Jackie Stewart and Ford have set their sights on the grand prix big time as the second season of their planned five-year formula one partnership was launched yesterday with the unveiling of the all-new Stewart-Ford SF2 in the suitably high-tech surroundings of Ford's research and development department in Essex.

Ford's top brass freely admitted that they had tired of being labelled half-hearted in their commitment to F1 and indicated their seriousness of purpose by unveiling a totally new Zetec-R V10 engine built by their long-time partners Cosworth Engineering which will be available exclusively to Stewart drivers Rubens Barrichello and Jan Magnussen.

Stewart, whose entry for this year's world championship was only accepted after he furnished evidence that he had the necessary funds available for the season, confirmed that he has a full budget in place estimated at £25 million. This includes additional backing from the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking corporation in addition to free engines and expanded technical support from Ford.

"There can be very few teams in the history of formula one who in their second year have come in with the sort of global blue chip multi-national corporations as sponsors," said Stewart. "To be honest, the governing body's request did not bother me very much, because we knew we had all the resources we needed.

"It has hardened my resolve in the sense that we know we have got to deliver the performance. We are aiming to be regular top 10 contenders this year and hope to get our world championship points score well into double figures.

"By 1999 we must be regular challengers for a place on the podium and leading forces by our fourth and fifth season in F1."

British rally legend Roger Clark, who has recently been dogged by ill health, has died of a stroke at the age of 58.

He won the RAC Rally in 1972 and 1976 in the days when night driving was an integral part of the event and also won the British Championship four times.

Clark, a pioneer of commercial sponsorship in the sport, set standards during the 1960s and 70s which were not superseded by a Briton until Colin McRae began to reach the heights on the world stage in the 1990s. He retired in 1980 but continued to compete occasionally, including an appearance in the 1995 Rally of Wales.