BRSCC LAUNCHES 2024 GERRIT VAN KOUWEN ANNIVERSARY FORMULA FORD FESTIVAL

The British Racing & Sports Car Club is delighted to officially launch this year’s Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, with the 2024 edition taking on a special theme in honour and celebration of one of its previous champions – the 1984 Festival winner, Dutchman Gerrit Van Kouwen.

 

 

To mark 40 years since Gerrit’s victory at the BRSCC’s blue riband single seater event and to honour him after his passing at the beginning of this year, the Club has reached an agreement with the Van Kouwen family to brand this year’s event in his name. The title it shall bear for 2024 will be the “BRSCC Gerrit Van Kouwen Anniversary Formula Ford Festival” and is set to take place on the weekend of 19/20 October 2024 on the Indy layout of the famous Brands Hatch circuit in Kent.

Van Kouwen is seen by many as one of the great winners of the Festival, the Dutchman having tackled the event twice and won on his second attempt in 1984 in commanding fashion at the wheel of a Lola T644E, in one of the most dominant and memorable performances the event has seen during its 50+ year history. Gerrit went on to progress into Formula 3, before a season in the BTCC at the wheel of a Ford Sierra RS500. He was also a true enthusiast of both Formula Ford and the Festival, and attended the event almost every year.

 

 

The 2024 Festival, the 53rd edition since it first began at Snetterton in 1972, will take on the same familiar race weekend format as in previous years, with Saturday reserved for both qualifying and races for the three heats, before Sunday’s racing activity will showcase the Progression Race, both Semi-Finals, the Historic Final for the Brian Jones Memorial Trophy, the nail-biting Last Chance Race and the all-important Grand Final.

Gerrit’s life and victory will be remembered and celebrated at this year’s Festival, with the Van Kouwen family agreeing to sponsor all three heats, the semi finals and the Grand Final as well as incorporation of Gerrit’s name into the title of the event. Further plans and developments regarding this year’s Festival will be revealed over the coming weeks and months.

Suzy van Kouwen, widow of the late Gerrit, spoke of the announcement saying  “Today, the 5th July, would have been Gerrit’s 61st birthday. Unfortunately after his passing in January, we are unable to celebrate today. However, it is an appropriate date to announce with great pride that my family and I will be sponsoring the BRSCC Gerrit van Kouwen Anniversary Formula Ford Festival this year at Brands Hatch, a circuit he loved.

Whilst it will be very emotional for us, we would like it to be a truly happy celebration, with great racing and fun as he would want, and that his friends, colleagues, marshals, officials, teams, drivers and fans enthusiastically embrace the spirit of the meeting. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.”

 

 

Scott Woodwiss, Media & Marketing for BRSCC added “As a Formula Ford Festival enthusiast myself, both I and the BRSCC recognise the achievements of Gerrit Van Kouwen both at this event and in Formula Ford in general. To collaborate with the Van Kouwen family along with Graham Fuller formerly of Minister Racing Engines to honour Gerrit and 40 years since he won the Festival in this way, is something we are very proud to have brought together and our thanks and gratitude go out to all involved. 

This is always a special weekend on the BRSCC calendar for a number of reasons and one that produces fantastic racing and plenty of memories each year, and the Club is greatly looking forward to creating a few more at this season’s 53rd running in October. We anticipate welcoming as many Kent-engined Formula Fords of all ages on the grid as possible to make this another Festival to remember.”

Entries for this year’s BRSCC Gerrit Van Kouwen Anniversary Formula Ford Festival will open on Monday, 8th July with details on how to enter to be provided in due course.

EVENT INFO PAGE – https://brscc.co.uk/events/2024-brscc-gerrit-van-kouwen-anniversary-formula-ford-festival