South Australian Simon Hodge will join Michael Ritter's Sonic Motor Racing Services for the 2013 Australian Formula Ford Championship.
Hodge, 18, competed with Team BRM this year, finishing eighth overall.
With the South Australian team deciding to withdraw from national Formula Ford competition, Hodge has signed with Sonic's champion three-car Formula Ford outfit.
It is expected that Anton de Pasquale will drive one of the team's other cars next year.
He begun the association with Sonic on the weekend, competing in the Island Magic meeting at Phillip Island. He got the relationship off to a winning start, taking victory in each of the three races.
Next year will be Hodge's second full AFFC championship year and the teenage mechanical engineering student feels he can mount a serious challenge with the Sonic operation.
“2012 was a good learning year for me and I ended up finishing just below my targeted championship position,” he said.
“Many of the tracks I drove at were new to me and on the back of the experience gained throughout the year, I felt the time was right to align myself with Mick (Ritter) and his team at Sonic.
“I've been really impressed with the way Sonic go about their racing and while I have plenty of room for development I am sure by the time we get to Round 1 next year I will be very well prepared for the season ahead.
“The Island Magic weekend was a great way to get to know how the team operate and while the field was not as strong as the usual national entry it was a great way to kick off our racing relationship.”