Photos: Ida Wood
Formula Scout has gone through the Formula Ford Festival entry list to find out who’s likely to shine this weekend, and some of the stories behind the drivers and teams taking part at Brands Hatch
This weekend the 53rd edition of the most prestigious FF1600 event in the world will take on a special name: the BRSCC Gerrit van Kouwen Anniversary Formula Ford Festival.
Dutch talent Gerrit van Kouwen won the Festival 40 years ago in dominant fashion, driving a Minister-powered Lola T644E to victory at every stage and setting a new lap record in the process.
His win highlighted the global nature of the event and the category as he had been FFord champion of his home country the two previous years and he shared the podium with Belgium’s Bertrand Gachot, who won a European FFord title the following year.
Success in FF1600 facilitated a move up to Formula 3 for van Kouwen, and he claimed a few victories in the British championship across 1985 and ’86. He later raced in German F3, before switching to touring car racing and starring on British circuits once again. The appeal of the Festival led to him coming back time and time again to spectate, but sadly van Kouwen will not be watching the final from Paddock Hill Bend on Sunday afternoon as he died of cancer this January.
To celebrate his impact on FF1600, and that of several other category stars, a special Q&A session will be held at Brands Hatch on Saturday evening.
After a washed out 2022 final that began at 5:05pm, the BRSCC moved the decisive race to 3:45pm for 2023. This year it will begin at 4:06pm, which could mean it avoid the rain that will likely hit both days of track action.
B-M Racing
#45 Rory Smith ENGLAND/AUSTRALIA Medina Sport JL18
2024: 2nd in CCRC FF1600 Festival form: 2020 & ’23 winner
The defending winner now works in London (which is in cycling distance of the circuit, for those in the know), and decided to focus his FF1600 running on Castle Combe’s championship this year. He cited its competitive fights at the front between circuit specialists for the choice, and also felt the circuit was good preparation for the Walter Hayes Trophy on Silverstone’s National layout in two weeks’ time.
While unsure what his wet pace will be like this weekend, he’s looking forward to the unpredictability that wet weather could bring.
#5 Jonny McMullan NORTHERN IRELAND Medina Sport BH23
2024: 36th in United FFord FFF: 10th in 2015, 2nd in 2014 – Kent
The 2015 BRSCC National FF1600 champion did some racing in United FFord (which is in effect the ‘national’ championship in Britain now) earlier this year to warm himself up for a Festival attack. A personal-best result could be on the cards.
#6 Michael Fitzgerald IRELAND Medina Sport BH23
Not to be confused with racing drivers of the same name, Fitzgerald is in fact the creator of the Star Wars fan film ‘Stormtroopers’ and will be recognised by Game of Thrones fans as a Glover general in season six. He’s also starred in Home and Away, and while he plays gritty goons on television he will be a nice guy on track. He raced FFord cars in Australia almost a decade ago, and was charmed into joining the Festival grid by team manager Andy Brickles and his team-mates.
#12 Drew Cameron ENGLAND Medina Mk2
2024: 37th in United FFord FFF: 26th in 2023
Cameron was a karter in the early 1990s, then in the 2000s embarked on a sportscar career before spending five years in FF2000. He made his FF1600 debut in a Champion of Brands race in September 2022 but only lasted three corners before rolling his car. Undeterred, he then did the Festival, making it as far as the Last Chance Race.
His father’s best friend designed the Vector TF94 that swept the FFord scene in 1994, and Cameron spent most of his FFord career being run by FF1600 stalwart Colin Gigner, who started off with none other than van Kouwen in 1984.
#15 David McArthur ENGLAND Medina Sport BH19
2024: 24th in United FFord FFF: 2023 finalist
The team co-founder usually races further north than Kent, but knows Brands Hatch well from many years in FF1600.
Team Dolan
#16 Chris Middlehurst ENGLAND Van Diemen LA10
2024: 24th in United FFord FFF: 3rd in 2016 & ’23
Immensely driven to add to his impressive FF1600 CV, Middlehurst ended a long podium-free spell at the Festival last year and knows his Van Diemen LA10 very well. On Friday at pre-event testing he switched to his race engine, and thinks being on the first two rows for the final will put him in victory contention so has eyes on semi-final success to set that up.
#26 Jason Smyth IRELAND Van Diemen JL12
2024: NI FF1600 champion, Martin Donnelly Trophy winner, 7th in United FFord FFF: 2023 finalist
The son of 2010 FFord Kent Festival winner Neville Smyth had an experienced-building 2023, then switched his focus to winning in 2024. He too the Northern Irish FF1600 title and won the Martin Donnelly Trophy at Kirkistown, and also starred in United FFord.
#27 Stephen O’Connor IRELAND Van Diemen RF90
2024: 3rd in NI FF1600, 6th in Martin Donnelly Trophy, 29th in United FFord
Driving the same car as in Northern Ireland, O’Connor got a top-10 finish at Brands Hatch in United FFord in September.
#32 Isaac Canto da Silva BRAZIL Van Diemen LA10
2024: 9th in United FFord FFF: 20th in 2023
Last year the 17-year-old was entered as an American, but will race under a Brazilian license this time (a decision which may be influenced by Brazil’s far superior cheeses). He is confident he can “definitely be up there if it’s wet”, and is utilising the expertise of 1989 Festival winner Niko Palhares this weekend as he brings his first full season in cars to an end.
#55 Jonathan Kotyk USA Van Diemen RF01
2024: 8th in SCCA National Runoffs – Formula F FFF: 11th in 2017
Kotyk made his Festival debut as a Team USA scholar back in 2017, and since then he has been a serial winner on home soil. He was victorious in the SCCA’s National Runoff for F1600 cars in 2018, ’19, ’21 and ’22 as well as winning the 2019 F1600 Championship Series. He will be driving the car usually piloted by Niall Murray (who is busy with work), and sinced it’s a chassis he particularly likes he is in a relaxed mood.
#88 Morgan Quinn IRELAND Van Diemen RF99
2024: United FFord champion, 4th in NI FF1600 FFF: 9th in 2020
Now in his sixth year with Team Dolan and a two-time United FFord champion, Quinn still needs a standout result at the Festival. He was on the podium in three of United FFord’s four races at Brands Hatch this season, which is a strong sign.
#99 Jordan Kelly IRELAND Van Diemen RF06
2024: 2nd in Martin Donnelly Trophy, 5th in NI FF1600 FFF: 6th in 2023
Kelly grew in confidence so much in 2023 that he ended up becoming National FF1600 champion. Focusing on Northern Ireland so far in 2024 means he has not had the opportunity to replicate that form in Britain, but has been strong at the Festival the last two years.
Shaws Motorsport
#7 Jonathan Nash ENGLAND Van Diemen RF80
FFF: Last Chance Race in 2023
Part of a large line-up of old-school cars under the extended awning of Shaws Motorsport, and in a position to repeat his 2023 result despite the age of his car.
#34 Colin Williams ENGLAND PRS RH01
2024: 18th in SC FF1600 – Pre-’90 class, =39th in Classic FFord, 1x6th in Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup
#61 Peter Daly ENGLAND Van Diemen RF88
2024: unknown FFF: 22nd in 2015, 9th in 1994 – Kent
The BRSCC chairman has been busy through 2024 on race director duties in GT World Challenge Asia, but has had time to make three outings in Super Classic FF1600. The Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project is sponsoring his car.
#77 Phil Attwood ENGLAND Crossle 32F
2024: =39th in Classic FFord FFF: Semi-finalist in 2019 & ’20
Attwood has taken his Crossle all the way to the semi-finals in past appearances, and it would be impressive if he does it again this year.
#147 Ben Hadfield ENGLAND Van Diemen RF80
2024: 26th in Classic FFord FFF: LCR in 2023
Ammonite Motorsport
#42 Hugh Esterson USA Ray GR18
2024: NC in United FFord FFF: LCR in 2023
The older brother of 2022 Festival winner Max came fifth in the F1600 Championship Series in 2021 as a rookie and third the year with three wins, but in 2023 only did one round. He was a finalist at last year’s WHT, and returned to Brands Hatch in a United FFord cameo this summer.
#69 Brindley Kinch ENGLAND Ray GR18
FFF: LCR in 2022
Kinch switched his focus from FF1600 to karting this year, and came 11th in the British championship for KZ2 shifter karts.
#76 Rowland Kinch ENGLAND Ray GR09
While Brindley drives one of Ammonite’s cars, Rowland pilots the older vehicle his previously campaigned. Rowland raced in British F3’s National class back in 2001, coming 15th in the standings, and made it up to Formula 1. That was admittedly in historic cars, but he more than made his name there in an Arrows A4 at circuits across Europe.
He’s now back in action after over a decade out of the cockpit, and pre-event testing marked his first ever time left-foot braking. The aim is to be “nibbling away” with pace improvements.
#90 Anthony Amato ENGLAND Ray GR18
Another driver better known for karting rather than cars, and with a top team that can help him progress through the event.
Souley Motorsport
#13 William Liston AUSTRALIA Van Diemen RF88
2024: 1x2nd in Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup, 21st in CCRC FF1600, 37th in United FFord, =39th in Classic FFord
Liston was New South Wales FF1600 runner-up, and top historic car, last year and is part of the Anglo-Australian two-way path established by the Davison family’s Ecurie Astralie operation which has been active since the 1950s. This year Liston has been on the British racing scene, including overall podiums in the Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup.
#24 Jonathan Barnes ENGLAND Van Diemen RF90
2024: 1x 8th in Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup FFF: Progression Race in 2021 & ’22
The 2021 Heritage FFord champion knows this age of machinery well, so should be in contention to be one of the top drivers racing in pre-’99 cars. He’s also been active in Australia, racing FFord cars at Philip Island.
#59 Chris Acton ENGLAND Ray GR08
2024: 11th in CCRC FF1600 FFF: LCR in 2021, 13th in 2006 – Kent class
#117 Peter Lucas AUSTRALIA Van Diemen RF88
2024: 32nd in CCRC FF1600 FFF: Semi-finalist in 2019 & ’22
Mk8 Motorsport
#8 Samuel Harrison ENGLAND Elden Mk8
2024: Historic FF2000 champion FFF: 13th in 2020
It would a big coincidence if the team name was unconnected to the fact that its three drivers are all in Elden Mk8s. Harrison was Historic FFord 2000 champion this year, raced in Historic F3 last year and has flitted between FF1600 and FF200 cars over the years.
#60 James Buckton ENGLAND Elden Mk8
2024: =30th in Historic FFord FFF: Semi-finalist in 2023, Semi-finalist in 2013 – Kent
His family’s team was due to bow out after last year’s Festival, but it’s remained in action and actually done more racing in 2024 than in 2023. The Eldens are capable of strong results.
Cochran in 2021
#66 Oliver Buckton ENGLAND Elden Mk8/10
2024: SC FFord champion – Pre-’72 class, 1x 7th in Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup, =30th in Historic FFord
The Mk8/10 has a Mk8 body to enable it to run in historic racing, and what distinguishes it technically is a change to the rear made in the 1970s to what is now a 50-year-old vehicle.
Oldfield Motorsport
#9 Ben Cochran SCOTLAND Van Diemen LA10
FFF: LCR in 2021
As a single-seater rookie, Cochran was Champion of Snetterton FF1600 and 13th in the WHT in 2021. He was ninth in National FF1600 the year after, and is now making his category return.
#25 Spencer Shinner ENGLAND Van Diemen JL13
2024: Historic FFord champion
Shinner drove the car regularly piloted by Lucas Romanek at the 2023 WHT, and made it all the way to the final. He had graduated from karts to historic racing that year, coming fifth in Historic FFord and 17th in Classic FFord. To celebrate his 21st birthday he won the 2024 Historic FFord title and is now back in the ex-Romanek car.
#200 Josh Smith ENGLAND Van Diemen JL13
2024: 18th in United FFord FFF: 2018 winner
A conversation in summer set up a United FFord outing, then grew to agreeing to return to the Festival. He was second on his Brands Hatch comeback in September.
Swift Cooper
#18 Rob Hall ENGLAND Swift 2011
2024: 9th in CCRC FF1600 FFF: 8th in 2011 – Kent
Hall drives a 13-year-old chassis which has been upgraded in a few areas. This year he has gained mileage in Swift Cooper’s home CCRC FF1600 championship.
#22 Luke Cooper ENGLAND Swift SC20
2024: 4th in CCRC FF1600 FFF: 4th in 2023, 3rd in 2012 – Kent
Cooper lost out on the CCRC FF1600 title two years in a row, and was in contention once again for 2024 but came out worse in the super close fight at the front. Once dropped scores was taken into account, he was only 14 points off the top, having been four short of the champion in 2023.
#169 Alan Slater ENGLAND Nike Mk4
FFF: Semi-finalist in 2023
TM Racing
#28 Tom Hawkins ENGLAND Swift SC95
2024: SC FF1600 champion – Pre-’99 class, 7th in CCRC FF1600, 34th in United FFord FFF: 23rd in 2019, ’20 & ’23
One of many family units that compete at Combe, Tom beat Bob in the battle to be seventh in the CCRC FF1600 standings. He also won the Super Classic FF1600 title in the top Pre-’99 class.
The 2024 FFord Festival will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the late Gerrit van Kouwen’s victory.
His name will adorn the event itself, his family will be in attendance and in addition to on-track honours there will be a retro livery award up for grabs. Find out more here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xxUd2f9k3y
— Formula Scout 1600 (@ff1600website) September 5, 2024
#36 Don Boyack AUSTRALIA Van Diemen RF89
2024: 4th in SC FF1600 – Pre-’90 class FFF: LCR in 2020
Boyack has driven older FF1600 cars in Australia and England of late, since he is an Anglo-Australian (with possibly from Scot in him too).
#91 Bob Hawkins ENGLAND Ray GR10
2024: 8th in CCRC FF1600 FFF: LCR in 2023
AC Racing & AF Racing
#10 Andy Charsley ENGLAND Ray 92F
FFF: 10th in 1988
Charsley has decades of racing, and FF1600, experience. He came 10th in the 1988 FFord Festival, which was won by Vincenzo Sospiri, was 14th in 1993 and 1999, then 13th in 2015. He also raced in British GT in 1998.
#151 Adam Fathers ENGLAND Ray GR16
2024: 8th in United FFord FFF: LCR in 2021, ’22 & ’23
The nephew of Charsley has had a strong season in United FFord and will be targeting a first trip into the Festival final.
Auto Haeckel Motorsport
#14 Gerhard Hauschulte GERMANY Van Diemen RF91
2024: 12th in United FFord FFF: LCR in 2023
Hauschulte committed to a series for contemporary machinery this year and raced regularly enough to come 12th in the standings.
#17 Klaus-Dieter Haeckel GERMANY Van Diemen RF91
2024: 10th in United FFord FFF: 2017 finalist, 14th in 2012 – Kent
It was a similar story for team-mate and team boss Haeckel, who enjoys going up against newer machinery in older cars.
Don Hardman Racing
#2 Rick Morris ENGLAND Royale RP29
2024: 3rd in Classic FFord FFF: 2nd in 1981 & ’82
As hungry as ever to race, Morris may be in a very old car but he can still take it places including into the final. The different tyre specification that older FF1600 cars use may be prove better in the wet than what the modern machines run on, which may make for an easier progression into the knockout stages.#
Like his team boss Don, he refuses to retire from competition and is one of the most experienced names in the category. Recently he’s even been racing in South Africa.
Rick Morris ⬇️
Rival of Ayrton Senna and possibly the most experienced #FF1600 driver of all time pic.twitter.com/2ZiZL5Rhja
— Formula Scout 1600 (@ff1600website) October 29, 2021
#113 Stuart Kestenbaum ENGLAND Reynard 87FF
2024: 6th in SC FF1600 – Pre-’90 class, 8th in Classic FFord, 30th in United FFord FFF: 17th in 2020
Graham Brunton Racing
#4 Callum Baxter CANADA Ray GR15
2024: 7th in GB4
Baxter won the Team Canada Scholarship for 2024 after racing for Scottish team GBR in first-generation Formula 4 championship GB4. Two podiums put him seventh in the standings against opposition primarily consiting of drivers who knew the British circuits far better.
#44 Antonio Costantino CANADA Ray GR15
2024: 2nd in Toyo Tires F1600
Costantino succeeded Baxter as runner-up in Ontario’s Toyo Tires F1600 series, and is also a Team Canada scholar. He has a bigger learning curve this weekend than Baxter, but his F1600 success at home means it’s more a case of understanding the trickiness of Brands Hatch’s undulating layout than anything else.
John’s Racing Team
#96 Pascal Monbaron SWITZERLAND Ray GR19
2024: 22nd in United FFord FFF: 15th in 2020
#351 John Svensson BELGIUM Ray GR17K
2024: 18th in United FFord FFF: 9th in 1998, 16th in 2009 – Duratec class, 13th in 2006 – Zetec class
Svensson loves coming over to the UK to race, and has been competing in FF1600 in various countries since 1994. Read more about his self-managed racing career here.
Pirate M-Sports
#3 Joey Foster ENGLAND Firman RFR21
FFF: 2003 & ’17 winner
Although Don Hardman is not retiring, the Pirate M-Sports operation exists as a way for Foster to continue running Firmans past the day Hardman does have a break. And the Pirate drivers will be under the DHR awning at Brands Hatch.
The Festival marks an expansion from regional karting for Foster’s team from the south-west, which takes its name from Cornwall’s naval history. Even the engines in the car are built in Cornwall, although whether they go faster on pasties and have strong accents is yet to be confirmed.
Pre-event testing was Foster’s first time back in action since 2023, having had to take time out of the driver’s seat through much of this year. In that time he has donated a kidney, a loss of weight which actually meant he had to bolt lead onto the car to keep it within the rules
#79 Leanne McShane ENGLAND Firman RFR21
FFF: LCR in 2021
McShane attended a kart race in 2023 and Foster recommended jumping in one of his senior class karts. Since then she has competed in the local series, and with past FF1600 experience it made sense to then join Foster’s outfit at the Festival. The Firman is a long car, but that gives it a neutral balance compared to its more oversteer-happy rivals and therefore requires a different driving style.
RPC Motorsport
#35 Sigbjorn Maehlum NORWAY Van Diemen RF83
2024: 9th in FBasic, 8th in FBasic – Norwegian Championship FFF: LCR in 2023
Maehlum raced in the entry-level Formula Basic series in his home country for this year, which concluded with the winner-takes-all event dubbed as the Norwegian championship.
#40 Dan Rene Larsen NORWAY Van Diemen RF95
FFF: LCR in 2019 & ’23
Larsen finished seventh in FFord Sweden Junior in 1994, was racing in the Norwegian Touring Car Championship 21 years ago and is still busy all the time. This is his 25th weekend of racing action in 2024, combining his own time in the cockpit with running his son Birk August in Formula Nordic.
Photo: Richard Higgins
Beastworx
#133 Richard Higgins ENGLAND Van Diemen RF91
FFF: 25th in 2023
Set up by his CCRC FF1600 title-winning brother Adam, Beastworx prepare cars for track days and racing. Higgins’ last outing was the 2023 WHT.
Mann Motorsport
#20 Charlie Mann ENGLAND Ray GR20
2024: 3rd in United FFord FFF: 19th in 2023
Mann is aiming to finish in the top 10, and feeling reasonably confident in wet since he normally does well in those conditions. Gavin Ray, the man behind the Ray cars that populate FF1600 grids, has been helping Mann get faster and faster this year.
Minitron Racing
#19 Innes Hickman ENGLAND Van Diemen RF89
2024: 37th in United FFord FFF: LCR in 2017
PA Motorsport
#37 Ben Powney ENGLAND Jamun M92
2024: 11th in Classic FFord, 33rd in United FFord
Photo: BRSCC
PWR1 Racing
#95 Jason Pribyl USA Ray GR20
2024: 2nd in United FFord
Pribyl had an excellent season in United FFord, and won when the series headed to the Lydden Hill track better known for rallycross. In 2023 he came second in the SCCA’s Northern Conference for third-generation Spec Racer Ford prototype sportscars and was one of the losing finalists for the Team USA Scholarship.
SamS Motorsport
#71 Sam Street ENGLAND Swift SC92
2024: 22nd in CCRC FF1600 FFF: 21st in 2023
Following the 2022 Festival, Street switched from Aston Martin to F1 rival Williams… as an aerodynamics design engineer.
He’s now a senior aerodynamics engineer, a useful job for racing cars that have no wings, and this is a privateer operation in all but name. The SamS Motorsport crew have created a makeshift club near Paddock Hill, where all attendees bring their own beverages and there is stunning views of the track in the dry. It also claims to have the only four-slice toaster in the paddock, but this has not been verified. However SamS Motorsport does have the only kitchen island in the paddock.
Sema Racing
#21 Alex Ames ENGLAND Van Diemen RF90
2024: 7th in SC FF1600 – Pre-’99 class, NC in United FFord
Ames is almost always seen at the WHT rather than the Festival, and usually races his car at the flat Silverstone rather than the hilly Brands Hatch.
Simon Hadfield Motorsport
#217 Tom McArthur ENGLAND Van Diemen RF90
2024: 16th in CCRC FF1600, 17th in United FFord, 19th in Classic FFord FFF: 13th in 2019
Smiths Precision
#47 Darwin Smith IRELAND Van Diemen RF90
2024: 34th in United FFord FFF: 7th in 2003
In addition to appearing in United FFord, Smith has also raced at Magny-Cours and Zandvoort this year.
Speedsport
#97 Melly Zhang JAMAICA/USA Merlyn Mk20
FF1600 fans will recognise the Merlyn from Ed Thurston’s exploits, and there is now a far less experienced driver in it.
Zhang did arrive-and-drive karting before making her car racing debut in a GT Cup round at Donington Park last year. She is totally new to FF1600 and Brands Hatch, and was racing under a Chinese license but has now gone for an American identity. She is trying to get track time and signatures on her license so she can join BlackArts Racing for a Chinese F4 round next year.
Privateers
#11 James Harridge ENGLAND Mygale SJ01
Harridge has plenty of single-seater experience, but it’s been in Formula Vee cars rather than FFord.
#23 Derek Palmer Jr SCOTLAND Ray GR10
FFF: 17th in 2021
Palmer entered the Festival with an unformal technical partnership with GBR, but may not use it since he was unhappy with his car in pre-event testing and may head home.
#48 Tim Fitzgerald ENGLAND Van Diemen RF89
2023: NC in United FFord FFF: LCR in 2023
#63 Matthew Sturmer ENGLAND Macon MR8
2024: 3rd in SC FF1600 – Pre-’72 class, =30th in Historic FFord FFF: PR in 2021
In addition to racing an old FF1600 car, Sturmer also drives a Ralt RT3 in classic F3 events including the Jochen Rindt Trophy.
#67 Gavin Wills ENGLAND Van Diemen RF00
FFF: Kent winner in 1994
The co-owner of former Euroformula and FIA European F3 outfit Team West-Tec has form in the cockpit as well as out of it, as he came third in CCRC FF1600 back in 2019 and won the Kent class of the Festival back in 1994.
#84 Gaius Ghinn ENGLAND Van Diemen RF91
2024: 40th in United FFord FFF: LCR in 2023, 6th in 2012 – Kent
#87 Ian Jeary ENGLAND Dulon
FFF: Semi-finalist in 2020
Jeary was supposed to race an Elden in rare Falconer bodywork, but has now switched to a Dulon. He is sponsored by Ippokampos, a Greek brand once run by Tony Vlassopulos that has been putting its logos on single-seater since the 1970s. It backed James Hunt and Ron Dennis’s Rondel Racing team, and briefly had an F3 team which in 1974 made headlines when its driver Tom Pryce won the race at the Monaco Grand Prix by a huge 20.8 seconds.
#189 Tom Nippers WALES Van Diemen RF01
2023: 5th in United FFord FFF: 10th in 2023
Last but not least is one of the big stars of the United FFord season in a self-run car.
Nippers had frozen bags of broccoli and spinach on his right wrist during testing, as he thought it was better than eating it, and was “very happy” that a wet forecast was due.
“In wet this year looked really good, and been close in the dry,” he said. “Extremely experienced drivers going to be tough to beat in the wet, but I fancy my chances more in the wet.”
He ran his second engine in testing due to the first lacking straightline speed, but wet weather could also make that less impactful.