Van Diemen, active since the mid-1960s, was one of the major British manufacturers of formula cars. From 1973 Van Diemen specialized in Formula Ford, a single-make category that required 1600 and 2000cc Ford engines, leaving freedom in the design of the chassis. Countless champions have been formed with the Van Diemen of F. Ford, including Ayrton Senna, who achieved his first successes in motoring in the English championship, first with the 1600 engine in 1981, then with 2000 in 1982. The F. Ford 2000 was characterized by the presence of front and rear ailerons, absent on the smaller 1600.