Reigning Protyre Formula Renault BARC Champion Alice Powell capped off a remarkable 2010 season last night as she collected her title trophy at the prestigious BARC Big Night Out.

Chipping Norton racer Powell, now 18, made history last year by becoming the first ever female driver to win a Formula Renault title.

She did so in emphatic style too after overturning a 16-point deficit going into the final two rounds at Thruxton to walk away with the championship spoils and a place in the record books.

Held at the Effingham Park Hotel, near Gatwick, the annual BARC Big Night Out is one of the most popular events of the year and presents all BARC 2010 Champions with their awards.

Powell, who drove for Richard Ollerenshaw's Hillspeed team, collected her trophy from championship promoter Simon North.

Powell said: "Winning the series meant so much to me, especially being the first female driver to ever win the title.

"2010 was a great season for me and the team and it was fantastic to claim the Championship by winning at Thruxton. This year I'm hoping to move into Formula Renault UK with Manor Competition but this all depends on budgets."

Powell was also awarded the Densley Trophy during the evening adding to her already impressive trophy tally after recently collecting both the British Women's Racing Driver's Club (BWRDC) Elite Gold Star and the club's premier award, ‘The Lord Wakefield Trophy'.

Formula Renault BARC Privateer Cup Champion James Birch was also presented with his award last night after the 21-year-old claimed the honours in the category for independently-run entries.

The championship's runner-up, Mitchell Hale, was also awarded The Peter Collins Memorial Challenge Trophy by BARC for his efforts during the 2010 season.

Meanwhile, interest in the 2011 season continues to mount ahead of the season opener at Donington Park on 23rd/24th April with three new teams - Zest, Daytona Motorsport and JWA Racing - together with more than 20 drivers expected to line the start grid.