Chipping Norton ace Alice Powell has signed up for the 2011 Formula Renault UK series with Manor Competition.

Powell, who won the Formula Renault BARC Championship last year, will compete in the same quartet of drivers who raced with Manor Competition in the winter series.

The 18-year-old first joined the Nottinghamshire outfit in 2009 following a season with Ginetta Juniors.

She said: “I’m delighted to be working with Manor again. The team know how I work and, hopefully, together we can produce the right results in 2011.”

Sarah Shaw at Manor Competition added: “We’re really happy to have Alice back in the team.

“It was important to us to have her as part of our line-up. We all enjoy working with her and she is very quick, so we’re looking forward to a strong season.”

Formula Renault UK is the country’s leading single-seater championship and has been the launchpad for the careers of Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen and Heikki Kovalainen.

Powell made history last year by becoming the first woman to win a Formula Renault race and the first female to win a championship.

Anybody wishing to sponsor Powell can visit www.alice-powell.com or email info@alice-powell.com.

Meanwhile, Powell finished sixth as Manor Competition made a competitive start to Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championships pre-season testing at Brands Hatch, Kent.

By the end of the two day run, Ollie Millroy led the way for Manor with the third fastest lap on combined times.

Teammate Jordan King was fifth and Josh Hill eighth.