Formula Ford anniversary celebrated at Brands Hatch

Forty years of Formula Ford will be honoured at Brands Hatch next weekend when pre-1972 racers from the series take part in the Historic Sports Car Club's festival.

The year 1967 was a motorsports landmark with the launch of the single-make formula, as well as the world-beating Ford DFV engine – the most successful Formula 1 power plant of all time.

Both Formula Fords and Cosworth DFV-powered F1 cars return to Kent's historic circuit for HSCC's June 30/July 1 festival. It was here on 2 July, 1967 that Ray Allen won the first Formula Ford race, in a Lotus 51.

Many great champions competed in Formula Ford – James Hunt, Jody Scheckter, Ayrton Senna and Emerson Fittipaldi included. At next weekend's festival Ray Allen will be reacquainted with a Lotus 51 for a thrilling race of pre-1972 Formula Fords.

Ford of Britain is backing the festival by offering passenger rides in GTs new and old. The company's 2005 Ford GT and 1964 GT40 race car will offer a further demonstration of Ford power.