PAUL Parnaby is a man with a driving ambition.

The 33-year-old of Stockton Lane, York, is just a few laps away from achieving his life-long dream of becoming a professional racing driver.

Parnaby, who by day is a finance and commercial director, has won a place in the third and final preliminary round of the hotly-contested 2003 Michelin Renault Scholarship after impressing the judges with his handling of a two litre Renault Sport Clio in rounds one and two.

The prize is a money-can't-buy opportunity to join a professional team for a season.

But with only 50 drivers earning a place in the two pre-finals on February 19 and 20, the heat is now on the would-be driver.

His fate rests in the hands of the judging panel made up of industry experts.

Scholarship creator and twice British GT champion Tim Sugden leads the group with help from ex-touring car driver and team owner John Bintcliffe, sports psychologist Mark Nesty plus representatives from sponsors Michelin and Renault.

But Parnaby is determined to make it. He said: "I think I've definitely got what it takes to become a racing driver.

"As I've made it through rounds one and two, I'm confident I can progress to the finals.

"We did round three last Thursday and that included a fitness test and then driving round a course.

"The fitness test went well and I managed to do two quick laps so I'm hopeful I will be one of the ones called back.

"My ultimate dream would be to become a Formula 1 driver although a job being paid to be a British Touring Car racer would be perhaps more realistic.

"But, whatever happens, no-one can take the experience or thrill of taking part in the scholarship away from me."

The innovative talent-finding scheme was set up by Sugden in 1996 to unearth the best new drivers.

It gives would-be professional racers the chance to break into the highly-competitive industry regardless age, gender, financial backing or past experience.

Thousands of entrants are whittled down over four rounds to 50 in the pre-finals, with a final ten battling it out at Croft on February 27 for the grand prize worth more than £85,000 of a season in the 2004 Elf Clio Renaultsport Cup - the support race to the British Touring Car Championship.

The winner will benefit from the experience of British ace Sugden, drives on all of the official championship test days and expert tuition on an ARDS course - and will have the chance to impress future employers in the professional racing world.

Previous winners include current touring car stars such as Alan Morrison, Tom Ferrier and Robert Huff, all of whom have achieved their dream of becoming professional drivers.

Entries are now being taken for the 2004 scholarship, which is launched in March.

To find out more, log on to www.bearacingdriver.com or call the scholarship hotline on 0870 402 4040.

Updated: 10:04 Saturday, February 14, 2004