Winter series grid begins to take shape

Registration for the 2008 Formula Renault UK Winter Cup opens this weekend with early interest as strong as ever and many teams already signing drivers to race in the four-round series.

Rounds one and two take place at Croft on Saturday, 1st November, followed by rounds three and four at Rockingham seven days later.

Race-winner Dean Stoneman will race for Alpine Motorsport, which is planning a four-car team. Its Formula Renault BARC driver Isa Yousif will be one of Stoneman’s teammates.

Last year’s winning team Hillspeed, which ran Richard Singleton to the title in 2007, has signed Formula Renault BARC drivers Michael Lyons and Menasheh Idafar to race in the UK Class, with KF2 kart racer James Thoedore entering the BARC Class.

CR Scuderia and Manor Competition both have one driver signed of planned four-car squads, while Fortec Motorsport also expects to enter four cars. Mark Burdett Motorsport anticipates three drivers will sign, while Apotex Scorpio Motorsport may run Ollie Hancock if the current championship leader wins the free registration on offer to the Formula Renault BARC champion.