The F4 British Championship, certified by the FIA and powered by Ford, is the UK’s premier single-seater series, the only championship open to 15-year-old drivers and the first step on the FIA single-seater pyramid. It is one of the biggest initiatives in junior single-seater racing since the launch of the original Formula Ford in 1967; a concept which helped develop and mould the track careers of so many of motor racing’s great names.
Britain’s official version of the FIA’s Formula 4 concept was introduced in 2015 and is widely regarded as the most competitive junior category single-seat championship in the world.
Powered by the race-proven Ford 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine, which is tuned to deliver the FIA’s maximum permitted 160 PS, the championship’s carbon-fibre monocoque chassis provides drivers with a safe, reliable and economical means of getting on the grid for the first time.
Designed to be a globally recognised, yet affordable step between karting and Formula 3, the F4 British Championship has established itself as the place for junior drivers from around the globe to embark upon their single-seater careers and make their first strides to Formula 1.
The 2016 season saw a remarkable ten different race winners demonstrating the sheer competitiveness of the championship, as well as the calibre of the drivers and teams that compete in it. Not only does 2017 promise to be just as thrilling and wide-open, but it will also see the launch of the Ford F4 Challenge Cup; giving drivers the opportunity to battle it out on track for less than £100,000.
The F4 British Championship plays a starring role on live television on ITV4 as the sole singer-seater support event on the British Touring Car Championship’s calendar, attracting a massive spectator fanbase at the UK’s major circuits.
Car displayed courtesy of Ford Motor Company Limited
Photography by Martyn Goddard