Laura Street took a step closer to achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a professional racing driver when she powered impressively into the third and final preliminary round of the 2001 Michelin Renault Scholarship.

Now the lass from Fareham has her sights firmly set on winning the overall prize of a fully funded season in one of this year's championship-winning teams - Tim Sugden Motorsport's run by former Touring Car racing star Tim Sugden in the 2002 Elf Clio Renaultsport Cup worth in excess of £80,000.

Laura certainly proved her worth behind the wheel as she passed through the first two preliminary rounds, impressing the team of judges with his handling of a two-litre Renault Sport Clio.

Ex-Touring car star Sugden set up the Michelin Renault Scholarship in 1996 to find new racing talent for the future.

The scholarship provides anyone over the age of 17 with the chance to break into the highly competitive world of motorsport regardless of age, sex, previous experience or having any financial backing.

The going will get tough for Laura in the third round, as only 30 drivers will be invited to take part in the pre-final to be held at Donington Park in February.

If after the pre-final the judges feel that she has what it takes to succeed, she will be selected as one of ten competitors to battle it out in the Grand Final, also at Donington, where the drivers will be given demanding racing challenges including timed sessions, fitness tests and mock media interviews.

Laura believes she can go all the way and win the competition. She says: "I think I've shown my driving potential over the previous two rounds and I'm confident that I can now progress through to the finals."

Anyone keen to know more about the Michelin Renault Scholarship for 2002 can call on the Scholarship Hotline on 01274 664850 or visit their website: www.bearacingdriver.com

Preliminary rounds for next year's Schoalrship begin in March.