A SUFFOLK company is celebrating today after two of the cars it supplies engines to won at this years Formula Ford Festival.Scholar Engines, of Norwich Road, in Mendlesham, were in the cars of South African driver Alan van der Merwe and Danish young gun Ronnie Bremer when they came first and second in Sunday's festival at Brands Hatch.

A SUFFOLK company is celebrating today after two of the cars it supplies engines to won at this years Formula Ford Festival.

Scholar Engines, of Norwich Road, in Mendlesham, were in the cars of South African driver Alan van der Merwe and Danish young gun Ronnie Bremer when they came first and second in Sunday's festival at Brands Hatch.

The time for the fastest lap at the 30th Formula Ford Festival also went to van der Merwe.

Alan Wardropper, of Scholar Engines, said he was thrilled to have won but was no stranger to working with the stars of tomorrow.

"Formula Ford is a stepping stone for young Grand Prix drivers of the future. Over the years we have had future stars such as Eddie Irvine, David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen taking part.

Most of the drivers who take part in Formula Ford are aged 20 or 21 and as for future stars, Mr Wardropper is certain that one or two soon-to-be-household names were on show at Kent circuit at the weekend.

"It's a showcase for future Grand Prix stars – the young Danish lad Ronnie Bremer will be a name to look out for," he said.

Away from the track, Mr Wardropper said that things were going very well at Scholar.

"There are two sides to the business – the racing side which is something we do nationally and internationally and on the local side we do engine machine up-keep and re-conditioning.

"Business is good though this is not our busiest time of the year by any means

"We opened up in Martlesham 32 years ago and have been in Mendlesham for 10 years. In the last 10 years the biggest thing to have changed with us is the change from Ford Crossflow to Ford Zetec engine which is the modern standard engine."

Despite coming first and second at Brands Hatch, the company also supplied the engines to the winners of a stock car meeting in Wimbledon on Sunday.