on for his third win of the season, confirming himself as the 2011 vice-champion, with Uhrhane second and Malvern ending his sensational season third.

De Zille just missed out on the podium once again in fourth, ahead of Geva Racing’s Buri, with McBride taking sixth, leaving him third in the championship, just three points behind Slaghekke. Le Brocq took seventh, with Alberico, Mingay and Layac rounding out the top ten. Matt Rao took the Scholarship class victory as Marshall went off on the final lap.

Dan de Zille Testing A Fortec Formula Renault Earlier This Year

Dunlop MSA Formula Ford of Great Britain regular Dan de Zille is eyeing up a move to Formula Renault for 2012 after confirming he will team up with Fortec Motorsport to do the Formula Renault Winter Series this November.

After three years of Formula Ford and some successful sportscar racing results, Dan has set his sights on testing his skills at a higher level. The winter series offers de Zille the chance to have three days testing in the car before a six race calendar, four at Snetterton on the first weekend of November and two a week later at Rockingham.

After his seat fitting last week, de Zille said: “I am very excited about the Renault Winter Series, Fortec have a good reputation and I am looking forward to the new challenge, new faces and learning all about the new car, testing my driving ability on a higher level.”

Richard Dutton of Fortec commented: “The Winter Series is a great opportunity for drivers to get a feel for the Renault Championships and learn to qualify and start. The main difference with the car is getting used to the down-force, the Formula Ford cars have no downforce and the Formula Renault cars have both slicks and wings.

“Since Dan was a front runner in Formula Ford, I see no reason why he should not do just as well in Formula Renault, there will be plenty of data to look at and he will have strong teammates to compare against, he will also have the same technician working alongside him throughout whom he can trust and rely on.” 

De Zille is the second Formula Ford driver to announce a switch to Formula Renault recently, with his regular JTR team-mate Geoff Uhrhane joining the Formula Renault UK series last weekend.

Formula Renault BARC Championship Leader Dino Zamparelli Is Amongst The Six In Contention - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

The six finalists for the 2011 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award have been announced.

Formula Renault UK championship leader Alex Lynn, Formula Ford GB champion Scott Malvern, Formula Renault BARC championship leader Dino Zamparelli, Formula Renault UK race winner Oliver Rowland, ADAC Formel Masters front-runner Emil Bernstorff and German Formula 3 racer Tom Blomqvist will fight it out for the prestigious award and will be assessed at a test at Silverstone in November.

Picking the winner will be a panel including BRDC president Derek Warwick, BRDC Director Jason Plato, 2002 award winner Jamie Green, McLaren’s head of vehicle engineering Mark Williams, veteran commentator Ian Titchmarsh, and AUTOSPORT’s Kevin Turner and Marcus Pye, with the driver that’s comes out on top winning £100,000, a McLaren F1 test drive, full BRDC membership, a supply of Puma racewear for 2012, and a TW Steel watch.

Blomqvist and Malvern were in the running for last year’s award, while the others are competing for the first time. The winner will be announced at the Autosport Awards in London in December and join a prestigious list of winners including Dario Franchitti, Jenson Button and Paul Di Resta.

The chosen six:

Alex Lynn – 17 years old – The Fortec Motorsport driver has dominated the Formula Renault UK series this year, taking eleven wins in eighteen races so far as he heads into the series finale with a healthy championship lead.

Oliver Rowland – 19 years old – The Racing Steps Foundation-backed driver has showed great pace during his maiden Formula Renault UK season, sitting third in the points, leading the Graduate Cup class, after winning three of the last four races. 

Dino Zamparelli – 19 years old – The 2008 Ginetta Junior champion has had his second crack at Formula Renault BARC this year and enjoyed real success, taking four wins so far as he heads into the season finale in the lead of the championship.

Tom Blomqvist – 17 years old – The 2010 Formula Renault UK champion has headed out to Germany this year and became an instant frontrunner in the native Formula 3 Cup, though ended up sixth in the points after breaking his back in an accident at Lausitz last month.

Emil Bernstorff – 18 years old – Competed in Formula Ford in the UK in 2010, then like Blomqvist, headed to Germany. A strong season in the Formel Masters series saw him come third in the championship, with four wins and eight other podiums.

Scott Malvern – 22 years old – After narrowly missing out on the 2010 Formula Ford GB crown, Malvern returned this year and has totally dominated the campaign, taking seventeen wins in twenty-one races and winning the inaugural Formula Ford Eurocup.

2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford of Great Britain Champion Scott Malvern

Scott Malvern has been crowned the 2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford of Great Britain champion after the Jamun Racing driver continued his sensational season by taking a double win at the penultimate meeting of the year at Donington Park.

The latest two wins means Malvern has now won seventeen of the twenty races so far this season and he has become Jamun’s seventh successive champion. Malvern now heads into the final triple-header at Silverstone in two weeks’ time with the chance to make it a remarkable twenty wins in a season.

Round 19

22 year old Malvern started his Donington weekend in top form, storming to pole position in qualifying on Saturday, before going on to take victory in the weekend’s opening race on the same day. Malvern led away from pole position and despite race-long pressure from his team-mate Nick McBride, was able to hold on for a 2.8s win.

McBride took a comfortable second, while Jeroen Slaghekke took third to make it a Jamun 1-2-3 after a great move on lap seven saw him outbrake both Antti Buri and Geoff Uhrhane at the Melbourne hairpin, with those two then making contact, both spinning into retirement.

Dan de Zille’s strong recent form continued with a fourth place finish, while Fluid’s Matthew Parry capped off a strong run from eighth on the grid to take fifth. Luke Williams and American Neil Alberico were next up ahead of Dutch drivers Steijn Schothorst and Jelle Beelen, the duo making a guest appearance at Donington. New JTR man Max Marshall took twelfth on his car racing debut to take the Scholarship Class win, after class leader Cavan Corcoran went off on the opening lap.

Round 20

Malvern once again started from pole for Sunday’s first race, though this time nearly bogged down on the line with wheelspin. He managed to recover though to lead the opening lap, with McBride holding second once again, despite losing it for a lap early on to fellow Australian Uhrhane.

McBride soon shrugged off Uhrhane and began closing on Malvern, setting the race’s fastest lap on the fourth tour. Soon on his tail, the duo headed into the opening lap split by just 0.2 seconds. McBride sniffed a rare chance to beat Malvern and made it count, diving past at the hairpin to take the lead and with it his maiden Formula Ford victory, with just 0.093s splitting the pair at the flag.

JTR’s Uhrhane soon came under pressure from Slaghekke and despite his best efforts to hold him off, the Dutchman squeezed by on lap seven and held on to make it another Jamun one-two-three at the top. Uhrhane just held off Buri for fourth, with de Zille completing the top six. Parry and Spike Goddard were next up, while Schothorst once again finished top of the guest entries in ninth and Corcoran the Scholarship win in eleventh.

Round 21

The weekend’s final race proved to be the toughest of the weekend as rain fell over Donington, however untroubled by this was the all-conquering Malvern. Starting from pole once again, the Ilford-based driver cruised home to win by over five seconds.

A delighted Malvern reflected: “It’s been so tough since the first round, where we had a nightmare. We had to regroup and think about how we were going to attack it again and the only thing we could do was win as many races as possible. The plan since then has been all-out attack, win every race we could, and that’s happened.

“Sometimes we’ve been fortunate, at other times the car has been mega and I’ve done the job. Massive thanks have to go to the guys at Jamun. The car has been amazing, it’s been a mega year and I really have to thank them.”

 “I’d love now to go and win twenty races in one year, that would be fantastic and that is the goal now heading to Silverstone. More than that, though, I’m just going to go out and enjoy the races – I’ve won the championship and to go to Silverstone with no pressure whatsoever, that will be completely new to me so it’ll be an amazing feeling.

“For next year, we’ll move on to whatever the best option is for us if we can secure the funding. We’ll have to look at Formula 2, Formula 3 or GP3. I’ve got to take a big jump having stayed in Formula Ford for a couple of years. It was a risky strategy racing in Ford again this year; we had to win lots of races and the championship – but now we know we did the right thing.”

A superb fight for second place saw Uhrhane come out on top after producing a superb move around the outside of McBride and team-mate de Zille at Melbourne Hairpin on lap two, only Uhrhane’s second podium in nine races after a run of bad luck.  

McBride took third, meaning he now holds a 23 point lead over Slaghekke in the fight for second in the standings, Slaghekke having retired from the race on the opening lap after a spin. Parry took a superb fourth in his Van Diemen, with LMS/Geva Racing’s Buri fifth and Schothorst a great sixth. After a strong early showing, de Zille had to settle for seventh, while in the Scholarship class, a last corner move by Corcoran saw him pass Marshall for the class win.

Corcoran’s double Scholarship class victory over the weekend meant the 18 year old secured the coveted ‘junior championship’ title for 2011. The Derbyshire-based driver has now picked up fourteen class wins this campaign, twelve with previous team Getem Racing and now two with current outfit Cliff Demsey Racing.

Corcoran, who hopes to remain in Formula Ford in 2012, said: “It’s been a brilliant season, particularly since I have limited single seater experience. I have hardly done any testing this year, so I have been very much up against it, and I am still learning. Despite this I have made very good progress and changing to Cliff Dempsey Racing has definitely helped me improve; hopefully I will be pushing for the title in the main class next year.”

Looking ahead to 2012, the all-new Formula Ford chassis was on show all weekend for spectators at Donington Park, the new single-seater being brought to Britain after its public unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month.

Championship Manager Sam Roach said: “We have had a lot of positive feedback from all who have seen the new car and in particular from the young drivers currently competing, all of whom I am sure would like the chance to drive it, and from teams.”

2011 Scholarship Class Champion Cavan Corcoran

Alex Lynn Is One Driver Expected To Be In Contention For 2011 Award - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography

The voting has opened for the 2011 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, the prestigious award that aims to find Britain’s most promising young driver.

Following in the footsteps of 1998 winner Jenson Button, 2004 winner Paul Di Resta and 2010 winner Lewis Williamson, the winner of the 2011 award will receive a McLaren Formula One Test, £100,000 of Puma racewear for 2012 and a TW Steel watch.

Voting is now open for people to nominate who they feel deserves to be considered for the award and people can vote by emailing autosport.editorial@haymarket.com with ‘nominations’ in the subject line and the drivers name in the message.

To be eligible, drivers must have been 16 to 22 years of age on January 1st, 2011, have been born in the UK or hold a British passport and have competed in a single-seater championship up to and including British F3 National class or European equivalent.

Possible nominees include:

Alex Lynn – Champion-elect in Formula Renault UK, taken 11 wins.

Scott Malvern – Champion-elect in Formula Ford of Great Britain, taken 15 wins.

Will Stevens – Currently 4^th in Formula Renault Eurocup, taken 1 win.

Tom Blomqvist – 2010 finalist, competing in German Formula 3.

Oliver Rowland - Currently 3^rd in Formula Renault UK, leading Graduate Cup.

Jack Hawksworth – Currently 4^th in Formula Renault UK, 1 win.

Dino Zamparelli – Series leader in Formula Renault BARC, 4 wins.

Josh Webster – Currently 2^nd in Formula Renault BARC, 2 wins.

James Thorp – Currently 3^rd in Formula Renault BARC, 2 wins.

Kieran Vernon – Racewinner in Formula Renault BARC before moving to Porsche Carrera Cup GB.

Alex Walker – Currently 2^nd in Intersteps and recently made Formula Renault UK debut.

Scott Malvern Has Been The Class Of The 2011 Formula Ford Field - Photo Credit: Chris Gurton Photography

Scott Malvern is set to cap off his sensational 2011 season by taking the 2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britian title next weekend at Donington Park. The Jamun Racing driver is in line to become the team’s seventh consecutive Formula Ford champion, adding to his four EuroCup wins this season and his new records for most wins in a season and most consecutive wins.

22 year old Malvern doesn’t need to produce any race-winning heroics to seal the championship. Heading into the meeting with a 96 point advantage, he only needs to leave Donington with 93 points over his title rivals to secure the title. Malvern will be looking to take more wins though, adding to his fifteen from the eighteen races so far this season, of which he secured thirteen consecutively.

Looking to wrestle the spotlight from him will be his Dutch team-mate Jeroen Slaghekke and Finnish ace Antti Buri, the duo currently level on points in the standings in second place, with LMS-Geva Racing’s Buri the only non-Jamun runner challenging towards the top of the standings.

Also looking to feature on the podium will be Jamun driver Nick McBride, as he looks to remain in contention for second in the points, as well as JTR regulars Tristan Mingay, Dan de Zille and Geoff Uhrhane, the trio joined for the Donington rounds by series newcomer Max Marshall.

Another title set to be secured at Donington Park is the Scholarship Cup, which is certain to go to local driver Cavan Corcoran, having taken fourteen wins already this season, twelve with Getem Racing and two with his new team, Cliff Demsey Racing.

Provisional Championship Standings After Round 18 of 24:

1  Scott Malvern – Jamun Mygale 472 points

2=  Jeroen Slaghekke – Jamun Mygale 376

2= Antti Buri – LMS-Geva Mygale 376

4  Nick McBride – Jamun Mygale 364

5  Dan de Zille – JTR Mygale 285

6  Geoff Uhrhane – JTR Mygale 261 etc

Provisional Scholarship Class Standings:

1 Cavan Corcoran –  Getem Mygale & Dempsey Ray 434

2 David Moore – Tockwith Ray 135

3 Matt Rao – Fluid Van Diemen 108 etc

The new-generation machine will use a production-based 1.6litre Ford EcoBoost turbocharged engine and a six-speed sequential gearbox. The all-new design is the first tubular steel single seater to meet the latest FIA safety regulations and will be the safest Formula Ford incarnation yet, featuring front and rear carbon crash structures, side intrusion panels, FIA specification head restraint system, wheel tethers and an FIA removable seat.

Motorsport Manager for Ford Europe, Mike Norton, said: “The 2012 specification car’s FIA approved safety attributes, powerful Ford EcoBoost engine and striking kinetic design, make for a really appealing proposition for race teams and drivers. Formula Ford is already well-known as the perfect proving ground for up-and-coming drivers and engineers, and it is Ford’s desire to continue nurturing this by supporting teams and manufacturers across the globe with the safest environment, latest technologies and most attractive packages. Formula Ford is in its 44^th consecutive year and remains a very popular choice for drivers around the world. Many Formula Ford drivers have gone onto careers in Formula 1. This is a great compliment to Formula Ford and we are at Ford proud of this achievement.”

As with any new car launch, full details of the new car are being kept secret until its unveiling on September 13^th on the Ford stand. However confirmed so far is the fact the car will make increased use of road car technologies and will be powered by the latest 1.6 litre Ford EcoBoost engine.

Michael Norton, Ford of Europe Motorsport Manager, said: “Everyone within Ford and the worldwide Formula Ford community is so excited that finally we can reveal the future of Formula Ford. the biggest and most significant design overhaul the category has seen in its 44-year history. Since its inception in 1967, Formula Ford has been instrumental in the junior careers of 10 drivers who went on to become Formula 1 World Champions, as well as a host of internationally renowned racers on many other levels of motorsport. The new car will, we believe, add a further chapter of excellence to the Formula Ford story.”

Sam Roach, Manager of the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain, added: “The unveiling of the new 2012 EcoBoost Formula Ford will mark the next generation of our illustrious championship. We are all looking forward to introducing the car to our drivers and teams. Enquiries are already coming in from those who share our view that Formula Ford 2012 will be the place to race next year.”

Friday qualifying saw the top fourteen drivers within a second of each other in an incredibly close session, with de Zille ending up in eighth place, just 0.5 off pole. The opening race saw him quickly up to sixth place, however gearbox selector problems meant he slipped back a couple of places to eighth.

A change of set up for the second race gave de Zille real confidence, and it showed as he flew off the line from seventh, diving into fourth before the first corner. After being promoted to third when a rival received a drive through penalty, de Zille went on the offensive and moved into second on the penultimate for a well deserved podium.  

He backed this up with another strong run in race three, climbing from seventh to fifth early on and enjoying a strong battle, however handling problems meant he struggled to keep rivals behind, slipping back to an eighth place finish.

Dan commented: “The final race was a frustrating result after this morning’s podium finish. We made yet more changes to the set-up, but it didn’t make the car any better as I was battling with understeer. We have some work to do in testing before Donington!”

Round 16

It was Malvern’s Jamun team-mate Jeroen Slaghekke who qualified on pole for the opening race, but a slow start from the poleman allowed Malvern to nip past into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time. Tristan Mingay ran third for JTR ahead of Jamun’s Spike Goddard and fellow JTR runner Geoff Uhrhane, however contact between the two Australians caused a damage suspension to Uhrhane’s car and a puncture to Goddards, with Uhrhane retiring, though Goddard was able to rejoin two laps down.

At the front, Malvern fended off a spirited Slaghekke, while Mingay slipped into a fight with Nick McBride and Antti Buri. He held the podium position until lap fourteen, when an incident at Clark Curve between series returnee Chrissy Palmer and Neil Alberico affected the race order. With the cars in the gravel, the yellow flags were out, though when entering the green flag zone, Mingay was slower on the power than his rivals, resulting in McBride hitting the back of him and becoming arborne, with Buri nipping past both for third while McBride fell away.

Ahead, Slaghekke tried everything he could to try and pass Malvern but couldn’t get past, despite a run out the last corner that saw him finish the race just 0.088s behind Malvern, the winner describing it as his ‘hardest win of the year so far.’ Buri took third, with Mingay fourth and McBride just holding off Phillipe Layac for fifth. Matthew Parry took seventh but was later excluded from the results for a warning flag infringement, bumping Lington Stuteley, Dan de Zille and Scholarship winner Cavan Corcoran up a place each.  

Round 17

Slaghekke once again started from pole in the second race and despite a better start, was still beaten into the first corner by Malvern. However this time Malvern’s start was judged to have been too good and he was awarded a drive through penalty, though Slaghekke wasn’t aware of this and fought his way into the lead at Druids on lap four.

Soon after Malvern took his penalty, dropping him to last place and ending his chances of continuing his winning streak. This allowed Slaghekke to break off at the front, with Uhrhane second and de Zille running an impressive third. Behind Jamun’s McBride and Geva Racing’s Buri were once again having a good battle, with a strong move at Druids on lap eight seeing Buri get through.

McBride, suffering from a mysterious electrical problem causing his car to cut out, then got caught by Enigma Motorsport’s Stuteley and when exiting Clearways, McBride’s car cut out and he got hit in the rear by Stuteley, who ploughed into the Clark Curve gravel trap, while McBride retired with a dead engine and a puncture.

Slaghekke was having no such worries as he cruised home to victory, while there was a late change for second as Uhrhane spun out the race with two laps to go, gifting the position to team-mate de Zille, with Buri taking third. Luke Williams drove an excellent race on his return to the series after a sizeable accident at Oulton Park at Easter to take fourth, with Goddard fifth ahead of Parry, Palmer , Mingay and Layac, with Malvern recovering to complete the top ten, setting the race’s fastest lap in the process.

Round 18

Race three saw déjà vu at the start as Slaghekke once again made a poor start and allowed Malvern into the lead, with the Dutchman dropping to fourth behind Uhrhane and Buri. Uhrhane began to attack the leader, while Finn Buri defended hard from a frustrated Slaghekke, before beginning to pressure Uhrhane himself.

As Malvern broke off in the distance, the attention turned to Uhrhane as the Australian had a four car train queued up behind him. He defended hard from Buri, which left him under pressure from Slaghekke, who made a move around the outside at the Hairpin before making it stick at Graham Hill bend to take third, before challenging Uhrhane.

Ahead, Malvern was cruising home for his record breaking fifteenth win, the Essex racer commenting: “That’s the record I was hoping for. I’m running out of space for all the trophies now!” Behind, Uhrhane held on to a richly deserved second, with Slaghekke third from Buri and McBride. Williams took sixth ahead of Parry, de Zille and Mingay, with Palmer completing the top ten.

Provisional championship standings
1 Malvern 472 points; 2= Slaghekke & Buri 376; 4 McBride 364; 5 de Zille 285; 6 Uhrhane 261 etc
Scholarship class 1 Corcoran 434; 2 David Moore 135; 3 Matt Rao 108 etc.

Round 13

22 year old Malvern made a great start from pole position in the opening race, the Jamun Racing driver building a healthy two second lead on the opening lap in wet conditions. He continued to build his lead every lap and cruised home comfortably to take a 3.6 second win, his ninth Eurocup victory.

Behind the battle for second was the highlight of the race, with local racer Joey Van Splunteren taking on Nick McBride and Antti Buri. Van Splunteren got past McBride on the opening lap, before the Aussie regained the place soon after. LMS Racing’s Buri then got in on the action, passing van Splunteren on lap two before chasing down and passing McBride on lap six with a dive at the Tarzan Hairpin.

Next time around, van Splunteren got past McBride for third, but was unable to catch Buri, the Finn taking second. Van Splunteren took third while McBride lost a couple of places late on, his Jamun team-mate Jeroen Slaghekke taking fourth and compatriot Geoff Uhrhane taking fifth, marking a great drive through the field from seventeenth on the grid after technical problems in qualifying.

McBride ended up sixth ahead of Dutch championship regular Bas Shouten, Jamun’s Jake Cook and other Dutch racers Michel Florie and Steijn Schothorst. The British runners were completed by Jamun’s Spike Goddard, Cliff Dempsey Racing’s Neil Alberico and Enigma’s Phillipe Layac, who managed to recover from a second lap tangle with Matt Parry, which instantly retired Parry’s Fluid Van Diemen.

Round 14

The rain could not prevent Malvern from dominating the day’s second race as like he had done in the earlier race, he led from pole position to chequered flag with ease and did not look threatened, despite an early-race safety car period.

It was Buri who was Malvern’s closest challenger, after front-row starter van Splunteren stalled at the start. Malvern was 2.3s when the safert car was introduced, as a number of cars got removed from gravel traps, including Goddard.

Buri hoped th challenge at the restart, but too much wheelspin let Malvern break clear and cruise home for a 1.8s win. Buri took second ahead of Shouten, the Dutch runner coming out on top after a race long battle with Jamun pair McBride and Slaghekke. McBride took fourth, while Shaghekke ran off the track at Tarzan and only recovered to fourteenth.

Parry was fourth of the British runners, his best result of the season so far, having passed de Zille at the restart, the Jerseyman following him home for sixth overall. Alberico was next up ahead of Dutch runner Jack Swinkels, Cook and a subdued Uhrhane.

Round 15

The beginning of the weekend’s final race saw Malvern lead away from pole position once again, heading the field for the opening couple of laps. However the Brit was in trouble from the start, a mysterious misfire hampering his Mygale, with a change in ECU before the race hoping to cure the problem not being successful.

As the race reached mid distance, the Dutch championship frontrunners began to come to the front, having made a smart choice to run used Dunlop tyres, in the hope the track would dry, which it did. Van Splunteren swept by on lap five to take the lead, followed by Florie and Shouten.

The Provily Racing trio cruised home to take a one-two-three for the team, a hugely popular result in front of their huge home crowd. Malvern managed to limp his car home in fourth, just half a second ahead of title rival Buri, to once again take the British series win.

In sixth was McBride, while Parry survived a late-race clash with Uhrhane to finish seventh, the JTR driver having no such luck, his miserable weekend ending in the pits with damage. Slaghekke and Cook were next up of the GB runners, ahead of JTR’s de Zille, Goddard and Layac. Alberico’s race ended in the gravel at Tarzan after contact with a Dutch competitor.

The meeting, which also counted for the Dutch Formula Ford Championship, saw 25 cars on the grid at the former Grand Prix venue. Dan was at a disadvantage for the weekend as he was unable to test at the circuit beforehand, meaning he qualified fifteenth on the grid for the race and had a lot of work to do, on a circuit notorious as being difficult to pass on,.

The Jersey based driver was to suffer problems in both races though, finishing well down the order in both, twelfth in race one and fifteenth in race two. It was only after the second race that the team found a brake balance problem, which was likely to have been affecting his performance.

The O19 Racewear backed driver still lies sixth in the overall driver championship standings and is looking ahead to the fourth and final EuroCup event which supports the Zandvoort F3 Masters event in Holland.

Malvern dominated the weekend’s opening race, starting from pole position and leading from start to finish, benefitting from the fact the former Grand Prix circuit is notoriously difficult to pass around. The Brit led home his team-mates Jeroen Slaghekke and Nick McBride to make it a Jamun lock-out of the podium.

Australian McBride started second on the grid and held the position early on, but a move by Dutchman Slaghekke at turn one saw him take the place and cruise home to second. Antti Buri took fourth in his GEVA Mygale, the Finnish racer being the leading Dutch championship runner, finishing ahead of rival Joey van Splunteren.

Having a disappointing race was Australian Geoff Uhrhane, the JTR driver starting fifth but retiring due to a broken gearbox. Also unhappy with the race was Fluid Motorsport’s Matthew Parry, the Team Lotus backed driver starting sixth on the grid and having a strong race run before a gearbox issue on the last lap forced him to retire his LA11 Van Diemen.

Heavy rain showers overnight and dry conditions on race day left the drivers with a tricky tyre choice ahead of the weekend’s second race. Malvern led from the start, ahead of McBride, while making early progress on wet tyres were Belgian race John Svensson and Danish championship leader Jesper Egebart.

As the track dried mid race, the duo proved easy meet for Slaghekke on slick tyres, allowing him to move up to second. He couldn’t catch Malvern though, the Essex racer taking yet another win, while McBride held third for another Jamun one-two-three.

In fourth place was Uhrhane, making up for a tough first race, while in fifth was 17 year old Parry. Swede Milton Lundstrom took sixth, ahead of van Splunteren in his Provily Racing Mygale. Taking home the ‘Spirit of Formula Ford’ trophy was Danish championship driver Frank Mortensen.

Problems began in qualifying where the JTR driver could only muster a 15th place start among the 20 car field for the weekend. However, any race one charge de Zille may have been planning was cut short after three laps, taken out by a rival who outbraked themselves into the La Source hairpin, crashing into the rear of de Zille’s Mygale.

The third and final race of the weekend followed a similar pattern, when a Dutch driver pushed him into the leading group on the first lap, De Zille, this time, collecting front end damage that put him out of the race.

The second race, on Saturday morning, was a rare high point for de Zille in the no.19 car. A better start than in race one put him firmly in the leading pack in sixth, though he fell to seventh over the course of the eight lap race.

De Zille’s next outing in the Eurocup comes this weekend (July 16-17) at the other famous Belgian venue, Zolder, where he will hoping for better luck.

Race 1

22 year old Malvern didn’t get a great start to his weekend however, with a broken gearbox in qualifying leaving him fourteenth on the grid for the opening race. This meant it was his team-mate Jeroen Slaghekke who started from pole, the Dutchman leading the opening lap from Australian Geoff Uhrhane in his JTR Mygale and fellow Aussie, Jamun’s Nick McBride.

McBride stormed through on lap two to take the lead, while Slaghekke worked his way back ahead on lap three. While the lead was switching hands, Malvern was making progress through the field, up to sixth by lap two and into second by the end of lap three.

Slaghekke led a six car train at the front for two laps before Uhrhane found his way to the front. This didn’t last long though, as on lap seven a slight mistake at Eau Rouge allowed Malvern to pounce and take the lead. Once ahead, Malvern pulled a gap to win his tenth consecutive Formula Ford race by 2.1 seconds.

Uhrhane held second, breaking the circuit lap record by fourth tenths of a second in the process, while Slaghekke completed the podium. Fourth went to McBride, while fifth in his LMS Racing Mygale was Antti Buri, the Finn having been up to second heading into the final lap. Matt Parry took sixth in the first appearance for the new Van Diemen LA11, with Jamun’s Spike Goddard seventh, ahead of Phillipe Layac and top Dutch championship drivers Steijn Schothorst and Michel Florie. Enjoying his first Spa experience was Jason Down, the Getem Racing boss finishing thirteenth.

Race 2

Once again for race two, Malvern was forced to start down the order, this time thirteenth. This didn’t deter the Essex racer, with him working his way up to third on the opening lap. This put him behind early race leader Uhrhane and Dutch start Schothorst, who was relishing his chance to mix it with GB’s best.

Pole sitter Slaghekke found tricky slippery conditions tough on the opening lap, slipping down to eleventh ahead of team-mates McBride and Goddard, who were forced to start from the back of the grid as a penalty for not observing flag signals in the first race.

At the front, Uhrhane was able to pull away as a furious battle emerged for second between Schothorst, Malvern and JTR’s Tristan Mingay. Malvern was able to break away soon after though and begin the chase to Uhrhane, who was 5.6s clear. His cause was aided when the leader made a mistake on lap five, dropping four seconds.

This put Malvern on his tail heading into the final lap, with the championship leader deciding to make his move into the Bus Stop chicane. With Uhrhane defending the inside, Malvern went to the outside, giving him the inside line for the second part of the chicane. As they emerged, the duo were running side by side down the pit straight, leading to a tangle of wheels. This spun Uhrhane round, the Australian crossing the line virtually backwards to take the win by just 0.047s, ending Malvern’s winning streak.

Scothorst took a superb third, ahead of Mingay, Bas Shouten and Slaghekke. Dan de Zille took seventh for JTR, with McBride, Jesper Egebart and Layac rounding out the top ten.

Race 3

The weekend’s final race saw Slaghekke start from pole once again, while Malvern started right at the back of the 21-car grid. It was Uhrhane who lead after the opening lap, slipstreaming past Slaghekke early on. He didn’t hold the lead for long though, with McBride closing him down and passing him on lap three, but the lead was brief as Uhrhane got back past by the end of the lap.

The top four of Uhrhane, McBride, Slaghekke and Burri had broken away by the time Malvern managed to work his way into fifth, giving him lots of work to do. Some quick lap times, and fighting by the front group, allowed him to catch on to them soon after.

He moved up to fourth as Buri fell by the wayside on lap six, while Uhrhane, chasing new leader Slaghekke, ended his own race on the penultimate lap when braking too late, he ran into the back of the leader’s car, causing sufficient damage to end his race.

This left Jamun trio Slaghekke, McBride and Malvern heading into the final lap nose to tail, with a mis-shift by Slaghekke on the straight up to Blanchimont allowing Malvern to slide past on the slipstream to take the win from Slaghekke and McBride, the three team-mates split by less than a third of a second at the finish. Malvern was also able to break Uhrhane’s lap record en route to victory.

Geva Racing’s Schothorst completed his good weekend in fourth, ahead of Danish championship leader Egebart, Goddard, American Neil Alberico, Shouten, Mingay and Florie.

The series heads to Spa on 8/9 July, with three 20 minute races in support of the British GT and European GT4 championships, then moves on to Zolder on 16/17 July to run on the Superleague Formula event.

Half of the entries are expected to come from the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford of Great Britain series, with Scott Malvern leading the entry. The Brands Hatch EuroCup victor will be joined by Jamun Racing Mygale team-mates Jeroen Slaghekke, Nick McBride and Spike Goddard. Their rivals JTR will be on show too, with Geoff Uhrhane, Tristan Mingay and Dan de Zille all heading to Belgium in their Mygales.

Leading the Dutch challenge in their Mygales will be Provily Racing Team’s Michel Florie and Bas Schouten.  Hoping to threaten the Mygale dominance will be the Van Diemens of Fluid Motorsport’s Matthew Parry and Belgian JRT Racing’s Laurent Poncin and John Svensson. Ray’s will also be looking to challenge in the hands of Cliff Dempsey Racing’s Neil Alberico and Danish series front-runner Jesper Egebart.

The Spa event will also see Getem Racing boss Jason Down fulfil a lifetime ambition to compete on the legendary circuit, as he takes to the wheel of the Mygale his team prepares for Scholarship class leader Cavan Corcoran.

Down commented: “I haven’t done a full season of racing myself since 2007, and my last Formula Ford race was at Brands Hatch in 2009. Since then the team has been too busy running other drivers for me to find the time. I remember walking the track at Spa in 2008 the last time the British championship raced there and thinking ‘I wish I was driving.’ Now this opportunity has come up and I’m really excited to be making my Spa debut.

“Cavan is concentrating on winning the Scholarship Class in Britain this year and so I am hoping to get a good run in his car and to be close enough to the youngsters not to embarrass myself. I think that drivers need to take any opportunity to race on a Grand Prix circuit when it comes along.”

The Eurocup meeting saw ten of the drivers from the Dutch, Benelux and Scandinavian Formula Ford championship head to Kent to take on the best the British series has to offer, with the three races also counting as points scoring rounds of the Dutch championship.

Round 10

Malvern dominated qualifying in his Jamun Racing Mygale around the historic Grand Prix circuit, taking a double pole position during the dry session. He continued this pace at the start of the weekends opening race, taking the lead off the start, followed by Geoff Uhrhane who nipped past Nick McBride at Paddock Hill for second.

The dynamic of the race changed on lap three when a sudden heavy rain shower soaked the circuit, with all the cars on slick tyres. Malvern got round clearways safely, but Uhrhane wasn’t as lucky, sliding off into the gravel. Jeroen Slaghekke, championship leader coming into the meeting, was also a casualty, crashing into the barriers out of fourth place.

As conditions worsened, the race was red-flagged and later restarted with a new 10 minute duration. Malvern led off the line, while a poor start for fellow front row starter McBride saw the Australian drop to seventh at Paddock. Finnish racer Antti Buri was loving the conditions, leaping into second at the restart from fifth.

He chased Malvern hard but was unable to catch him, allowing Malvern to drive home for a four second win. Dan De Zille took a superb third ahead of American Neil Alberico, who drove well to climb from thirteenth on the grid. The first European racer home and the winner of the Dutch race was Steijn Schothorst, beating Frenchman Phillipe Layac and the recovering McBride. Cavan Corcoran once again took the Scholarship class win for Getem Racing.

Round 11

The beginning of the second race saw JTR‘s Uhrhane get the best start to spring into the lead ahead of Malvern at Paddock Hill. Behind, contact between the Juno of David Ellesley and the Mygales of visiting drivers Bas Schouten and Nils Vestergaard at Graham Hill Bend led to the introduction of the safety car, with Ellesley’s car in the barriers and Vestergaard’s left stranded in the middle of the track.

The race resumed on lap three with Malvern right on Uhrhane’s gearbox. He held him off around the Indy section, but a mistake at Westfield allow Malvern alongside through Dingle Dell, before he made the move stick at Sheene to take the lead. The battling allowed McBride to catch up to the duo and make it a three way fight for the lead.

Uhrhane kept pressuring Malvern but couldn’t find a way past, allowing Malvern to take a slender gap from Uhrhane and McBride. In fourth place, after a superb five car race long battle was Buri, just beating Tristan Mingay and Slaghekke in a battle that also included de Zille and Layac. Ninth overall and the Dutch race winner was Joey van Splunteren, while Corcoran took his eleventh consecutive Scholarship class win in fourteenth overall.

Jamun's Nick McBride Enjoyed Double Podium Success

Round 12

The drivers third best times from Saturday qualifying formed the grid for the weekends final race and saw McBride on pole, with Malvern having to settle for second. His joy was short lived though, with Malvern producing a superb move around the outside of Paddock Hill to snatch the lead.

Australian McBride did a superb job in the opening laps to stick on Malvern’s tail, while also keeping compatriot Uhrhane behind. After four laps the heavens opened, drenching the track, with a red flag inevitable. With the cars fitted with wet tyres, the race restarted with just a five minute, two lap sprint remaining.

With spray affecting those behind, Malvern was able to cruise home to complete his sensational weekend, with team-mate McBride and Uhrhane completing the podium, their second rostrum finishes of the day. A great drive by Jesse Anttila in the works Ray GR11 saw him finish fourth from tenth in the grid, with Layac and Alberico completing the top six to cap off their strong weekends.

Van Spunteren took his second Dutch Championship victory in seventh overall, while Corcoran took the Scholarship win once again. Losing out was Slaghekke, whose engine wiring loom burned out when he was sitting fourth, meaning the Dutchman’s two retirements sees him slip to third in the points.

Malvern, who took a clear victory in the Eurocup contest, which is awarded to the highest scoring driver across the weekend, commented: “It’s been a dream weekend for me. I came here with the aim of overturning the deficit in the domestic championship, but to land the Eurocup as well makes it even more special.”

The EuroCup sees drivers from the European and Scandinavian Formula Ford championships join their compatriots from the UK competing at four tracks. After Brands, the series will head to Spa-Francorchamps and Zolder in Belgium, and then the Dutch track of Zandvoort, with a EuroCup Champion declared at each event.

A field of around 30 cars is expected at Brands Hatch, with drivers from the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark joining the British championship regulars. A large number of Dutch Championship contenders are expected to race, including Geva Racing’s Steijn Schothorst and Provily Racing duo Michel Florie and Bas Schouten, each of whom claimed a race win in the Dutch season-opening Zandvoort meeting. Also in action will be Danish championship leader Jesper Egebart.

For the British championship drivers, the three Brands races are vital as the series reaches mid-season. Ilford’s Scott Malvern looks poised to retake the championship lead after winning the last six races for Jamun Racing Services, breaking a modern era record for the most number of consecutive wins. Leading the way is his Dutch team-mate Jeroen Slaghekke, while making it a Jamun 1-2-3 in the championship is the team’s Australian racer Nick McBride.

The only non-Jamun race winner so far this season is Geoff Uhrhane, who won the third Silverstone race in his JTR Mygale. The Australian only sits sixth in the points though, having made the podium only once since, a few points adrift of team-mate Dan de Zille.