BRENTWOOD, UK, March 4, 2005: Reigning Scholarship Class Champion Joe D'Agostino is planning a return to the UK Formula Ford Championship - and this season the 19-year-old American has his sights set on taking the overall championship crown.

D'Agostino is close to securing a deal with one of the Ford-backed championship's top teams for a full-on assault on the overall crown. He will drive a new chassis loaned by Van Diemen - his prize for winning the 2004 Scholarship along with an engine provided by the tuning wizards at Scholar.

"I have every intention of going for the championship," says D'Agostino, a former Red Bull Scholarship finalist. "I think I showed last year, particularly towards the end of the season, what I am capable of. With improved preparation this season I am going to be more competitive."

Floridian Joe chose the UK as a base in which to further his track career because, he says, of the support he receives: "They way motorsport here is supported makes it a great place to learn, and that's why it produces so many great teams and great drivers. Hopefully a second good season in UK Formula Ford will help me to achieve my ambition of a Formula 3 drive in 2006." D'Agostino is
backed by mockett.com, Sparco and Arai.

Joe and the boys in the UK Formula Ford Championship will meanwhile face a threat from 19-year-old Sarah Playfair, the first female to express her intention to compete in 2005. Graphic design student Sarah, from East Lothian, has six years of karting experience and two years in the Scottish Formula Ford Championship behind her. "I'm fully intending to be out there and giving the lads something to think about," said Sarah, who is close to a deal with the Marque Cars team.

A quality field is assembling: Jamun Racing will run at least two cars, one for Charlie Donnelly, who won four races last year, and another for Duncan Tappy; Team JLR will meanwhile field 20-year-old Jonny Baker and rapid Norwegian Thor-Christian Ebbesvik. Formula BMW refugee Stephen Roberts is to return to Formula Ford with Kevin Mills Racing.

The 20-round UK Formula Ford Championship gets underway at Donington Park on April 3; six of the championship's 10 meetings are supporting events to the British Formula 3 Championship. The overall champion stands to win a full test drive in the new Ford Focus World Touring Car and a year's use of a new Fiesta ST road car. Alongside these prizes Ford has pledged a package of promotional support, including a high quality race centre and Sky Sports TV coverage of each round.

There will be additional awards in the special Scholarship Cup, aimed at drivers who are both new to UK Formula Ford and who drive a car more than a year old.

Guest drivers taking part in UK Formula Ford races in 2005 are to be rewarded. The highest-placed non-championship driver in each race will receive a special Guest Driver Trophy on the race podium. "In previous
seasons guest drivers have received little recognition unless they finished in the top three," said championship coordinator Barbara Armstrong. "It's nice to be able to give some encouragement."

Championship website: www.formulaford.info

Joe D'Agostino jd@joedagostino.com www.joedagostino.com
US Mobile: +1 954.494.6228 UK Mobile: +44 7821.688.700