Formula Ford Festival 2025

Formula Ford Autumn Fun part one. Photographing the Formula Ford Festival 2025 at Brands Hatch.

The end of the year sees the two big Formula Ford events. Firstly, the long-established Formula Ford Festival held on the Indy Circuit at Brands Hatch. Secondly, the Walter Hayes Trophy on Silverstone’s National Circuit. We will cover the WHT, with a twist, in part two of our report.

Formula Ford always delivers lots of fast and frantic action with the weather always willing to throw in a curve ball or two to keep drivers and teams on their toes.

For the Festival I was, as usual, a spectator snapper. South Bank parking (free for the Festival) gives easy access to the inside and outside of the Druids hairpin. In the end that’s as far as friend, and Brands local, Glyn and I got on this occasion as we caught up on motorsport, took photos and generally put the world to rights.

Ford Fiestas Support Race

For support races between the heats, semi-final and final of the Festival, we had Fiestas who managed to produce the usual level of action and drama.

I decided to get arty with the trees on the inside at Druids for the Formula Ford progression races (essentially repechages to the heats run on Saturday). There has been quite of bit of tree removal for ash die back, I believe.

Then one driver decided to head to the beach … I have no doubt the marshals are well aware that he “wants to go that way” …

The first of the semi-finals was no less dramatic with no one seeming to know which way to go …

Thus far, there had been no fences to shoot through. For the second semi-final, it was to the outside of Druids which gives a different angle on the action. With a step, you can shoot pretty much clear of the fence, and there are three adjacent slots in the fence by the TV tower looking back to Paddock although they tend to be pretty popular.

The final brought more action with another trip to the beach although I understand that you do get more style points for a reverse entry.

Jason Smyth, this year’s United FF Champion, in #26 battled through to take the Festival win after an enthralling race.

Formula Ford Festival 2025 Support Races

The day finished off with drizzle and Rod Birley taking yet another win in his Escort WRC taking full advantage of his four-wheel drive in the damp conditions.

As ever, we left asking why we don’t go and watch more Formula Ford racing during the year and why it isn’t televised in preference to processional races from some other series …

You can find the FF Festival on YouTube here …

Saturday stream –

Sunday stream –

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