Middlesex-based Formula Renault BARC entrant Russell Racing is thrilled to announce championship front-runner Aaron Steele as its first driver signing for the 2008 season.The team, which recently confirmed a new and exciting partnership with Allen Orchard’s E-motional Engineering squad, is committed to delivering its full potential in Formula Renault BARC next year and with 19-year-old Steele having finished in the top five in the 2007 championship, hopes are incredibly high for a truly memorable season.Having begun his car racing career in 2005 as a scholarship winner in the Formula BMW UK Championship, Rochester-based Steele enjoyed his first major success at the end of 2006 by becoming Vice-Champion of the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy, finishing on the podium in all six races.After making the transition to the headline FR2000 Class of the Formula Renault BARC series this year, the Kent teenager emerged as a genuine front-runner in the competitive category and concluded his campaign fifth in the driver standings with three podiums, two fastest laps and one pole position to his credit.Ahead of the 2008 championship, Steele is certain his deal with the resurgent Russell Racing squad will reap great rewards and the Coventry University engineering student has every confidence he will be a title challenger during his second season as a Formula Renault BARC competitor.“I’m very confident of achieving race wins when the new championship starts”, said Steele, “Last season we came close on several occasions, we definitely had the pace and ability to win but we didn’t have the luck we needed. If I don’t win any races in 2008 I’ll be very disappointed.“Obviously it won’t be easy, there are going to be a lot of quick drivers coming into the championship. Our aim was to sign a deal before Christmas so we can start a strong testing programme and get the car set-up exactly as we want it. I’m delighted to be joining Russell Racing, the team has big plans and we’re confident success will come.” Sponsored by Instant Link UK Ltd, Marketing Improvement and Clothing Express, Steele will also utilise his racing in 2008 to raise money for the incredibly worthwhile cause of Breast Cancer Awareness and, in particular, the ‘Campaign for Julie’ which is in aid of close family friend Julie Truss who is battling secondary breast cancer.Absolutely delighted to have secured the services of Steele for the 2008 season, Russell Racing team owner Tim Russell quite rightly believes his squad, which now runs out of the stunning West Surrey Racing premises in Sunbury-on-Thames, has a superb chance of challenging for its maiden race victory and establishing a consistent title challenge.“To have been able to sign a driver the calibre of Aaron so early is fantastic news for Russell Racing and we’re confident 2008 will prove to be a very successful year. I see no reason at all why we shouldn’t be able to mount a sustained championship bid and achieve our first ever race win in the process”, commented Russell.