ParcFerme.Com

As they attempt to chase down championship leader Tim Blanchard and end Ash Walsh's six-race winning streak, a strong field of 22 cars will take to Sandown Raceway next weekend for round six of the Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Blanchard, who took the championship lead at Winton in May, remains confident, pointing to strong form in the closing rounds of 2006.

"Last year, we had plenty of pace at Sandown and left the weekend with the lap record but luck wasn't on our side," Blanchard said.

"This year it's a different situation, leading the championship, but we're still taking it race-by-race.

"These last three rounds - Sandown, Symmons Plains and Phillip Island - were tracks last year where we were quick, so we're looking to end the year strongly and let the rest sort itself out."

After taking a clean sweep at Eastern Creek and Queensland Raceway, Walsh has vaulted back into championship contention.

Walsh and CAMS Rising Star team-mate Joshua Scott will leave Australia almost immediately after Sandown for an international program including the British Formula Ford festival.

"The last two rounds have been perfect, getting six wins from six starts," Walsh said.

"Obviously the UK program is just around the corner, but we've worked hard to get back to this point in the championship and there's still a lot up for grabs, so we'll be doing everything we can to have a good weekend."

Blanchard's Sonic Motor Racing team-mate, and fellow Melbourne resident, James Moffat is just three points behind Walsh in third place and eyeing a return of the form which took him to the championship lead earlier this season.

"We've probably been a little bit lost with the setup in the last couple of rounds," Moffat admitted.

"We went back to basics in some respects, back to a similar setup to what we had after Barbagallo, and found it worked quite well in testing at Winton recently.

"Next weekend will be my second race meeting at Sandown and my first in a Formula Ford, and with only one practice session I'll need to get my head around it all very quickly, so we're hoping that we'll have a good setup straight out of the box."

A number of other Victorian drivers have featured strongly this year, with Glen Wood and Taz Douglas currently sitting sixth and eighth in the series respectively.

While Wood and Douglas both endured frustration at Queensland Raceway, each could take away positives from the weekend, with Wood claiming his first pole position and Douglas bouncing back to finish third in the final race.

"We had a tough run at Queensland Raceway, but coming back to finish third in the final race was a real highlight," Douglas said.

"It's going to be great to get to Sandown, I know the place well. I've won a few races there in the state series and made my national series debut there last year, which means I've got a good idea of what to expect next weekend."

Two drivers will make their Australian Formula Ford Championship debut at Sandown.

Having finished fifth in the Victorian Formula Ford Series this year, Melbourne resident Michael Periera joins the field ahead of a full championship campaign in 2008.

"We had a good year in the state series, but I know it'll be a steep learning curve, stepping up to the national series," Pereira said.

"I don't expect too much from the weekend, it's really just about getting experience at this level ahead of next year, but if we can get into the top 10 I'll be pleased."

Another new face is 18-year-old Chris Reindler, who will line up alongside Nick Percat for Team BRM.

The younger brother of former Australian Formula 3 Champion Karl, Reindler has contested a handful of state level Formula Ford events in South Australia and his native Western Australia.

Meanwhile, Daniel Pappas and Asher Johnston return to Formula Ford at Sandown.

Pappas has spent time in Formula 3 and Porsche Carrera Cup in recent years, while Johnston - who finished third in the 2006 Victorian series - returns to the national series after contesting the season opener at the Clipsal 500.

Round six of the 2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship kicks off with practice and qualifying on Friday morning.

The first two 12-lap races will take place on Saturday, before race three on Sunday afternoon.

Race three will be shown live on Channel 7 as part of its Sandown 500 telecast, with all three races to be featured in a package the following Saturday, 22 September, from 12:30pm.

Current Championship Points Standings

1.         Tim Blanchard               232 points

2.         Ash Walsh                    199

3.         James Moffat                196

4.         Kristian Lindbom           158

5.         Josh Scott                    128

6.         Glen Wood                   113

Sandown Raceway Schedule

Friday 14 September

Practice                         9:00am - 9:20am

Qualifying                      11:20am - 11:40am

Saturday 15 September

Race One                     10:05am, 12 laps

Race Two                      4:35pm, 12 Laps

Sunday 16 September

Race Three                   12:05pm, 12 Laps