NA-F2000: Jay Howard joins series for 2005 season

British driver invades Formula Ford Zetec Cooper Tire Championship Series

February 10, 2005 - Cummings, Georgia -- In his North American debut and only race weekend, Jay Howard had a stunning win at Infineon Raceway, California. The July 2004 win in the Formula Ford Zetec Cooper Tire Championship Series has translated into a full time seat with Aiken Racing. Marshall Aiken, owner of Aiken Racing, saw in one weekend last summer a driver with a keen sense of precision and speed. Aiken said, "With a full season ahead of him Jay has the opportunity to dominate this series."

Aiken Racing, one of the leading teams in the Formula Ford Zetec Cooper Tire Championship Series is located in Cummings, Georgia and on the web at www.aikenracing.com .

Jon Baytos, principle owner of the Formula Ford Zetec Series agrees when he says, "I'm very excited that Jay Howard has come to America to challenge the North American drivers for the 2005 Cooper Tire Championship." Information about the series can be found on the internet at www.cooperseries.com.

Born February 1981 in Basildon, Essex, Howard got his start in racing at the age of seven in the Cadet Formula of Karting Series. After battling with the likes of the 'Buttons' 'Wilsons and 'Davidsons' Howard accumulated a series of 21 consecutive race wins in the highly competitive UK Karting series. Howard next moved up to Junior Formula Ford and achieved seven pole positions, four race wins, and five second places, also beating the more experienced race hardened drivers in the senior class of the British Formula Ford Championship. Howard has also proved his style works by winning the British Formula Renault Winter Series 2003.

In speaking about the Formula Ford Zetec Cooper Tire Championship Series Howard says, " I think this series is my best chance to launch my career. Aiken Racing is the most professional team I've ever belonged too and Marshall is very focused. He knows what he wants and he gets it done. I feel that driving for Aiken Racing will give me the car I need to win the championship."

Howard plans to travel back and forth from the United Kingdom and America to support his sponsors. Howard' sponsors include the British Racing Drivers Club, 2810 Web Design, Sutton Images, Alpine Stars Race Wear, MIR and Gov-Werx.

-www.jayhoward.co.uk .