Formula Palmer Audi has proved itself over the last 11 years to be one of the premier training grounds for aspiring Formula One drivers. Nine FPA graduates have progressed to Formula One, with many more racing in premier international championships such as IRL, DTM, Japanese Super GT, British Touring Cars, Le Mans Series and World Touring Cars.

All cars in the championship are owned, prepared and run by the FPA team, which operates from 30,000sq ft workshops at its own test circuit, Bedford Autodrome. Every car is prepared to the same standard by a highly experienced team, ensuring absolute equality of equipment for all drivers and providing the unique level playing field that has provided the springboard for so many talented drivers.

With equality of machinery assured, the racing is close and there is plenty of overtaking. The cars have 300bhp from a 1.8-litre turbocharged Audi engine, which also incorporates an overboost feature that increases power to 360bhp for an eight second burst. On the push of a button, each driver can call upon extra power to help complete a pass, or defend a challenge.