Scottish racing driver Carol Brown has confirmed she will return to competitive action in the 2009 SMRC Formula Ford championship.

The reigning SMRC Legends champion has made the switch to the single-seater series in a bid to further develop her skills as a driver, and will contest all 17 rounds of the competition.

The Falkirk-based 21-year-old worked hard during the winter close season to raise the sponsorship she required to go racing - and secured backing from H&J Burgoyne car and van sales, Norscott Vending and Jem Engines.

Brown got her first taste of the Formula Ford at a pre-season test day at Knockhill on April 12, putting in laps alongside a number of her rivals for the forthcoming season.  With last year’s champion Graham Carroll having moved on, Brown will be one of around half-a-dozen competitors in the field with a chance of taking the 2009 title.

The first round of the SMRC-organised championship takes place on Sunday April 26 at Knockhill, and marks the start of a busy calendar for the Formula Ford competitors.  They will contest nine event meetings, including supporting the British Touring Cars, British GTs and British GT Cup, as well as the series’ showcase Golden Helmet event at the Classic SpeedFair in July.

After an outstanding title-winning season in the 2008 SMRC Legends Cars championship Carol Brown became the first woman to win one of Scotland’s most prestigious motorsport awards - the Ecurie Ecosse Hub Cap trophy.  She was also named the top lady driver competing in Scotland for the third time in succession Brown’s long-term goal is to follow a similar path to fellow Scot Jonathan Adam and progress to the high-profile British Touring Car Championship.

Carol Brown said:
I’m really looking forward to getting back on track and racing after the winter break, and very grateful to my sponsors for their support in helping me to achieve that.  It will be a totally new experience for me this season with the switch to Formula Ford, as I’d never even sat in a single-seater before last weekend’s test session.  It’s totally different from racing a Legends car, the Formula Ford handles very differently and requires a completely different driving style.  There is also a lot more you can do tweak the set-up of the car, which is something else I’m looking forward to learning more about.  I have another testing session ahead of the first event so I’m confident that will help me to settle into the car a bit more before real action starts.  While the first few races will be a learning curve I hope I can be on the pace sooner rather than later.”