Jeremy Metcalfe underlined his ability as a true Formula Renault UK front-runner during the final round of the 2005 Winter Championship at Croft Circuit Saturday afternoon, the 17-year-old driving superbly and serenely to claim his maiden category victory.The Team AKA sensation started his preparations well in testing on Thursday and Friday and after securing fifth position on the grid for today’s third round of the winter series, he went on to stun everyone by recording his first ever pole position for round four.Tyre choice was critical as round four qualifying neared its conclusion, a dry line quickly appearing on the 2.12-mile circuit with just three minutes remaining, but an inspired decision to change to slick tyres paid dividends when Jeremy set the pole time of 1m 22.211 seconds (93.14mph) – a full nine 10ths of a second clear of Cheng Congfu.In the race itself, Jeremy proved the qualifying performance was far from a fluke, controlling from the front after a great start and winning by more than a second from experienced Chinese star Cheng, winner of round three.Speaking immediately after his maiden victory, Jeremy said: “It’s awesome! I’m almost stuck for words to explain how good this feels, but after all the hard work we’ve all put in I think we can say we deserved this result; I really enjoyed it out there.“I’m absolutely delighted to win my first ever car race and I must say a big thank you to Team AKA and everyone who has supported me. The car was fantastic and I knew if I could make a good start we’d be in good shape and in with a real chance of winning. It really is an amazing feeling and it’s the best possible way to end the series.”In the day’s earlier third round of the winter series, Jeremy was forced to retire with car damage on lap six having run strongly in the top five. The outcome proved to be a bitter disappointment as, following his later victory, the teenage sensation could have hoped for a final championship placing of fifth in the driver standings.Nonetheless, joint-eighth position in the championship is a great result considering Jeremy was only able to score points in two of the four winter rounds, if you take into consideration his retirement from round three today and a harsh exclusion from round two at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit last weekend.Jeremy now heads into winter testing on the crest of a wave and with confidence at an all-time high he must surely head into 2006 as one of the drivers to watch in next year’s Formula Renault UK Championship. Final Formula Renault UK Winter Championship Standings (provisional):

1st Junior Strous, 106pts; 2nd Cheng Congfu, 101pts; 3rd Patrick Hogan, 84pts;4th James Sutton, 83pts; 5th Dennis Retera, 68pts; 6th Markus Niemela, 61pts;=8th Jeremy Metcalfe & Will Bratt, 54pts