FIRST ECOBOOST TEST FOR RACER RYAN

Former karter Ryan Cullen will get a feel for the the Formula Ford EcoBoost at Silverstone on Friday. Photo: www.jakobebrey.com

Formula Ford rookie Ryan Cullen will get his first taste of Ford EcoBoost power this week. The 20-year-old from Somerset will go behind the wheel of Ford’s test chassis at Silverstone to gain experience of the Mygale he will race in the forthcoming Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain.

Cullen’s own Mygale is due for completion by the end of February; it will be prepared and run by David Ellesley’s Race Car Consultants team. “The plan is for Ryan to test our Duratec car at Brands Hatch on Wednesday and then we are borrowing Ford’s EcoBoost chassis at Silverstone on Friday to give Ryan a feel for the car he will race,” said Ellesley. “Then later this month we will take delivery of our own new 2012 Mygale and begin a proper test programme with that.”

Ellesley has secured the services of experienced Formula Ford data engineer Rob Elmer to assist with the project. The team plans to run a car in the championship’s Duratec class also: “We are in negotiation with a couple of drivers,” adds David, “and I am hopeful that we will be able to announce something soon.”

Although Cullen, from Wedmore, Somerset, has no single-seater track experience, he has karting knowledge and hopes to make an impression in the championship’s Rookie Cup. He is backed by water management company SDS.

The 24-race Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain gets underway over the Easter weekend (7-9 April) at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

For more information visit www.britishformulaford.co.uk