Hall of Fame
Since it's inception in 1993, many of today's most famous racing drivers began their careers driving Formula Ford Zetec's. From Jenson Button to Mark Webber, Marc Gene to Danica Patrick, over the years Formula Ford has consistently shown its self to be the proving ground of future champions.
Jensen Button
Like many of the worlds most successful racing drivers the 2009 Formula One World Champion started his racing career in Formula Ford. Jenson Button won the UK Championship in 1998, clinching the converted festival crown that same year. Progressing to Formula Three, then to Formula One in 2000, he swept to the world title with Brawn in 2009 before joining McLaren.
Mark Webber
The 2010 Formula One world championship contender Mark Webber won the Formula Ford Festival in 1996. Success in International Formula Three and F3000 led to Formula One with a memorable points finish for Minardi in his first race. Mark went on to race for Jaguar and Williams before joining Red Bull Racing in 2007.
Nationality:
Australian
Formula Ford Raced:
Van Diemen RF96
Drivers Website:
Nationality:
British
Formula Ford Raced:
Mygale SJ98
Drivers Website:
Anthony Davidson
Widely tipped as one of Britain's best hopes for a World Champion, Anthony Davidson perhaps should have entered Formula One sooner with BAR, instead he was forced to wait until Super Aguire offered him a full time drive in 2007. The 2000 Formula Ford Festival winner deserved a better chance at Formula One, but a promising sports cars career beckons racing for Aston Martin, Nissan and Peugeot.
Nationality:
British
Formula Ford Raced:
Mygale SJ00
Drivers Website:
Danica Patrick
Without doubt the world's best known female racing driver, Danica Patrick contested the UK Formula Ford Championship in 2000 and finished second behind team mate Anthony Davidson at the Festival. Danica made history in 2008 with victory in the IRL Japan 300 and finished 3rd at the Indy 500 in 2009. She contested a mixture of Indycar and Nascar events in 2010. Rumours of an F1 drive have come and gone as she now drives NASCAR full time.
Katherine Legge
The transition from karting to circuit racing began with Formula Ford Zetec in 2000. Driving an older car prepared by her farther, Katherine became the first female driver to take pole position in the category. Despite showing great promise she struggled to find the backing to progress in European single seater racing, instead her opportunity would come in the USA competing in Toyota Atlantics and eventually CART. Finally her hard work, dedication and talent will be duly recognised as she prepares for a full time IRL drive in 2012.
Nationality:
British
Formula Ford Raced:
Mygale SJ98
Drivers Website:
Nationality:
American
Formula Ford Raced:
Mygale SJ00
Drivers Website:
Jonny Kane
Northern Ireland's Jonny Kane progressed from Karting to Formula Ford in 1993/1994 finishing 3rd at the Festival. Success in Formula Vauxhall propelled him to British Formula Three where he took 6 wins and the title driving for Paul Stewart Racing. Following that he raced Indy Lights and F3000 and was Arrows F1 test driver in 2001. Now a Le Mans and ALMS regular Jonny made history when he co drove an LMP2 car to pole position and overall race victory at the Hungaroring in 2010.
Dan Wheldon
Bedfordshire born Dan Weldon finished 3rd in UK Formula Ford in 1997 before leaving for the US. In 2005 he clinched the IRL crown with more victories in one season than any one else before. Victory in the Indianapolis 500 that same year was the first for an Englishman since Grahame Hill in 1966. Finding himself without a full time drive for 2011 he returned for a one off appearance at the Indy 500 taking victory. Tragically Dan died in 2011 racing at Las Vegas, he will be remembered as one of the all time greats.
Nationality:
British
Formula Ford Raced:
Van Diemen RF98
Drivers Website:
Nationality:
British
Formula Ford Raced:
Swift SC93
Drivers Website:
Currently Racing In.:
ALMS
Currently Racing In.:
IRL
Currently Racing In.:
NASCAR
Currently Racing:
Sports Cars
Currently Racing:
Formula One
Currently Racing:
Formula One
2600
Marc Gene
Hailing from Sabadell, Spain Marc Gene begin racing at the age of 13 in karts. He progressed to Formula Ford's in 1992 finishing 5th in the Spanish Championship, he was runner-up in the 1993 European Championship and took victory at the festival that year. Following success in F3 and F3000 Marc got his chance in F1 with Minardi in 1999 & 2000, scoring the teams first points since 1995. Now a Le Mans regular he partnered Dave Brabham and Alex Wurz to victory in 2007.
Nationality:
Spanish
Formula Ford Raced:
Van Diemen RF93
Drivers Website:
Currently Racing In.:
Sports Cars
Jason Watt
Jason Watt won the UK Formula Ford Zetec Championship in 1994 and went on to take the Festival crown in the same year. Success followed in Formula Opel, German F3 and F3000 until a motorcycle accident in 1999 left him paralysed from the chest down. Battling adversity with courage and determination he continued racing and winning, he was crowned Danish Touring Car Champion in 2002. A remarkably talented and inspirational racing driver.
Nationality:
Danish
Formula Ford Raced:
Vector 94
Drivers Website:
Currently Racing In.:
DTC