Australian motorsport's stars-of-tomorrow will join in battle for the first time this season, when the 2008 Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship kicks off at Eastern Creek Raceway (Sydney) this weekend.

On paper this year's title race looks to be one of the most open in years, the 22 car field for Eastern Creek featuring a mix of experienced national formula fordsters and series newcomers.

A big improver in 2007, Percat looks strong for this season though he'll come under plenty of pressure from Sonic Motorsport team mates Ben Small and Lucas Dumbrell.

Squaring off as usual against Sonic, the defending champions, Borland Racing will field Spectrums for CAMS Rising Stars Scott Pye, Daniel Erickson and Jake Chapman.

V8 Supercar teams Howard Racing and Britek Motorsport have both joined the series for the first time in 2008, underlining the importance of Formula Ford as a generator of new talent.

Howard racing will field a pair of Spectrums for Chaz Mostert and Scott Auld, while Britek runs a massive four car Spectrum entry for Ben Walter, Taylor Gore, Martin Swindells and series returnee, Adam Graham.

Another former series front runner making a return to the category is Paul Laskazeski (Spectrum) and he could spring a surprise too.

While 12 locally-built Spectrums dominate the field, there's five French-built Mygales, two English-built Van Diemens and a single Comtec Spirit, also from the UK.

"It's a fantastic field and promises an exciting season, it will be interesting to see who emerges as the championship chasers," Australian Formula Ford Board Chairman Roland Dane said.

Genuine Ford Parts recently signed a three-year agreement to support the Australian Formula Ford Championship, ensuring record fields and television coverage of every round.

SEVEN NETWORK TELECAST

Sunday 9 March

Eastern Creek

Race three - LIVE

ROUND ONE - ENTRANT LIST

No.       Driver                           Car

2          Nick Percat                    Mygale SJ07A

3          Lucas Dumbrell              Mygale SJ07A

4          Ben Small                      Mygale SJ07A

7          Paul Laskazeski             Spectrum 011b

12         Robert Munnerley          Mygale SJ06A

13         Nicholas Foster             Van Diemen RF04

15         Chaz Mostert                 Spectrum 011

16         Rob Storey                   Comtec Spirit WL07

19         Scott Pye                      Spectrum 011b

23         Daniel Erickson             Spectrum 011b

25         Ben Walter                    Spectrum 011c

26         Taylor Gore                   Spectrum 011b

27         Scott Auld                     Spectrum 011

30         Trent Harrison                Mygale SJ08A

35         Cameron Spence          Spectrum 011c

41         Bradley Lowe                Spectrum 011c

43         Ben Morley                   Spectrum 011c

63         Martin Swindells            Spectrum 011c

66         Adam Graham               Spectrum 011b

74         Yudi Doyle                    Van Diemen RF04

77         Blake Varney                Spectrum 011b

98         Jake Chapman              Spectrum 011b