A NEWLY-FORMED motor racing outfit based at Colemore, near Alton, will enter a team in this year's high-profile Renault Clio Cup Championship.
Aurok, which is a leading engineering and development services firm in the motorsport industry and is one of the UK's major manufacturer and distributor of Ohlins suspension units, has moved into new premises at Hermitage Farm.
The premises provide Aurok with offices, workshops and garaging in a converted barn, allowing them to continue expanding their business as well as start their own racing team.
Now the squad, led by brothers Jules and Toby Phillips, along with commercial director Douglas Anderson, feel ready to take on the country's most fiercely competitive one-make saloon car championship, for Renault Sport's 172 Clios.
The championship is the UK's main feeder series for the highly prestigious British Touring Car Championship and runs as part of the support bill for the BTCC's TOCAtour package of races. It has also produced many of saloon car racing's biggest names.
But the vastly experienced team is not daunted by the prospect., having worked with many of the sport's biggest teams and drivers. This year Aurok will also have a hand in preparing cars for top BTCC team Barwell Motorsport.
Anderson said: "With the additional space and facilities provided by Hermitage Farm, Aurok now has the resources to mount a serious challenge for the 2003 season of the Clio Cup. We also have exciting sponsorship packages available to suit every marketing need and budget"
Aurok is already close to signing two drivers and could run a third car if a suitable driver can be found, having bought a car from John Bintcliffe's Excel Motorsport squad.
Clio Cup regular Vince Martin, who was run by Aurok personnel last season, is close to signing for the team again this season. Basingstoke karter Martyn Bennett is also on the verge of signing for Aurok.
Martyn, 22, started racing in the 100cc Junior TKM karting class and then moved up to Senior TKM at the age of 16. He came third in two club classes in 2000 and graduated to 125cc gearbox karts last year. He has also been racing at endurance meetings for three years for the official team of a supermarket chain.
Aurok Motorsport director Julian Phillips said: "We are delighted to be able to give a local lad his first break in saloon car racing. Having seen Martyn in action on the kart circuit, we are convinced he is now ready for the Clio championship, where Aurok Motorsport intends to make serious challenge for the 2003 team title."