1 June, 2009: Josef Newgarden and James Cole underlined their winning form in the MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain this weekend at Rockingham, with the former claiming an emotional victory for the JTR team in race one and the latter emerging triumphant in races two and three to extend his championship lead.

Newgarden's victory was the first for JTR team since the death of its young founder, Joe Tandy. Josef said on the victory podium: "It was really tough out there. Memories of Joe kept popping into my mind. That one was for him. He was the heart of the team, and he's the one who drove us. I hope he's looking down and that he's proud of us now. We are going to keep the rhythm going."

An exciting qualifying session saw the top 15 drivers separated by just seven-tenths of a second, and the Kevin Mills Racing Spectrum of Scholarship Class leader Daniel Cammish claiming its maiden pole position.

As the start, Cole's Jamun Racing Mygale was slow away, which hampered his chances for the remainder of the race. Dutch driver Rogier De Wit meanwhile stormed through from fourth on the grid, initially to take the lead before a fired-up Newgarden stole it from his grasp. Cammish, still coming to terms with circuit racing, had dropped to third, afterwards commenting: "I was really happy about my first pole position, but I'm really struggling to get off the line; it's only my fifth standing start."

Despite losing out in the early stages, De Wit was not about to ease up and hand control of the race to rival Newgarden. As the field came around for the second time De Wit moved up the inside of the American into the Deene hairpin and managed to find a way past for the lead.

A brief safety car period gave Newgarden the chance he needed: at the restart he took advantage of De Wit into the Deene hairpin to take the lead once more. Cammish swept past Rogier also for second, before the thundering Fluid Motorsport Van Diemen of Garry Findlay, which started fifth, muscled its way past the Leeds driver.

Behind the lead battle, Daniel Erickson, De Wit, Chrissy Palmer, Alex Jones and Liroy Stuart were enjoying an intense tussle for fifth, gradually pulling away from the chasing train. Fired up after his early success, De Wit was determined to make up lost ground and soon made a move on Erickson for fifth. Seeing this ignited the fire for Palmer, Jones and Stuart as they too began to hassle Erickson for position.

Back up at the front Cole, recovering from his tardy start, managed to find a way past Findlay for second. Twelve laps completed and it was Newgarden who exited the final turn to the welcome sight of the chequered flag. Championship leader Cole was second, with Findlay managing to hold third ahead of Scholarship Class victor Cammish.

Cammish made yet another slow start in the first of Sunday's two races, dropping him down the order as Cole, Newgarden and De Wit made the early running. Dan soon recovered to seize fourth place from Findlay.

A spin by Ben Barker at the Deene hairpin brought out the Safety Car during the clear-up operation, and at the restart Cole effectively settled the outcome of the race by getting a jump on his rivals and leaving them to fight amongst themselves. De Wit, still determined to find a way past race one winner Newgarden, was hassling the American at every opportunity, an opening eventually appearing as the pair entered Tarzan. Unfortunately for Josef, he was passed also by Cammish and Findlay, demoting him to fifth.

Cole crossed the line 1.9s ahead of De Wit. Pleased with his triumph, the 20-year-old said: "It was a very good race, a really hard race; Josef was catching me up all the time." Cammish transformed his difficult start into third place and a second Scholarship Class win.

Reigning Scholarship Champion Chrissy Palmer, enjoying his first outings for the Jamun team, followed up his Saturday sixth-place finish with another sixth, behind Findlay and Newgarden.

Determined to repeat his race one performance, Newgarden was out for a win in the third and final race of the weekend; starting from pole position was a clear advantage but nonetheless he dropped back to fifth during the opening stages until the JTR man pulled off an outstanding move on Palmer around the outside at Tarzan, allowing him to advance back up the order.

Starting from third on the grid, Cole wasn't expecting too much from race three. "I'm aiming for the podium," he said. "I'd love to get the win but it's going to be difficult."

It wasn't as difficult as he thought, as three laps from the end he fought his way past the leading Getem Racing Mygale of De Wit, demoting the Dutchman to second. Commenting on his second win of the day, an ecstatic Cole said: "It went very, very well. I was just trying to stay with Rogier, and when I got the opportunity to take it I did. Two wins and a second, identical to Oulton Park, so I'm really happy with that. It's brilliant."

Newgarden seized third away from Findlay almost within sight of the chequered flag, and despite late challenges mounted by Findlay, Josef held on to his position. Palmer, completing a rewarding weekend, progressed from his sixth place grid slot to finish fifth, ahead of Cammish, who completed his weekend with a sixth successive Scholarship Class win.

Josh Hill, who retired with a gear linkage problem during race one, put in his best result of the weekend with seventh, just ahead of Erickson, Jordi Cunill and Barker, who scored his first Rockingham finish. Jones, having started seventh, fought back from a drive-through penalty to cross the line a respectable 12th.

Tribute to Joe Tandy
The Rockingham pit lane fell silent yesterday as the cast and crew of the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series, the MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain and associated series observed a one-minute tribute to Joe Tandy, the JTR team chief who was killed in a road accident two weeks ago.

More than 100 people surrounded the JTR pit garages to show their support and respect for the Tandy family, Joe's friends and JTR team members.

Joe's family said: "Joe, Marilyn and Nick would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming kindness and support we have received. It is comforting to know that Joe was so highly thought of."

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