Intercontinental Formula was an open wheel, single seater motor-racing formula introduced in 1961 as an alternative to Formula One. As its name implies it was hoped to encourage participation from the United States and Europe, but ultimately the handful of races which ran under the formula all took place in Great Britain, and only for one year.
In late 1958, the CSI, the regulatory body for motor-sport, announced new regulations for Formula One, to be introduced in 1961. British F1 constructors, unhappy with the new regulations which they felt favoured manufacturers such as Ferrari and Honda, developed plans for an alternative series which was effectively a continuation of the existing F1 regulations, with the limit on engine size increased from 2.5 litres to 3 litres.[1] Hoping to attract interest from the United States, the new formula was named Intercontinental Formula.
Although Ferrari had expressed an interest in the Intercontinental formula, in 1960 they announced that they would be committing to the new F1 regulations. In addition, engine manufacturer Coventry Climax also withdrew from participation, preferring to concentrate on developing 1.5 litre Formula One engines. Meanwhile, of the British manufacturers, only Lotus and BRM entered official works entries.
In all, only five races were run under the formula, including a joint race with Formula One. All races were won by the Cooper T53-Climax model; two by Jack Brabham and three by Stirling Moss.[2]
With waning interest from manufacturers, coupled with the success of the Formula One series, Intercontinental Formula was abandoned.
Despite their initial opposition to the new Formula One, British manufacturers, particularly Lotus, would eventually dominate the five years of the 1.5 litre era, winning 36 out of the 47 races and taking three of the five Constructors' Championships.
| Race Name | Circuit | Date | Driver | Constructor | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| II Lombank Trophy1 | Snetterton | 26 March 1961 |  Jack Brabham | Cooper T53-Climax | Report |
| XIII Lavant Cup | Goodwood | 3 April 1961 |  Stirling Moss | Cooper T53-Climax | Report |
| XIII BRDC International Trophy | Silverstone | 6 May 1961 | Stirling Moss | Cooper T53-Climax | Report |
| XXIII British Empire Trophy | Silverstone | 8 July 1961 | Stirling Moss | Cooper T53-Climax | Report |
| Guards Trophy | Brands Hatch | 7 August 1961 | Jack Brabham | Cooper T53-Climax | Report |
1 run in conjunction with Formula One entries