Ford is to throw a lifeline to thousands of historic
Formula Ford racers worldwide thanks to a decision to put the legendary
'Kent' engine block back into production. Engineering work has already begun at Ford Racing’s Performance Parts division in the USA, with sales scheduled to start in 2010.
The 'Kent' engine began its production life 50 years ago, and was the perfect choice of power unit when Formula Ford was created in Britain in 1967. Though the engine was superseded at the top level of Formula Ford racing in the UK
in 1993, between 5000 and 7000 'Kent'-engined cars are competing around
the globe and engine parts are becoming increasingly scarce.
Now
expertise gained by Ford Racing Performance Parts through its
remanufacturing of classic Ford road car engine blocks, like that for
the original Mustang, is to be put to good use on the 'Kent'.
“Our
parts division has many years of expertise in re-making blocks,” says
Ford Racing Engineering Supervisor Andy Slankard, “and we are going to
take our knowledge of modern techniques to remanufacture the 'Kent'
block and improve its durability. Our aim is not to make performance
gains but to strengthen it and to make the unit more reliable.
“There are many thousands of 'Kent'-engined Formula Ford cars still racing around the world – particularly in the USA, which never adopted the Ford Zetec engine which replaced it in Europe
– and we believe that the majority of owners of these historic machines
will want to retain the originality of their car by using a genuine
Ford engine.”
The news is welcomed by Mike Norton, Motorsport Manager Ford of Europe: “It is fantastic news that the legendary 'Kent'
engine is to be reborn. This engine powered some of motorsport’s
greatest names to their first championship successes – drivers like
Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Nigel Mansell and Mika Hakkinen – and
we very much hope that the plan to remanufacture the unit will lead to
even more names being added to the list of Formula Ford greats in
future seasons.”
Historic Formula Ford cars competing at Brands Hatch
New Duratec 1600cc, 108 HP engine
Another
alternative for Formula Ford owners is the launch of an all-new version
of the Ford Duratec 1600cc engine, offering 108 hp (110 PS). This engine is
designed to complement the highly successful 152 hp (155 PS) Duratec unit, the
engine which since its introduction in 2006 has powered Formula Ford
back into the single-seater limelight.
The
new Duratec 1600cc engine, which has been in development for the
last 12 months, will be available from the end of 2009 with a price tag
expected to be around £5,000. The new engine can be fitted into new
Formula Ford chassis, or in older cars as a replacement for the 1600cc
Kent or Zetec 1800cc engines.
“The
new power unit will be ideal for fitment in new chassis; it will be a
stepping stone to the more powerful Duratec engines used in the MSA
Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain and other series worldwide,”
says Norton, “and the engine will be made available throughout world,
from the US to Europe, Australia to Africa.”
The
highly robust and efficient 1.6 litre Duratec engine, as used in the
Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta road cars, has proven a very successful race
engine in Formula Ford championships around the world.
Formula Ford historic car with the Kent engine
Current British Formula Ford Championship
The 1600cc 110 PS specification:
· Ford Duratec all-aluminium 1600cc 16-valve engine
· Unique induction system with K&N cone filter, bespoke throttle body and cast aluminium alloy inlet manifold
· Unique Formula Ford dry-sump system with twin scavenge, single pressure and separate toothed-belt drive
· Formula Ford specific ‘stretchy’ belt front end accessory drive to standard water pump
· Bespoke motorsport ECU
· Bespoke motorsport engine wiring harness
· Power output: 110PS @ 6750rpm
· Torque: 150Nm@5250
Photo of the low powered 1.6L 110 PS Duratec engine (Courtesy of Ford Racing)