DURHAM racing driver Sean Gaffney has been rewarded for his first ever podium finish in the the Avon Tyres Formula Ford 1800 Championship by being given a drive in the full UK Formula Ford Championship for the rest of the season.

Gaffney, 18, secured a second place at Donington Park recently and that, coupled with some other excellent results, has convinced the Myerscough Racing Team he is ready to take the step up.

"The full UK Championship was always were I wanted to be. But mainly due to budget restrictions, we opted for the Avon Championship, " said Gaffney.

"The Myerscough College Team manager, Phil Boland, also thought I needed a bit more track time at a lower level before moving up and we would see how things developed during the season.

"The results have gone well with an eighth, fifth, an off when we should have had a top six finish and a second in the first four rounds, we were aiming for podium finishes towards the end of the season but things have moved along a bit quicker."

Said Boland: "Sean's come a long way since we signed him at the beginning of the year.

"We first ran Sean at the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch at the end of last year where he did very well considering his limited experience at that point (qualifying for the grand final and finishing in 20th at the first attempt).

"He was still raw at that point and we were sure he had some potential we could work on.

"Since then he has improved dramatically and we think he is ready to step up to the highest level in Formula Ford racing. At only 18-yearsold he's still got some rough edges that need polishing off and we think that moving up and racing at the highest possible level is the best way to stretch a young driver and develop his career."

This move would not be have been possible without the support and backing of Gaffney's sponsors, Fullspec Solutions of Stockton.

"They've been fantastic for me, " he said. "Progress in motorsport, no matter what your talent, is difficult and you need the support of a good sponsor.

"Without their backing it wouldn't be possible to do this, I'm very grateful to Wayne Holmes and everyone at Fullspec Solutions for their support and allowing me to have this opportunity."

Gaffney's first race in the UK Championship will be at the Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire over the weekend of the June 25-26.

The Formula Ford race will support the British GT and Formula 3 Championships with, coincidentally, the North-East's leading professional driver, Warren Hughes, racing a TVR for Team LNT in the GT Series.

"It's fantastic to be on the same race event as Warren" said Gaffney. "My dad has worked with Warren for many years on his public relations and I first went to see him race when I was just five-years-old.

"From that time on I always wanted to be a racing driver, so to be racing at the same event as him is a dream come true."

Published: 17/06/2005