MOTOR SPORT: THE MotorSport Vision Formula Ford 1600 Championship will feature its biggest grid so far when it reaches its sixth and seventh rounds at the Oulton Park International circuit tomorrow.

Irishman Peter Dempsey leads the championship, having won four of the five races run so far, but he is closely followed in the points by Castle Combe Ford ace Ed Moore and Midlander Stuart Kestenbaum.

The FF1600 category is traditionally one of the best training grounds for young, aspiring racing drivers and produces some of the closest and most exciting racing anywhere in the UK.

For this weekend's British Racing and Sports Car Club meeting, Dempsey and company will have a much tougher fight on their hands, with around 30 cars lining up on the grid alongside the front-runners.

Among the newcomers to the series will be Stockport's John Loebell, a former single-seater champion and owner of the Medina Sport team.

He will be driving his Reynard 88FF and, as a veteran of the category, should be a serious contender for overall honours as well as the class C win.

Cheshire is well represented in the MSV FF1600 field, with Knutsford's Mark Chadwick racing his Northstar Motorsport Van Diemen RF04, bringing the machinery bang up to date.

In a similar car, Lee Hannam is from just round the corner in Northwich.

Bramhall's Ray Robinson and Hyde's Derek Rodgers are also entered, while Mike Mullins from Wilmslow is almost assured of a class D win, as he is currently the only driver entered in the class.

Chris Chisnall from Warrington will race his Mike Waite Racing Van Diemen RF00, while other local drivers include Stuart Sanders in Oldham (Swift SC92), Stoke-on-Trent's Stuart Dix (Swift SC92) and Chester racer Seamus Wild (Swift SC93F). Lancaster pairing Mike Devoy and Philip Austin will both compete in Van Diemens.

Elsewhere on the programme for the weekend, Northwich driver Craig Hewett will be going for glory in the MG-based Cockshoot Cup championship race in his MG Midget.

Other races on the bill include Le Mans-style sports cars in the Radical Enduro and Biduro series, and an eclectic mix of single-seaters in the Monoposto championship, which also features a large field.

Tickets for tomorrow's meeting cost £12 per adult with children aged 12 and under free. Free parking and paddock access is also available.

Qualifying starts at 8.30am, with the first of nine races starting at 11.40am.