AFF Technical Resources - Ford Confirms Long-Term Future of Formula Ford

March 2006

Ford today confirmed its renewed five-year commitment to the future of Formula Ford in Australia.

With the introduction this year of an all-new Fiesta-sourced engine for national Formula Ford cars contesting the Australian Championship, Ford has taken the opportunity to extend its official support of the category.

“Ford is delighted to extend our commitment to national Formula Ford, which has been an intrinsic part of our racing program globally for more than 35 years,” Ford Australia President Tom Gorman said.

“It’s an exciting time for the program with the introduction this season of our new Fiesta engine, the first engine change to the category since it began here in the late ‘60s.

“Formula Ford is now the premier open-wheeler racing category in this country, it’s where all Ford’s V8 Supercar champions learn their craft, and we want to ensure that talent development process continues.

“For Ford, the move to the Fiesta engine also makes the Formula Ford program more directly relevant to our road car, and that will be reflected in mutually beneficial activities going forward.”

The 2006 Australian Formula Ford Championship will be managed by a newly-established professional entity, Australian Formula Ford Management Pty Ltd.

Long-time national Formula Ford Administrator Margaret Hardy has stepped into the role of Category Manager, supported by a Board of Management headed by Chairman Roland Dane, the principal of Triple Eight Engineering.

Australian Championship series competitors will be represented on the Board by Troy Dunstan and Michael Borland, joining fellow Board members Ray Price, Ford Australia's Racing Manager, and Dale Rodgers, principal of Revolution Racegear.

Technical Advisor to the Board is Frank Lowndes and Marketing Advisor is David Segal.