EXCITEMENT BUILDS AS NEW TEAMS JOIN FOR 2006

RENAULT Sport UK grids are already filling up for 2006 – with notable new entries including Formula BMW champion Dean Smith and the first-ever team to run both Formula Renault and Clio Cup cars.

Robertshaw Racing is already a proven winner in the John Cooper Challenge - taking the title in 2004 with driver/owner Gary Robertshaw. Now he is expanding his operation to take on not only Clio Cup but also Formula Renault UK.

"This year will be a learning curve for the team and our drivers," said Robertshaw, who has recruited FIA GT racer Warren Hughes to help with driver training and car set-up. "But I don't think it's going to stretch us too far as we're used to running diverse cars in different championships after running in the Mini series as well as Radicals. We'll have the resources and the staff – it's almost like we'll have two teams there on a weekend. This is a step in the right direction for us and it's exactly where I've wanted to be."

Newcastle-based Robertshaw started his own racing career in karts, moving to Formula Vauxhall Junior and Formula Vauxhall Lotus before becoming an engineer. "I wish I'd had the opportunity to do Formula Renault and this is my way of coming back and being involved in it," he said. "We looked at several championships but I think Formula Renault's profile is the best - just a shade below F3. It really is regarded very highly and we definitely thought that was the way to go."

Alex Williams raced in the Scottish Autotrader Mini Challenge with Robertshaw Racing this year and will be the team's driver in Formula Renault UK. "Gary thinks my driving style is better suited to single-seaters," said the 17-year-old, who should start testing in the coming weeks. "I'm smooth and in the Minis you had to be quite rough. In Formula Renault the racing looks pretty fierce but I think I'll hold my own."

Robertshaw says the transition to Clios should be natural for his team and expects to be running at the front of the field before too long. "I'm taking the Mini racing set-up, which is kind of similar to the Clios, and progressing it to use Clio Cup," said Robertshaw who was John Cooper Challenge champion in2004 driving for his own team. "I've been testing the car and I'm already on the times so we should be fairly quick. In fact I'm now thinking of running another car for myself – I'm hooked! I was planning on racing in Radicals but I'm really enjoying the Clio now." The team has not yet announced its second Clio driver.

Formula BMW Champion graduates to Formula Renault

Newly crowned Formula BMW Champion Dean Smith has signed with Coles Racing, a squad set up by karting team boss Adrian Coles and Dean's father Anthony. "Because I'm only 17 I felt I could have this extra year of building up," said Smith. "It's all about trying to get to the top of everything. If you jump too far it's like starting from the bottom again. What I'm trying to do is stay at the front all the way through my career. I feel I'll definitely be in the top six. The first couple of rounds will be a learning curve but we're all ready to work hard. It was the same with BMW. We started off in sixth and the year just got better and better until we ended up winning."

For all the latest Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin news visit the official Renault Sport UK website www.renaultsport.co.uk built by Racecar