The 50th anniversary of FF2000 is celebrated in style at Cadwell Park

The Historic Sports Car Club celebrated the 50th anniversary of Formula Ford 2000 during the Wolds Trophy at Cadwell Park last weekend, with an impressive 40-car grid competing in qualification races and two finals.

The Historic FF2000 championship will be celebrating the formula’s golden anniversary all year, with drivers competing for the Ian Taylor Trophy, in memory of the Berkshire-based racer who won the first-ever race for FF2000, driving a Dulon MP16 at Mallory Park in March 1975.

The series itself was created by motorsport business ace John Webb of Motor Circuit Developments as an introduction to slicks and wings for those who could not afford the more expensive Formula 3, or preferred to stay at this level. The cars were purpose-built spaceframe chassis produced by a number of manufacturers, with an easily-sourced Ford Pinto engine.

Both championship races at Cadwell were won by double Historic FF2000 champion Graham Fennymore, driving a Reynard SF81, with FF1600 stalwart Michael Moyers second in a Reynard SF79.

Fennymore was running second in race one when erstwhile leader (and championship leader) Ben Glasswell’s SF77 spun and couldn’t restart, handing him a safe win. The cause was found to be a broken suspension component, leading to a loose wheel and retirement for Glasswell, who then had to come through the morning qualification race on Sunday, which he won.

Callum Grant – guest-driving Ian Pearson’s SF79 – was third in the opener, ahead of another double champion, Benn Simms, in an SF78. Fifth place went to Andrew Storer in a 1979 Reynard. Storer has been active in the series since it received official championship status in 2011.

Fennymore was rivalled rather more strongly by Moyers in race two, and could also have had Glasswell to deal with had the race been longer. The SF77 driver had started from 21st place, but quickly made his way to the upper end of the field. He set a string of extremely fast laps, but Fennymore and Moyers were just too far ahead. Grant and Simms were fourth and fifth, with Grant having overhauled Simms on the last lap.