Britain’s Motor Sports Association (MSA) has confirmed that its current ‘MSA Formula’ is to be renamed the ‘F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford’, with immediate effect.
The UK series conforms to global FIA F4 regulations, introduced in 2015 as the first rung on the racing ladder for young single-seater drivers, and as such follows a naming trend that extends globally. In addition to the UK, there are currently established FIA F4 championships in Australia, Japan, Germany, Italy, China, Mexico and Northern Europe, with new championships set to be launched in the US, South East Asia, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
“The rebranding to F4 British Championship achieves two key goals,” explained Rob Jones, MSA chief executive. “First, it identifies the championship alongside other FIA F4 series around the world, and secondly it confirms that there is a clear first rung on the single-seater ladder in the UK.”
“Given the global reach of FIA Formula 4, it is both natural and essential that the category establishes a strong base in the UK and continues growing from there,” added Stefano Domenicali, president of the FIA Single Seater Commission. “It is obviously one of the major centres in the motor sport world with a proud and rich history in all facets of it. The nature of FIA Formula 4 is a national championship, meaning that driver entries are predominantly only allowed from the country in which it is run – as a result it is a way of specifically developing young British talent.”
The 2016 F4 British Champion will be awarded 12 points towards an FIA Formula One Superlicence. They will also attend the FIA Gala in Austria (2 December) and join an exclusive FIA F4 drivers’ club.
