After many long months of competition the Michelin Renault Scholarship result has been declared – but for the first time in the contest’s history, two drivers will share a registration for the 2004 BTE/Lawline Renault Clio Cup.

The high-profile annual event, which normally aims to give one driver a chance to win a fully-funded season of racing in the UK’s premier one-make saloon car championship with organiser Tim Sugden Motorsport, is as popular as ever and has made the dreams of two drivers from very contrasting backgrounds come true.

Former world karting ace Michael Simpson (Hull) and unknown Rommel Jeffers (Leeds) are the lucky pair who will each contest exactly half of the 2004 ELF/BTE Lawline Renault Clio Cup. Simpson, who has been at the top of the tree in karting for several years, is delighted to finally achieve the step-up to cars following the final at Croft, North Yorkshire, on Friday.

Jeffers, meanwhile, has taken a completely different route to the Clio Cup. The unemployed 20-year old was first introduced to the idea of the scholarship at his local community centre in Leeds but his lightning pace and natural talent left Tim Sugden himself with no doubts Jeffers is a gifted driver.

Speaking on the result, Rommell said: “I’m delighted. I never really thought about getting this far, I just wanted to keep my mind straight and just go for it. Sharing the drive with Michael is not a problem at all and I’m just really looking forward to being part of the Tim Sugden Motorsport team.”

Michael Simpson commented: “This is unreal, I’m on cloud nine. It’s a dream come true for me. I’ve been trying for 13 years to come through karting and get into car racing. I’m delighted this has happened and even though I’m not sure how it’ll work with the shared drive, it’s fantastic to be part of the ELF/BTE Lawline Renault Clio Cup and Tim Sugden Motorsport.”

Tim Sugden, meanwhile, explained the decision to award a shared registration for the first time in the scholarship’s history. He said: “I really couldn’t face telling one or the other they hadn’t won because we really couldn’t split Michael and Rommel.

“Michael drove superbly well and didn’t do a thing wrong but then Rommel, who’s never done anything like this in his life, showed an unbelievable natural talent and in the damp was only a couple of hundredths of a second slower. At the end of it all, from the 10 finalists, it was between those two. It was impossible to split them.”

www.renaultsport.co.uk