Formula Ford Kent Championship heads to Zwartkops

Will Paul Schultz keep his championship lead

Round two of the Investchem Formula Ford Kent Championship will be one of the highlights at the Midas Historic Tour event at Zwartkops, near Pretoria on 12 April.

Since it was conceived in 1967, Formula Ford went on to become a global motorsport phenomenon. In fact, no other series that has come close to its popularity and the fact that Formula Fords were built in the most unlikely countries proves it … how many people know a batch of cars was built in Zambia?

The opening round at Midvaal last month provided two entertaining races which were spiced up with a touch of controversy.

Holding a slender two point championship lead is Paul Schultz in the Knottsberry Foods Van Diemen) who benefitted most when fastest man on the day Ian Schofield (Investchem Mygale) was deemed to have jumped the start in heat one. The pair was the class of the field on the day but things could be different at Zwartkops.

The big danger must be Graham Hepburn in the Suburban Body Shop Ray which suffered engine problems in practice so missed the Midvaal races. Cousin Sean Hepburn in a similar Ray was best of the rest at Midvaal and lies third in the points log.

Former champion Andre Horne (Xena Royale RP31) will add spice to the event. Racing in the F1600 National Championship has sharpened his skills and he’s aiming to take the fight to Schofield and co.

Another man capable of upsetting the applecart is former champion Matthys Strydom in the rather rare slimline Sage backed Talon. Interestingly the Talon was initially designed as a Formula Ford 2000 in the late 1980s. This was a typically oversubscribed category in England and constructors often used the same chassis as FF1600 cars. FF 2000 or Super Ford as it was known briefly raced on slick tyres, had wings and were powered by the 2lt Ford Pinto engine as fitted to Ford Sierra.

Adrian Reynard was a former racer turned constructor who came close, but never quite made it to having a car on an F1 grid. By the mid 80’s he was one of the most prolific Formula Ford constructors and at least two of his cars will be lining up at Zwartkops. Andreas Petrou had a good run at Midvaal in the Investchem Reynard but it was the sister car driven by motor racing debutant Ian Schofield that opened eyes as the flying instructor scored two seventh place finishes.

A championship within the Investchem Formula Ford Kent series is the Classic Formula Ford championship which is open to cars built prior to 1981. Here Formula Ford historian Ian Hebblethwaite in his Van Diemen RF80 is the man to beat. Former rally driver Ben van der Westhuizen in the Rory Byrne designed Royale RP24 leads the snarling pack chasing him.

With an expected field of around 20 cars, there no doubt that the two Investchem Formula Ford Kent races will be watched with keen interest.