FPA: Palmer praises departing series

Formula Palmer Audi founder Jonathan Palmer says he is proud of what the series achieved following confirmation that 2010 was the championship’s final campaign.

Palmer launched FPA in 1998 in order to provide low-cost single-seater competition in the face of spiraling costs in series such as Formula 3 and Formula 3000. The first season saw drivers pay just £85,000 for a 20-race schedule, with the champion receiving a paid-for seat in F3000.

With the cars now no longer fit for purpose Palmer has decided to bring the curtain down on the series, fearing a new fleet of racers would push budgets well beyond those envisioned in the series’ original ethos. Nevertheless he says he is happy with what FPA achieved and the drivers whose careers it helped to launch.

"I'm extremely pound of Formula Palmer Audi," said the former Grand Prix driver. "It has provided hundreds of drivers with affordable, fair single-seater racing to help their careers. It has been run with total integrity for 13 years, since the day it began, and despite the occasional ignorant critic no driver has ever been given any kind of advantage."

Palmer was also keen to single out some of the series' success stories, particularly inaugural champion Justin Wilson. Following his 1998 triumph the Brit went on to win the International Formula 3000 championship in 2001, raced for the Jaguar and Minardi Formula One teams in 2003 and has been a consistent front-runner in American open-wheel racing since 2004.

"Justin Wilson's great success, going on to win the F3000 championship, race in F1 and now be a top Indycar driver, has always been FPA's proudest achievement, but many other drivers such as Andy Priaulx, Robbie Kerr and Giorgio Pantano have proven their ability in FPA and gone on to greater things.

“Conversely, and perhaps equally significantly, the harsh reality is that no driver who has not shone in FPA has ever gone on to do great things. FPA has always reflected talent."

Palmer says that his full focus is now on the revived Formula Two championship, which is run by his Motorsport Vision organisation.

"Running FPA provided us with enormous and unique experience to launch the FIA Formula Two championship in 2009, and now our efforts are focused on continuing to develop F2 with the FIA to build its reputation as the most affordable and equal, outstanding quality international feeder championship to GP2 and ultimately F1."

This FPA year’s champion, Nigel Moore, received a £100,000 scholarship prize towards a season in F2 as reward for his successful campaign. The 18-year-old was the youngest driver to claim the title during its 13-year history.


James Weeks.