RICHMOND and North Yorkshire racing driver Robert Lawson is gearing up for the biggest race meeting of his career so far as the ELF Renault Clio Cup prepares for its ninth event of the year this weekend.

The series makes its annual appearance on the support bill of World Series by Renault,with more than 250,000 free tickets already issued for the huge motorsport festival at Derbyshire 's Donington Park circuit.

As the third biggest motorsport event in the UK,World Series by Renault offers a feast of racing, Formula One demonstrations and off- track attractions for the whole family - and all for free.

Lawson,winner of round eight his season,is set to race for JHR Developments in front of an anticipated crowd in excess of 100,000 and is determined to put on a strong showing at the event.

Commenting on his opportunity to impress a huge motorsport audience, Lawson,who currently lies second in the drivers 'standings,said:"I raced in Clio Cup at World Series last season and things didn 't quite go my way on that occasion.Having won a race already this year my confidence is high and I finished second when we raced here in round six this year.

Hopefully I can go one better and stand on the top step,which would be fantastic with such a big crowd."

Nine of the 10 race meetings are held in support of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).The only exception is when the Clio Cup links up with World Series by Renault, second only to the British Grand Prix in terms of contemporary racing action in the UK.

The Clio Cup is renowned for producing wheel-to-wheel action and superb entertainment for fans.All the cars are identical and changes to the car 's technical set-up are limited to prevent teams with larger budgets gaining an advantage over privateers.

It is a format that has wowed spectators throughout Renault 's 34- year involvement in UK motorsport since Renault 5 TL racing began in 1974.