For release: June 18, 2005

FORMULA FORD STARS HEAD FOR CASTLE COMBE

BRENTWOOD, The UK Formula Ford Championship next weekend (25/26 June) enters the second half of what is proving to be a fascinating season, with two drivers – Charlie Donnelly and Joe D’Agostino – going head to head for the prestigious championship title.

Brackley-based American D’Agostino has won more races – six to Irishman Donnelly’s four – but it is Charlie who heads the title fight at the half-way stage with a 12-point advantage.

Joe’s Team JLR Van Diemen and Charlie’s Jamun Racing Mygale shared the victory honours at Donington and Knockhill; Donnelly was dominant in the damp at Croft; and D’Agostino was the double victor at Oulton Park and last time out, at Thruxton. Which way the pendulum swings at Combe could prove decisive…

Third in the championship is Duncan Tappy. The Surrey youngster – who turns 21 during the Combe weekend – was on strong form last month at Thruxton, beating his Jamun Racing team-mate Donnelly into third in both Hampshire races.

A field of 20 cars is expected at Castle Combe for the 11th and 12th rounds of the Ford-backed championship, with regulars being joined by competitors from the Avon Tyres Clubmans FF1800 Championship, including championship top three Neil Tofts, Simon Kinsey and Jason Down.

The UK Formula Ford Championship is also welcoming the return of the Myerscough College team, which is mounting a two-car attack on the guest class with Durham-based drivers Sean Gaffney and Andrew Bentley.

Fifth overall and a convincing Scholarship Class leader is Stephen Roberts, the Shropshire driver having won his class eight times from 10 in the Kevin Mills Racing-prepared Van Diemen. Team JLR’s Jonny Baker (Farnham Common) is his closest Scholarship rival, and he also holds sixth overall in the championship alongside another JLR man, Norwegian Thor-Christian Ebbesvik.

Sarah Playfair completes the championship runners on the Combe grid. The 20-year-old from East Lothian will be at the wheel of her Marque Cars-run Ray and bidding to improve on her third overall placing in the Scholarship Class.
Meanwhile, home advantage doesn’t come much more pronounced than it does for Rob Sunderland at Castle Combe – his Yatton Keynell home overlooks the circuit’s Quarry corner. Rob will race his Mackie Motorsport Mygale.

For further media information: Please contact Nick Carter at Max Communications on 01530 563200 or nick.carter@maxcomms.com

For further championship information: Please contact the co-ordinator, Barbara Armstrong, at RacingLine Ltd on 01908 210077 or formulaford@racinglineltd.co.uk

Championship website: www.ukformulaford.co.uk

MAP OF UK TRACK LOCATIONS & LINKS Castle Combe Circuit Length: 1.850 Miles / 2.977 km Direction - Clockwise