KENT racing ace Mike Conway took a huge step closer towards his dream of racing in the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1, at the weekend by sealing the Formula Renault UK Championship.

Conway, who was 21 last Thursday and comes from Sevenoaks, overcame set-up difficulties with his Fortec Motorsport car to score solid third and second places in the weekend's two races at his home circuit at of Brands Hatch.

He carried off the the FRenault crown, acknowledged as one of the most important junior single-seater championships in Britain.

His points tally of 472 can now not be overhauled, even if he were to fail to finish all four of the remaining races.

"This is amazing," said an elated Conway after race two. "It started to hit me at the last corner of the race. There were so many thoughts going through my head, and it was all pretty emotional. I had tears in my eyes as I crossed the line.

"It's been a real team effort with Fortec this year. I've put in so much work on myself and the team have given 100 per cent effort all year."

He stressed: "I'll go up and see the guys this week, and I'll definitely be looking forward to the next round at Snetterton because I'll be able to approach that having won the title."

In taking the prestigious FRenault UK title, Conway has followed in the footsteps of current F1 stars - McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen won this championship in 2000, while Williams driver Antonio Pizzonia triumphed in 1999. The championship also launched the career of Le Mans 24 Hour winner Guy Smith, champion in 1995.

Conway receives a cheque for £10,000 as his prize for winning the championship and will now look towards securing funding to progress his career next season. He is looking at options in either the British or European Formula 3 Championships, but no deals have been confirmed as yet.

The Sevenoaks man wrapped up the 2004 FRenault UK championship in fine style at Brands Hatch, just 10 miles from his home, with a remarkable four rounds still to go. Having topped the timesheets in testing on Thursday despite tricky track conditions, Conway set third quickest time in qualifying for both races.

In race one, Conway got a slower start than Westley Barber, the only driver who could stop Conway taking the title, and Barber passed him at the first corner. However, a red flag for a four-car accident at Druids meant the grid was re-set in its original order.

At the restart, Conway got a much better start and kept his third place behind eventual race winner Paul di Resta and Canadian Sean McIntosh. The Fortec driver never looked troubled in third position, despite the presence of Barber behind him in fourth and sailed home to score his 13th podium finish of the year.

Before race two Conway, aware that he could seal the title with this race, said he was going for second place and even detailed how he would keep Barber, starting second, at bay at the first corner.

True to his word, Conway got a lightning start to get alongside Barber on the run to Paddock Hill Bend. Barber, desperate to get ahead of Conway, moved over on the Fortec driver, forcing him closer and closer to the pit wall. But an ice-cool Conway kept his foot firmly on the throttle and out-psyched his rival, driving him wide at the corner and taking second place in the best possible style.

After that, and with his car set up far more to his liking, Conway had no trouble at all in holding on to race leader Di Resta while Barber, perhaps sensing that it was now inevitable he would finish as championship runner-up, faded and dropped back.

Conway reckoned he had a quicker car than Di Resta for race two but, with the championship now within his grasp, he resolved to stay behind the Scot so as not to risk his position.

"I just settled down after Barber disappeared from my mirrors," explained Conway. "I could have had a go at him but I just knew it wasn't worth it. I didn't want anything to happen to stop me from winning the championship. I think Paul's car was better at the start of the race, but by the end mine was working better."

As he crossed the line to finish second, the enormity of what Conway had achieved hit him and, knowing the title was his, he punched the air in delight. With six race wins to his name this year, Conway has still sealed the championship crown earlier than last year's champion, McLaren-backed Lewis Hamilton.

The championship now moves to Snetterton in Norfolk, the scene of Conway's maiden FRenault UK victory, back in April 2003. Rounds 17 and 18 will be held on September 4/5.