Dixon is happy to visit the FFord Festival, Button expresses interest in admission

Photo: IndyCar / James Black

The 50th Formula Ford Festival last weekend was one of the most memorable events in a long time, with epic races and several celebrities from the racing world and beyond.

BM Racing’s Jamie Sharp triumphed in one of the most exciting finals in years, beating a number of previous winners such as Jan Magnussen and Dennis Lind.

After Magnussen was persuaded by his nephew Lind to participate, Magnussen’s appearance aroused great interest, as did that of the former winner and ex-Formula 1 driver Roberto Moreno.

Several other big names in the racing world emerged and watched the track with interest, including runner-up in the 1999 F1 World Championship, Eddie Irvine, who won the FFord Festival in 1987, and former McLaren and Alfa Romeo F1 racing driver Bruno Giacomelli , Rasmus Lindhs manager Stefan Johansson and six times IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon.

Dixon’s appearance was perhaps the most interesting as he had never attended the event before and had his only Formula Ford racing experience between 1995 and 1996 in his native New Zealand.

Over the weekend, Formula Scout met the IndyCar legend who supported Team USA Scholarship drivers Max Esterson and Andre Castro at Low Dempsey Racing (and their teammates Lind and Magnussen). The two youngsters finished second and third in the final.

IndyCar GOAT @ scottdixon9 was at the @BrsccHQ Formula Ford Festival last weekend.

He spoke to Formula Scout about what attracted him to @Brands_Hatch and the classic single-seater event for the first time

pic.twitter.com/PtPdwrpejR

– Formula Scout (@FormulaScout) November 4, 2021

“I read a lot about it and tried to get to the Formula Ford Festival in my earlier years but never could,” Dixon told Formula Scout

“So here in England right now and I have some friends involved in it, and of course the USA Scholarship, and that part of it is something that I have been involved in – the American life that I have been part of for several years while.” .

“So it was good to come here and see it. I’m looking forward to cheering on some of the passengers. “

Dixon was greeted with traditional wet festival weather on his first visit to Brands Hatch and was impressed with how competitive the races were.

“First time at the festival, first time at Brands Hatch,” he said.

“It’s definitely fun to see the track and the weather plays along. It was very, very wet and rainy earlier in the day [for the semi-finals], but it looks like there will be great conditions for the final.

“In some of the races I’ve seen so far, the competition is so tough, isn’t it? As always in motorsport, with a lot of these great categories, how close it is. “

The festival was once a very popular stepping stone for riders trying to get to the top of formula racing and to this day the event has retained its prestige.

“There are people from very different racing sports from all over the world because this race is so prestigious and I wish I had it on my résumé but I don’t have it.

“It was great to catch up with Jan Magnussen. Roberto [Moreno] is here too, you have previous winners from many years ago to all of the young talent coming through the feeder series right now. So it’s a great balance.

So did Dixon’s visit tempt him to take part in the festival in the future?

“I would have to ask Chip [Ganassi] if I may! I think it would be a lot of fun. I talked to Jan about the difficulties. As you progress through your categories, you kind of forget what you have left as you progress.

“When I talk to Jan, only about how grippy the car is and that you don’t really feel much. It’s very different from what we’ve been used to for the past 20 years, at least for me.

“I think it would be fun to come back here and maybe try in three, four, five years, we’ll see if that’s possible.”

Magnussen and Lind have already indicated that they will return to the event after enjoying the experience.

“Jan and I have all smiled since we arrived, and when we looked at the cars we got into, we just laughed,” Lind told Formula Scout. “It’s like going back to the beginning of your career so it was a lot of fun.”

“I will try to return to the festival every year if it continues like this.”

Another interested spectator from afar was none other than the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, Jenson Button, who started his racing career in Formula Ford in 1998 and won the festival and the British FFord championship that year.

After tuning in to watch the finals, Button caused a stir on social media by teasing about a possible entry into the event next year.

“I saw the FFord Festival yesterday and it brought back so many memories of my 1998 win, the closest win I’ve ever had in motorsport when I overtook the late Dan Wheldon by half a wheel,” Button wrote Instagram.

“There is always so much action in the 20-lap sprint, basically it’s about victory or bust! Congratulations to this year’s winner Jamie Sharp and a special greeting to Jan who finished 11th 29 years after winning the festival! Who wants to race with me next year ?! ”

Marino Franchitti, Chris Buncombe, James Rossiter and Magnussen all responded fairly quickly with an enthusiastic “yes”.

Should Button participate, the 51st run could even top this year’s event and attract other big names to join it. Anyway, there is excitement about FF1600 racing right now which is great news for the category.

Stay up to date with Formula Scout for a special analysis of the festival weekend by Lind and Magnussen …