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CCRC FF1600 Championship

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CCRC FF1600 Championship

Formula Ford Championship 

Club racing at its best!! Catering for Kent engined Formula Ford 1600s, this superb championship has been a crowd favourite at the circuit since 1969. The Castle Combe Championship is now the oldest in the country and arguably the most successful, blending intense competition with a friendly atmosphere amongst the competitors. Large grids and close racing ensure the success of the Championship for competitors, sponsors and spectators alike!

 50 Years FF black gold 300dpi5

Half a century of Castle Combe’s circuit-based Formula Ford 1600 championship was celebrated at the circuit’s during the 2019 season. Formula Ford racing has been an incredibly important part of the Wiltshire track’s story since the late 1960s.

For 50 years, wheel-to-wheel dicing and plenty of thrills and spills have been a key element of Castle Combe race meetings as the circuit’s own championship has consistently delivered hugely competitive racing from strong grids. Formula Ford was first created in 1967, and early races were held at Castle Combe in 1967 and 1968 before the circuit championship was inaugurated for the 1969 season.

In 1969 the Castle Combe Formula Ford Championship was created as the first circuit-based championship in British motor racing, thanks to the foresight of the late Howard Strawford, the man who would go on to save the circuit from closure and develop it into one of Britain’s most popular venues.

“I was the first person in the country to come up with the idea of having a regional championship,’ said Strawford, speaking in 1998. “I applied directly to the RAC for the Formula Ford championship for 1969. By chance someone I knew from South Wales had moved across to this area and was in charge of advertising for Guards cigarettes. So we started off with sponsorship from Guards. I thought we could generate enough interest in the area for it to work.” As usual, Strawford’s vision was proved correct.

  • History of the Championship

    The Castle Combe Racing Club Formula Ford 1600 series lays rightful claim to being Britain's oldest regional FF1600 series. First held in 1969, it pre-empted the Champion of Brands series by a year.

    Early FF1600 visitors included the Frank Williams Racing Team, later to become Williams Grand Prix Engineering, with American driver John Bisignano, as well as future multiple British Touring Car champion Andy Rouse who cut his teeth in a Dulon LD4C. How many fans in the crowd on September 11 1976 could have realised they were witnessing a future British world champion in FF1600 race winner Nigel Mansell?

    The 1978 season was another landmark in Castle Combe history, with the closure of the Llandow circuit in South Wales, the FF1600 and Special Saloon Car Championships became one circuit series. Prior to that, both had been known as BRSCC South West series featuring rounds at both circuits. Indeed, in its early years, the FF1600 championship has also taken in races at Thruxton.

    However, in the circuit's 50-year history, few drivers have been as successful as quadruple champions Bob Higgins and Gavin Wills. Both have records that stand close scrutiny, for with a little more luck, either could have added a fifth or perhaps even a sixth title.

  • Previous Champions
    Year Driver Car
    2020 Luke Cooper Swift SC18
    2019 Josh Fisher Van Dieman JL14
    2018 Luke Cooper  Swift SC16
    2017 Josh Fisher  Van Diemen JL14
    2016 Roger Orgee Jnr Van Diemen RF00
    2015 Roger Orgee Jnr Van Diemen RF00
    2014 Adam Higgins Van Diemen JL12
    2013 Adam Higgins Van Diemen JL12
    2012 Ben Norton Spectrum 10b
    2011 Rob Hall Swift SC11
    2010 Marcus Allen Swift SC92F
    2009 Ben Norton Spectrum 011
    2008 Josh Fisher Mygale SJ03
    2007 Ed Moore Van Diemen RF00
    2006 Matt Rivett Ray GR97
    2005 Tim Reynolds Swift SC92F
    2004 Ed Moore Van Diemen RF01
    2003 Chris Axford Swift SC92F
    2002 Simon Ashley Swift SC92F
    2001 John Hutchinson Van Diemen RF90
    2000 John Hutchinson Van Diemen RF90
    1999 Richard Carter Van Diemen RF92
    1998 Richard Carter Van Diemen RF92
    1997 Kevin Mills Swift SC92F
    1996 Kevin Mills Swift SC92F
    1995 Kevin Mills Swift SC92F
    1994 Gavin Wills Swift SC92F
    1993 Gavin Wills Swift SC92F
    1992 Bob Higgins Reynard FF91
    1991 Nigel Jenkins Reynard FF90
    1990 Nigel Jenkins Reynard FF89
    1989 Gavin Wills Van Diemen RF89
    1988 Gavin Wills Van Diemen RF86
    1987 David Llewellyn Van Diemen RF86
    1986 Robert Davies Van Diemen RF84
    1985 Howard Lester Reynard FF83
    1984 Martin Cooper Royale RP33M and Reynard FF83/84
    1983 Bob Higgins Royale RP29A
    1982 Bob Higgins Martlet DM4
    1981 Bob Higgins Martlet DM3/DM4
    1980 Steve Lincoln Royale RP26
    1979 Geoff Davies Crossle 32F
    1978 Mike Wallaker Jomic Mk2
    1977 David Wheeler Royale RP21A
    1976 David Toye Royale RP21
    1975 Terry Richards Merlyn Mk11A
    1974 Roger Orgee Dulon MP15
    1973 Clive Power Dulon MP15
    1972 Buzz Buzaglo Elden Mk10
    1971 Mike Campbell-Cole Merlyn Mk11A
    1970 Peter Lamplough Palliser WDF2
    1969 Bryan Sharp Merlyn Mk11A

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Great news that we are returning to racing in some form at the beginning of July. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again – even if just from a distance!

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30 August 2021

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