The end of Formula BMW in the UK

Filed under: Features, Thoughts on June 8, 2007

The Formula BMW UK and Formula BMW ADAC (Germany) series is to be homologated into a pan-European series for 2008, ending the British championship after only three seasons and the German after five. The move brings the championship into line with Formula BMW USA (which encompasses Canada) and Formula BMW Asia. But will we miss Formula BMW UK? What does this mean for our other national championships? What does this mean for BMW’s involvement in British motorsport?

It is no secret that Formula BMW UK grids have been reducing this year. As little as 18 cars made the grid for last weekend’s round at Croft and only six of these were new to the series this year. Logically, one can attribute this to increased competition amongst the national championships as both Formula Ford and Formula Palmer Audi are back in good health and both offer faster cars for less money. But it can’t be as simple as that. Winning British Formula Ford with a top team isn’t that much cheaper and with open testing in both, the potential for a more variable budget is open.

So if the money itself isn’t a problem, perhaps it is what you actually get for your money?

Formula BMW UK has always had prime real-estate for its show – a slot on the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) Support Bill – once enjoyed by British Formula Ford. With attendance figures which rival most premiership football matches and live television coverage (plus syndication) on Motors TV, during 2006 at least, a championship on the BTCC package was about as saleable as any on the national motorsports scene. And whilst Motors TV is a subscription channel on Sky TV, it is available to all 8 million subscribers without premium. In 2007, this was lost. Motors TV no longer purchased the broadcast rights and instead, Setanta Sports picked up what was left and continues to broadcast using the previous format. Setanta Sports is still available on Sky, however, a further subscription is required.

Perhaps ironically, Setanta Sports is available for free in Ireleand on NTLs basic package meaning the total audience reach for Formula BMW UK was probably greater in the Republic of Ireland than on its own shores.

But does this really matter? Its rivals are only slightly better equipped. British Formula Ford is shown on Sky Sports a week after the event and Formula Palmer Audi is only recently shown on Motors TV, also delayed. My own research tells me how limited this is commercially and so could it just be that the perceived profile of Formula BMW in UK has fallen?

Will Formula BMW UK be missed? Emotionally, probably not. It was never a series that had many great stories to tell, perhaps the greatest being Tim Bridgeman winning the inaugral championship as a privateer (a feat that I can’t help but think BMW regrets). However, I would argue that what BMW have done is set a worrying precedent for national motorsport as a whole.

BMW is very precise in its approach to motorsport. Their involvement is limited to Formula BMW (European, North America and Asia), the World Touring Car Championship (World Champions 2005/2006), Formula One and the customer cars they have running in various sports car championships. Compare this to Renault who have numerous national championships for Formula Renault 2.0, the Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula Three, the Renault Clio Cup, Meganes, the World Series By Renault, GP2 as well as Formula One. It is obvious to me that as far as BMW is concerned, national level competition is not as important to its brand as it once was.

What is intriguing is the possibility that the reasons for which BMW see little value in national motorsport is in fact the reason why it is so difficult for drivers to raise the money to compete in the first place. Commercially speaking, national motorsport is worthless without promotion, TV coverage, crowds and a show. The racing itself will make them little in the way of profit.

It’s a worrying precedent, certainly if other manufacturers were to make similar conclusions. It is also one which seems to have escaped the attention of the British motorsport columnists who have voiced their opinion on the subject this week.

Formula BMW will enter a less crowded space with only Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula Three Euroseries and International Formula Master showing the way forward for pan-European championships. Formula BMW should fit beneath these all of these as an entry-level series for well-funded European karters but little else. And consider this: the Formula One stars of tomorrow may never have experienced racing in a national championship. Is that really so hard to believe?

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