Robert Wolk demonstrates the 2017 Formula 1600 powered by Ford car at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
Image by Paul Bedford – Action Images
Formula Ford has its origins in the late 1960s, the first standalone race taking place at Brands Hatch on 2 July 1967. The class was an immediate success and rapidly spread throughout the world. For many years Formula Fords were powered by the Ford Kent Crossflow engine but most national championship series throughout the world eventually switched to the more modern Duratec engines.
In many countries, the Kent engined cars were not abandoned but continued to race in regional series. This is the case in South Africa where they compete in the Northern Regions Regional Championship.
The newer Duratec powered cars are now used in the Formula 1600 National Championship. The addition of front and rear wings, and revised side pods to the cars changed not just their appearance, but also their handling characteristics. 2019 is the third season that the new cars are being used and looks to be the most competitive yet.
Forthcoming Events
Formula 1600 & Formula Ford Kent
Round 1 – 12 & 13 March – Killarney International Raceway – Cape Town
Crazy Formula 1600 stuns Zwartkops
Investchem series sizzles in Pretoria The opening round of the 2020 Investchem Formula 1600 championship delivered some cracking action and three different winners in the three races at Zwartkops outside Pretoria on Saturday. Nicholas van Weely, Andrew Rackstraw and...
A new champion guaranteed
Investchem Formula 1600 ready to race Whatever happens in this year’s Investchem Formula 1600 championship, South Africa’s premier wings and slicks race series will crown a new champion in 2020. With last year’s champion Scott Temple and his predecessors Stuart White...
Formula 1600 Steps Up
Investchem single seaters set to star Investchem Formula 1600 is set for a bumper new season with dazzling new prizes for the series top six attracting a cracking field to South Africa’s premium national single seater championship. The series confirmed the spoils at...
Former champions thrill at Phakisa
Former champions, Dean Venter (Gulf SA/Dezzo Equipment Swift) and Andrew Horne (Xena Chemicals van Diemen) produced two 10-lap thrillers at the fourth round of the 2019 Investchem Formula Ford Kent Championship held at Phakisa Freeway just outside Welkom on Saturday,...
Nash back on top at Red Star
On Friday, 21 June Jonathan Nash didn’t have a motor in his Turnfab Engineering Swift and it looked like he was going to miss the third round of the 2019 Investchem Formula Ford Kent championship at Red Star Raceway. Things looked better later in the day thanks to the...
Investchem Formula Ford Kent drivers head east
The Formula Ford Kent brigade head east for the third round of their 2019 championship which takes place at Red Star Raceway, near Delmas in Mpumalanga, on Saturday, 22 June. It looks like Jonathan Nash (Turnfab Engineering Swift) will miss the event – the motor that...