AFTER his extraordinary debut in CART series motor racing last year, RAC-sponsored driver Darren Manning has returned to Britain as a fully-fledged driver in the CART series.

Knaresborough-born Manning, the only British driver in the UK stage of the Champ Car World Series, now hopes that a home crowd will help to cheer him to

success.

Already in the top ten of the series, winning the London Champ Car Trophy at Brands Hatch on May 5 could push the 28-year-old Manning into the top five and, with 14 more races in the series, the championship title is still wide open.

Manning will be driving his turbo-charged Ford Cosworth V8 800+ horsepower race car. With speeds topping 245 miles per hour, the race will see an expected crowd of 40,000 watching one of Britain's finest young drivers.

Said Manning: "The championship takes me all around the world but I'm especially pleased

to be racing on British soil."

The RAC has a long-standing relationship with Manning, built up over the past eight years. Last year RAC Auto Windscreens sponsored him in the ASCAR formula and in the 2002 Rockingham 500.

Meanwhile, his career continues goes from strength to strength. He writes a regular column in Auto Sport magazine and is a presenter on ITV's Pulling

Power.

Manning is also signed to US team Walker Racing to compete in the 2003 Champ Car World Series, comprising 18 races on tracks in the USA, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom

Updated: 12:06 Wednesday, April 30, 2003