Sonic Motor Racing Services has made the difficult decision to not compete in the 2024 Australian Formula Ford Series.

The 13-time champion team of the national Formula Ford category will not compete in the series, instead focusing on its burgeoning stable of entries in Porsche Carrera Cup and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge.

Sonic has been a mainstay of Australian Formula Ford for the past 25 years, and team owner Michael Ritter has been involved in Formula Ford for over 30 seasons of competition.

Michael began his motorsport career in the early 90s assisting the likes of Russell Ingall and John Blanchard. Ritter then headed to the United Kingdom in 1993 working for the factory racing teams of Swift and Van Diemen. Returning to Australia in late 1997 saw Michael start the Sonic team alongside Richard Davison where they entered future Supercars stars Alex and Will Davison in the first few years of the team’s existence.

Will Davison won the team’s first national title in 2001 and has since claimed another 12 titles in the category, giving the likes of Jamie Whincup, David Reynolds, Tim Blanchard, Nick Percat, Cameron Waters and Anton De Pasquale their first taste of circuit racing success.

Last year, rising star Matt Hillyer dominated the Australian Formula Ford Series for Sonic, in what was a one-two series finish with team-mate Jake Santalucia claiming second.

While 2024 will be the first time in 25 years that Sonic Motor Racing Services will not be competing in Formula Ford, Ritter will not rule out returning to the category in the future.

Sonic Motor Racing Services’ plans for its entries in Porsche Carrera Cup and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge will be revealed in the coming months.

Michael Ritter
Owner, Sonic Motor Racing Services

“We have made the difficult decision that we will not be contesting the Australian Formula Ford Series this year,” said Ritter.

“Formula Ford holds a special place for myself, Maria and the team. Formula Ford has been the mainstay of our team since our inception.

“This decision has been made for several reasons. We have been considering the direction of the team and business for quite some time and although the decision is somewhat of an emotional one, it was one that had to be made.

“For so long Formula Ford in this country has been the premier junior category and pathway where drivers looking to make a career in the sport either locally or Internationally drivers started their careers. Sonic has had great success not only in terms of championship wins but also as a pathway for our drivers to further progress their careers along with many of our mechanics and engineers.

“Unfortunately at present, Formula Ford doesn’t have the visibility or profile it had at its peak and the competition from other categories at this level of the sport has increased dramatically. I believe that given the correct backing and direction this can be turned around and I would like to see nothing more than it regain its position as the pre-eminent category in this country for young drivers from karting to transition into circuit racing.

“We are really going to miss being in the Formula Ford paddock. It has been a massive part of our lives for 25 years and I’ve built many lifelong friends from the garages of that paddock. I will continue to watch Formula Ford from afar and consider our options for 2025 and beyond.

“In the meantime our focus is firmly on our Porsche programs for 2024.”