Formula Junior celebrates 40th anniversary

Formula Junior, the brainchild of Count ‘Johnny’ Lurani and training ground for many Grand Prix stars of the early 1960s, celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year with a bumper calendar of events, including a British series for the first time since 1992.

The 1000cc and 1100cc production-engined single-seater class was embraced by a host of European engine manufacturers, including BMC, Ford and Fiat. Even DKW entered with three-cylinder two-stroke units.

Spanning the years 1958-1963, Formula Junior straddled the switch from front to rear-engined designs. The later Brabham and Lotus chassis are seen as classics, the monocoque Lotus 27 being a scaled-down version of the 25.

The FIA Championship, for the Lurani Trophy, opens with a special gathering at Monza on May 17, and there is an invitation event at Goodwood in September promising to recreate history at the Sussex track. MP