JANUARY 12, 2001

Formula 1 teams plan for future

WE hear that Ford may soon join Honda and Renault to create structures which will help nurture young drivers from the start of their careers right through to Formula 1. Honda has built up the new Formula Dream in Japan and has a strong presence in Formula 3 with Mugen engines. Renault has its own junior formula and Formula 3 engines and we now hear that Ford wants to bridge the gap between Formula 1 and Formula Ford by building its own engines in Formula 3. We believe that there have already been trials for a Ford Formula 3 engine but that these have not been successful and that the program may have to wait until a suitable engine is ready. This may help to explain the announcement by Ford offshoot Jaguar that it is going to be running a Formula 3 team this year.

Mercedes-Benz and BMW are also running schemes to help bring forward talented youngsters.