set to boom in 2008

With over 100 drivers and cars now registered, the new Historic Formula Ford 2000 Series is set for a successful first full season of racing for the 2-litre Ford Pinto-powered single-seaters built and raced between 1974 and 1981.

The new nine-race series with the Historic Sports Car Club will build on the great support for two pilot races in 2007 and will move the category towards the possibility of championship status in 2009. The new class, for the older FF2000 cars, sits comfortably alongside the Classic FF2000 Championship, which predominantly caters for the later generation cars, notably the Van Diemen RF82. HF2000 regulations cut off at December 1981, but the Van Diemen RF81 is specifically excluded.

"We always had a hankering to have a race of our own and not be a class of another race," said Iain Rowley, one of the people behind the series. "But we never expected it to take off like this. We've now got 100 cars and drivers registered with us. It's just snow-balled."

Rowley is particularly keen to see more of the early cars back on the track. FF2000 was created new for the 1974 season, partly in a bid to take some of the pressure off FF1600 in terms of entry levels. "There are still a lot more cars out there and I'm sure there are cars sitting in garages that could come back to racing."

To date, Rowley and category historian Alan Morgan have identified 36 marques of FF2000 car from the period. "We want to get the older and rarer cars back out; marques like Merlyn, CTG, Dulon, Hawke and Palliser."

Grahame White of the HSCC is keen to see the category develop towards championship status in 2009. "What they did last year was an excellent start," said White. "Iain and his colleagues are very enthusiastic and we're keen to help them."

The HF2000 Series will start at Cadwell Park on 13 April and will include a race at Spa-Francorchamps in September.