Car racing rookie Jessica Hawkins, one of the UK’s most successful female karting graduates, is hungry for a return to action in the burgeoning Michelin Clio Cup Road Series in 2014 after a highly successful competitive debut at the tail end of last year.The 18-year-old from Farnham, who now resides in Chatham, Kent, faced a true race against time to secure the budget to make her Renault Clio racing bow at Rockingham in Northamptonshire last November in the ‘Autumn Cup’ event.Thanks to the vast amount of publicity generated by a dedicated campaign to secure the required sponsorship, and with help from all the right people, not only did Jessica manage to make the grid at the eleventh hour, she did it in style with the SWB Motorsport team.Proving her obvious talents back in October when she won a debut test in a Monster Sport Europe-prepared Clio Renaultsport 197 at Silverstone’s Stowe Circuit, Jessica displayed impressive pace and car control.In her debut race meeting mere weeks later, Jessica’s first step towards competing in the Michelin Clio Cup Road Series on a full-time basis this year, she qualified second in class – a mere 0.1 seconds shy of pole-sitter Jake Honour who had the benefit of a whole season's experience under his belt.The opening lap of her first Clio race proved challenging for Jessica, an enforced spin occurring as she attempted to avoid a collision ahead. Regaining control, the former karting champion brought the car under control to finish in third place.In race two, the first ever 45-minute ‘enduro’ for Renault Clios in the UK, Jessica held second place for the first half of the encounter and pulled away from the car behind while focusing on hunting down the leader.With two laps to go she looked set to make a move into P1, but when the class leader’s car deposited oil on the track Jessica had to contend with just trying to keep her car pointing in the right direction. Taking the chequered flag in second place, she also had the added bonus of fastest lap.“Rockingham was amazing for me and the team, SWB Motorsport”, reflected Jessica, “Everyone was happy with my P2 qualification but race one was pretty nerve racking not knowing what to expect, so to finish third after a spin was good.“Race two, the endurance, was really exciting. I was poised to make a move for the lead, so being so close I couldn't avoid the oil spill. Holding onto second, and to get fastest lap, was brilliant and a great start to my car racing career. I couldn't have done this without the support from all my sponsors, including Nationwide Drivers Supply, BCS Global, Chevron Racing, Budds Skiphire and Hawthorns. Big thanks for all their faith in me, bring on the 2014 season!”With such an encouraging debut, Jessica is hopeful of raising the necessary budget to now compete in the entry level Michelin Clio Cup Road Series this year when the season starts in April. This is a great opportunity for Jessica, with 12 races spread over six weekends at the UK's top circuits.If you would like to get involved in Jessica's journey and rise through the motorsport ranks, she can be contacted by email at kartgirl@hotmail.co.uk or by calling 07720 548315.