LOCAL racing driver Roger Orgee jnr is to race in the Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 Championship this year.

The Bridgwater College student, who will be 18 this month, competed in Formula BMW last year. But that proved too expensive for the family racing team.

It is headed by Roger Orgee snr, who won the Castle Combe FF1600 title back in 1974 driving a Dulon MP15.

The Orgees had been thinking of competing in the Clio Cup this year, but have decided to stay in single-seaters.

"Even on a small budget, Formula BMW cost us a fortune," said Orgee snr. "We thought the costs of the Clios were looking a bit too high also, so we want to commit to something we knew we can do.

"Roger can afford to learn in Combe Fords and we will look at the UK Formula Ford Duratec class for 2008."

Orgee jnr said: "I wanted to stay in single-seaters, because I've got a season of experience now. If I'd switched to a front-wheel-drive saloon, I'd have had to start from scratch again. I'm not under-estimating the Combe series, I just hope that I can do well."

The Orgees have bought a Van Diemen RF99 from Ed Moore and an engine from Glen Searle. The first meeting at Castle Combe is on Easter Monday, April 9.