WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS CONFIRMED FOR PEMBREY & CROFT

Renault UK Motorsport is set to return to Wales for the first time in fours years following an announcement the 2004 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Winter Championship and ELF/BTE Lawline Renault Clio Winter Cup will start at the 1.5-mile Pembrey Circuit in Carmarthenshire.

The Welsh venue will host the opening rounds of the respective Formula Renault UK and Renault Clio Cup Winter championships on Saturday, 6th November, with the second and final meeting to be held at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire on Saturday, 13th November.

Chairman of the Formula Renault UK Championship Steering Committee, Jeremy Cotterill, said: “It’s good news the Winter Championship has been announced now as it gives us a good timeframe in which to work and to come up with competitive budgets.

“The Formula Renault UK Winter Championship is always very popular with drivers, especially those who may be considering competing in the full season the following year. It’s an ideal opportunity for them to familiarise themselves with the cars, get some important race mileage under their belts and record some signatures on their licenses.”

Comtec Racing’s Jonathan Lewis added: “Croft and Pembrey are two fantastically technical tracks which will undoubtedly show who the best drivers are. I’m confident good drivers will come to the fore in this year’s Winter Championship and we’ll see some great racing as the tracks should offer good opportunities for overtaking.”

While the Winter Championship is always an important starting-point for young drivers aiming to step-up to the Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin, it’s also ideal for those hoping to sharpen their skills and get more time in the car ahead of a second or even a third season of competition in the UK’s leading one-make single-seater formula.

This year the package for Formula Renault drivers has been significantly extended to include a full day of exclusive testing on the Thursday beforehand, plus extra sessions on the Friday morning. Renault Clio Cup drivers will also benefit from the cost-effective format, as their testing will take place on Friday afternoon.

Cliff Johnson, owner of ELF/BTE Lawline Renault Clio Cup outfit Boulevard Team Racing, said: “The Winter Championship is always important and it’s the ideal way for current drivers to prepare for the following season in the Clio Cup or for championship newcomers to get a true taste of what competing in the Clio Cup is all about.”

Stephen Hunter, boss of Team Gatecrasher, has confirmed his outfit will once again take part in the Winter Cup, commenting: “It’s good fun and excellent value for money thanks to the format of having two races at each one-day meeting.”

The two winter championships carry an important incentive prize for the respective champions, each receiving a full championship registration for the 2005 season worth around £10,000. The Renault Winter Championship meetings will also include races for the AVO Ginetta Cup cars.

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