F1 POLECAT INTERVIEW:
MARK ADKINS
FORMULA FORD DRIVER FOR MINITRON
Mark Adkins is a regular at Brands Hatch racing circuit, the nearest racetrack to where I live. Having seen him race there since 2022 (when I was just 12) in one of the Formula Ford Championships, I eventually summoned up the courage to write to him and ask him if he would be my first race interview.
Mark was so cool about it and agreed to sit down to a face-to-face interview with me during the 24/25 season winter break. He also agreed to let me sponsor his car (a heritage black Jamun M92) to help me get the word out about F1Polecat.com. I’ve included some of the install photos below, but I’ll replace these with some cool trackside images once the 2025 season gets underway.
Anyway, if you’ve never seen Formula Ford before and don’t know what its all about, strap in and find out everything there is to know about it directly from one of the drivers below.
Syd: Hi Mark! Firstly, thanks so much for speaking to me and for being my first ever race interview for F1Polecat.com.
Mark: You’re totally welcome Sydney. It’s really important we do everything we can to reach out to the younger generations and I think it’s great your website focuses on grass roots motorsports so much.
Syd: So could you start off by telling us a little bit about Formula Ford, and how it differs from F1, F2 and F3?
Mark: So Formula Ford, also known as FF1600, is an entry-level class of single-seater, open-wheel formula racing. The series typically sees career-minded drivers enter alongside amateurs and enthusiasts.
Syd: So what sort of speeds to the cars in Formula Ford go?
Mark: It depends on the track but up to 130mph, but it really seems faster when you’re so low to the ground.
Syd: Are there any differences in the design of a Formula Ford Car?
Mark: A Formula Ford car is one of the more distinctive-looking open-wheel race cars because it does not have wings to create aerodynamic downforce, and slick tyres are not allowed. In order to reduce cost and allow smaller manufacturers to produce their own design of chassis without prohibitive tooling costs, chassis are steel space frame, unlike the monocoques found in other types of single-seater racing
Syd: So is Formula Ford only ran in the UK?
Mark: Championships for Formula Fords are run in many countries around the world, in the UK there are many series catering for FF1600’s which all generally run with a class structure depending on car age. These include United Formula Ford which allows all ages of car to race together (amalgamated in part from the old national FF1600 series), the HSCC having a pre-81 Classic Series and a pre-72 Historic Series and the BRSCC who run Super Classic Pre-99 events. Each run to essentially the same rules and regulations, with minor variations for local conditions.
Syd: I see. And what was your final ranking after the 2024 season?
Mark: Overall I finished 3rd in my class which is for heritage cars produced between 1982 and 1992.
Syd: Oh wow that’s great. What’s it like racing around Brands Hatch?
Mark: It’s a tough track and Paddock Hill is a bit hairy at high speed. Overall though I enjoy driving at Brands, it’s my favourite track.
Syd: So what are you hoping for the 2025 season?
Mark: I made some good progress on my own lap times last year but still need to find a second or two to be a little more competitive. With a little more testing I will hopefully be finishing higher up the rankings in 2025.
Syd: Oh, that would be great. Well I’ll be watching all season and hopefully publishing some race reports in the summer, so good luck!
Mark: Thanks Syd, and nice to meet you. Good luck with F1Polecat.com, it’s really great seeing someone helping us publicize the grass roots motorsports with the younger generation coming through.
