For immediate release

ANOTHER DOUBLE FOR TAPPY AT SILVERSTONE

August 14, 2005: Charlie Donnelly moved a step closer to the UK Formula Ford title at Silverstone today (Sunday) although it was his Jamun Racing team-mate Duncan Tappy who proved the star attraction with a dominant double victory on the Northamptonshire venue's legendary Grand Prix circuit, which featured two near-capacity grids.

Irishman Donnelly is now 84 points clear of Tappy at the head of the championship table with a maximum of 128 points up for grabs from the final four races. But he was fortunate to make it to the finish of the second race when he lost fourth gear at the end of the opening lap.

"I could tell there was a problem straight away but I still kept going as I knew I'd be able to score points if I made it to the finish," said Dublin-based Donnelly, who eventually limped home in 22nd position. "It was disappointing because I could have taken the fight to Duncan and Joe [D'Agostino] but I go to the next rounds at Snetterton with a good cushion in the championship."

D'Agostino arrived at Silverstone 70 points behind Donnelly and was heading to second place in the opening race of the day when he suffered gearbox problems of his own on the penultimate lap that forced him into an agonizing retirement. Although race winner Tappy was never under threat from D'Agostino, the Florida driver's demise allowed him to cruise to the finishing line with Donnelly making it a one-two for Rochester-based Jamun Racing.

Tappy (West Ewell, Surrey) added to his earlier success with another victory in race two - his fifth on the bounce - to move above D'Agostino in the standings, although he was chased all the way to the flag in a thrilling race by his American arch-rival.

Tappy made the most of his pole position to lead into the first corner but D'Agostino was latched on to his tail. On lap three approaching Stowe Corner, D'Agostino jinked to the left of the track but immediately shot back to the right which gave him the inside for the turn. In a repeat of Nigel Mansell's famous move on Nelson Piquet at the same corner during the British Grand Prix in 1987, D'Agostino charged into the lead. But Tappy got back ahead on the inside at Priory a lap later and held on for victory with D'Agostino little more than half a second behind at the finish.

"I didn't defend the line as I didn't want to get into a battle with Joe because I could see Robert [Sunderland] and Steve [Roberts] were closing up," said Tappy. "But when he got ahead he began to defend so I knew I had to get ahead as soon as possible and make a break. But he made a brave move at Stowe a lap later and was right behind me again. It was a hard race but it's been a perfect weekend with two wins, two poles and two fastest laps and I'm now second in the championship."

The 21-year-old played down his title chances heading into the final rounds but did concede that if Donnelly slips up he'll be ready to take advantage, adding: "the title battle is not over yet but it's going to need Charlie to score some DNF's. I won't give up though."

Robert Sunderland (Yatton Keynall, Wiltshire) was third in both races but as he is not a registered championship competitor the silverware went to Stephen Roberts (Whitchurch, Shropshire), the Kevin Mills Racing driver enjoying two exciting scraps with his Mackie Motorsport counterpart. Roberts also strengthened his grip on the Scholarship Cup with a pair of class wins over Jonny Baker (Farnham Common).

Norwegian driver Christian Ebbesvik enlivened a rather tame opening race. He was battling for position with newcomer James Littlejohn (Warwick) when the pair made contact on the Hangar Straight. Ebbesvik spun at high speed but miraculously avoided striking the barriers or heading into the path of the pursuing drivers. From 26th position he charged through to 11th place at the finish.

Littlejohn survived unimpeded and finished in sixth position, one place behind Linton Stuteley, who was the highest-placed Avon Tyres Clubmans FF1800 competitor.

Guest driver Christopher Frohm from Sweden took a close seventh on his championship debut in the Kartstart Motorsport-run Spirit WL05 after his team-mate Darwin Smith crashed out of the race in a collision with Neil Tofts at Priory on lap six.

Behind Jonny Baker in eighth, Sarah Playfair (East Lothian) and Clubmans regular Sean Gaffney completed the top 10.

Christian Ebbesvik enjoyed a trouble-free run in race two, coming home in sixth with Littlejohn latched on to the gearbox of his Team JLR (Batley, West Yorkshire) Van Diemen. Ebbesvik's team-mate Baker again took eighth with Playfair and Gaffney once again rounding out the top 10 as Frohm recovered from a first lap spin to take 11th.

Linton Stuteley again took Clubmans Championship honours in an impressive fifth position overall in a two-year-old car, once again demonstrating the affordable nature of Formula Ford racing.

Competitors from the Silverstone Motorsport Academy-run BRDC Single Seater Championship were invited to join the grid for both races and James Nash and Jay Bridger were the leading contenders in the two encounters.

There's now a six-week break before the UK Formula Ford Championship resumes at Snetterton in Norfolk on September 25/26.

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 coordinator, Barbara Armstrong, at RacingLine Ltd on 01908 210077 or formulaford@racinglineltd.co.uk formulaford@racinglineltd.co.uk

Championship website: www.ukformulaford.co.uk

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Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit Length 3.195 Miles / 5.141 km Direction - Clockwise