Van Diemen RF87 – 1987
During the 1970s and 1980s, Formula Ford became the leading entry-level category in Europe and Australia. The list of graduates is impressive. Ayrton Senna won the British Formula Ford 1600 Championship in 1981 and the Formula Ford 2000 Championship in 1982. Emerson Fittipaldi, Nigel Mansell, Mika Häkkinen, Jenson Button and many others took their first competitive steps in a Formula Ford, as did Portuguese drivers António Simões, Pedro Matos Chaves, Diogo Castro Santos, Pedro Lamy, Manuel Gião and Pedro Couceiro. At this stage, for Portuguese drivers, Formula Ford was the essential stepping stone towards Formula 3 or other intermediate categories, such as Formula Opel. Van Diemen became one of the most successful Formula Ford constructors, achieving numerous titles and helping develop several future Formula 1 drivers. The Van Diemen RF87 was the car developed for the 1987 season. Although Formula Ford technology remained relatively constant in order to preserve the category’s low-cost nature, chassis with greater setup possibilities were the most versatile for tackling a season across a wide variety of circuits and conditions. This car won the 1987 Formula Ford Festival with Eddie Irvine and was also driven by António Simões at the same event, where he finished fourth. The RF87 on display was used by Diogo Castro Santos and Pedro Lamy in the Portuguese Formula Ford Championship.
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Model: Van Diemen RF87
Year: 1987
Country: United Kingdom
Power: 115 hp
Displacement: 1598 cc
Weight: 420 kg (regulatory minimum, without driver)
Top Speed: 220 km/h
Engine: Ford Kent inline 4-cylinder