Replacing the long established UK Formula Ford Championship on the TocaTour for 2004, is the Formula BMW UK Championship. A popular entry level 'slicks and wings' single seater series, Formula BMW has been running in Germany and Asia for several years and has launched the career of one of the new rising stars of European motor racing in Nico Rosberg.

Powered by an 1200cc BMW motorcycle engine, the Mygale built racers can reach up to 140mph and provides a good learning experience for karting graduates, who can take advantage of the new MSA rules allowing 15 year olds to take part. Five drivers in the field will be the lucky winners of the £35,000 Formula BMW Scholarship and will benefit from expert tuition by the likes of ETCC stars Jorg Muller and Andy Priaulx. They will race in the Rookie Cup, where the winner will receive another £35,000 to go towards a second season in the category. The new championship has attracted some well known teams and names to take part. Reknowned single seater experts like Motaworld and Fortec compete against BTCC teams such as Barwell and VLR who have enlisted the help of Tiff Needell and Steve Soper respectively to attract drivers and guarantee expert advice. But perhaps the biggest name who will offer his experience, is that of reigning BTCC Champion Yvan Muller, who will team up again with the team that took him to the 1992 British Formula 2 title, SWR-Omegaland.