In 1967, when Walter Hayes of Ford agreed to back the Formula Ford Register, he said; "I see this as a new nursery for drivers. At the moment the Formula One end of the sport is healthy. We have Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart coming along, but what concerns me is who is going to replace them. I've worried about the grass roots level of motor sport in this country and in Europe for a long time. This new formula seems to be the answer. It's from this that we're going to find our Grand Prix stars of the future". By 1972 his prediction had begun to bear fruit, already three future world champions had cut their teeth on Formula Ford.
 

Following them in to Formula One, from the pre-1972 era were, amongst others; Tony Brise, Bob Evans, Tiff Needell, Larry Perkins, Tom Pryce, Tim Schenken, and Dave Walker.

In the succeeding years Formula Ford continued to supply Grand Prix talent through such drivers as Button, Coulthard, Hakkinen, Herbert, Hill, Irvine, Mansell, Schumacher and Senna.