Howson and Ray split

Howson said: "We could have finished the year, but we've been trying to do it on a limited budget with minimal testing. With the official tests shorter than they are last year there's not enough time to do the job properly, which was making me and Ray look bad. When you do the year on not a lot of money you need a bit of luck, and we weren't getting any."

Howson has no immediate plans for this year, but is eyeing the occasional FF1600 drive ahead of a full-time return in 2005. "I'm not going to rush back into anything - there's no point switching formulas just to keep racing," he said. "I probably won't do Ford next year, but I'm looking to stay in single-seaters or sportscars. I'm only 20."

Eponymous team boss Bert Ray said that his outfit would return: "We've not stopped doing Ford," he commented. "We're actively looking for a front-running driver with a budget. The sooner we find one, the sooner we'll be out."