Karting champion Tom Duggan joins FPA

Yorkshire driver steps up to single seater racing

British KZ1 karting champion Tom Duggan is the latest addition to the 2009 Formula Palmer Audi line-up.

The 19-year-old joins the series after a successful campaign in the KZ1 Stars of Tomorrow National Championship, now known as Formula Kart Stars. The highly competitive championship has produced many stars and Duggan will hope to follow in the wheel tracks of the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Gary Paffett and Paul Di Resta: "The season didn't actually start that well last year," said Duggan. "But things began to improve pretty quickly and we were able to start winning. Going on to take the title in arguably one of the highest level karting championships in the country was a great feeling."

Duggan has won no fewer than nine karting titles during his career and although he will be up against more experienced drivers in FPA, he feels that it could be an advantage to come straight from karting: "I have been working on my fitness, but karting is physically very tough anyway," he said. "I don't want to jinx my chances as I would be very happy finishing in the top three of the championship in my first year, but I genuinely feel that I could win it. I am in FPA because I want to drive in Formula Two and I need to get there as soon as possible!"

Duggan recently had his first taste of an FPA car at Bedford Autodrome and the Yorkshire driver was clearly impressed: "It was a lot more powerful than I was expecting!" concluded Duggan. "It took a bit of getting used to but I found my feet pretty quickly and now I can't wait for the season to start."

Formula Kart Stars is the UK's premier karting organisation and is backed by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone. It also begins a clear path of progression for youngsters all the way from cadets to single seaters, and recently announced a £10,000 scholarship prize with the Formula Palmer Audi Championship.