A new chapter opens in Renault UK’s 30-year-old motorsport story at Silverstone this Saturday, 16th April, when the opening round of the new Formula Renault BARC Championship gets underway.

It is the first time Renault UK has operated three championships at the same time and sees the start of a new two-tier structure for Formula Renault in this country.

With a strong field of 15 cars at the opening round and more drivers expected to join as the season progresses, Renault’s new initiative is already proving to be popular with both young career-minded drivers and seasoned campaigners.

“Our first goal has been achieved, as together with our colleagues at the British Automobile Racing Club and existing competitors, we have created a well supported championship”, commented Championship Manager Simon North. “Now we can move forward to build the numbers up as we can see Formula Renault BARC having a very broad appeal to drivers and teams.”

Latest to join the championship is 21-year old Matt Russell (Harlesdon, London) who will drive for Oxfordshire-based Falcon Motorsport in the FR 2000 Class. Russell, who competed in the British Touring Car Championship-supporting Formula Renault UK Championship last season, has opted to go for podium places in the Formula Renault BARC series as the best way to move his career forward.

Speaking on his deal with Falcon, Russell commented: “I’m very happy to be contesting the Formula Renault BARC Championship which I’m sure is going to be a strong series and is certainly one of the best ways for me to progress my career.

“Last season was a hard learning curve for me but as other drivers have proven, sometimes it’s better to take a step back and give your career fresh impetus rather than perhaps moving up the ladder a little too soon.

“My target is to score regular podium finishes and hopefully have a successful crack at the title, but it certainly won’t be easy with a strong field of competitive drivers and some highly professional teams.”

Team Nasamax, another outfit with Formula Renault UK experience, has also committed to join the FR 2000 Class with 18-year old student Dean Stirling (Shamley Green, Guildford), son of sportscar racer Robbie.

Karting graduate Jack Anderson (Thatcham, Berkshire), meanwhile, will make his single-seater debut with Team Griffin Racing – the outfit which ran the 17-year old for a handful of races in the ELF Renault Clio Cup last year.

Nick Wilcox (Camberley, Surrey) finished third in the BARC series last year but will race his brand new car under the banner of Etek Motorsport in the new 2005 Formula Renault BARC Championship.

Two French drivers complete the FR 2000 Class entry with Mark Burdett Motorsport running Denis Autier (London), while his countryman Philippe Challande (London) will drive for Bernard Baxter Engineering.

In the championship’s Club Class, WL Racing’s Cameron Jackson (Scampton, Lincolnshire) – brother of Formula BMW competitor Dominik – has been the dominant force in pre-season testing and must start the year as one of the title favourites.

Father and son pairing Bob and Ian Pearson (Didcot, Oxon), long-time supporters of the Formula Renault BARC Championship, return with Ian looking to go one better than last year when he was Vice-Champion.

Logic Motorsport/X-Dream’s Martin Bloss (Andover, Hampshire) is another who has shown good pace in testing and is likely to be challenging for a place on the Club Class podium on a regular basis.

JH Motorsport will run a car James Heffernan (London), David Scott (Heathfield, East Sussex) will race for DS Motorsport, and South Wales-based Muzz Race prepares a car for James Green (Torquay, Devon).

Former saloon car driver Andy Skriczka (Aldershot, Hampshire) is to make his single-seater debut in a self-prepared car under the banner of Avantec Motorsport while complete novice Bill Allen (Hungerford, Berkshire) will take his first competitive mileage with help and guidance from 2004 Formula Renault BARC Champion, Nicky Wilson.

The first round of the 2005 Formula Renault BARC Championship takes place at Silverstone National Circuit next Saturday, 16th April and the second round follows just over a week later at Donington Park National Circuit on Sunday, 24th April.

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