The test, run by Renault Sport Technologies, will take place on Monday, 11th October at the 4.655km track which earlier this year provided the venue for round five of the Formula One World Championship. The winner will also receive up to £500 towards their travelling and accommodation costs.

Fortec Motorsport’s Mitchell Hale (Bristol) currently leads the drivers’ standings after eight races in the 12-round championship and would claim the prize if he can retain his advantage during rounds nine and 10 at Rockingham Motor Speedway this weekend (11th/12th September). Hillspeed’s Alice Powell (Chipping Norton) however is just 16 points adrift of the 16-year-old with a potential 64 points up for grabs at the Northamptonshire meeting.

Commenting on the announcement Hale said: “This sounds a brilliant idea and would really help with my bid to race in the UK series in 2011. I have tested once at Barcelona before and really enjoyed the track so would love to return. I’m feeling fairly confident about this weekend’s meeting and just hope I’m still leading the championship by the end.”

The overall Protyre Formula Renault BARC Champion still receives a 25% discount on their registration fee for the 2011 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship with the Vice-Champion enjoying a 15% reduction.

Championship Promoter Simon North added: “We’re very excited to be able to announce the prize ahead of rounds nine and 10 this weekend and no doubt it will lead to even closer racing. The Protyre BARC championship remains a proven feeder-series to the National level UK contest and it is hoped this test, together with the current champion’s prize, will help up and coming racers like Mitchell, to make the step-up.”

He added: “Renault Sport is currently working very hard to develop both the BARC and the UK series and this prize test, along with measures such as our expanded Michelin Formula Renault Winter Cup series, demonstrates our commitment to this.”

2010 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship current provisional drivers’ standings:

1 Mitchell Hale GBR Fortec Motorsport 222 pts
2 Alice Powell GBR Hillspeed 206 pts
3 Josh Webster GBR Fortec Motorsport 154 pts
4 Luke Wright GBR SWB Motorsport 146 pts
5 Joseph Reilly GBR Fortec Motorsport 145 pts
6 James Theodore GBR Hillspeed 133 pts

Privateer Cup:

1 James Birch GBR 124 pts