HARTLEBURY race team Panther Motorsport have signed a promising young driver to lead their attack on this year's Formula BMW championship.

Ex-Formula Ford racer, Aaran Stroud, 20, became the first driver to sign with the team, following a successful test in the 140mph single-seater at Donington Park last week.

Panther Motorsport won the Formula BMW Rookie Championship in their first season of competition last year and are targeting the overall championship with Stroud this season.

Team manager Paul Leach said: "Aaran did a very good job in difficult conditions.

"We feel that we're constantly moving forward as a team and Aaran has the personality and intelligence to be an integral part of that development."

The test drive came about through Stroud's manager - double British GT sportscar champion, Tim Sugden - who worked with Leach at Le Mans in 1998, when he was part of the EMKA Mclaren privateer entry that finished fourth overall in that year's 24 hours.

Stroud, who finished third in last year's BRDC Formula Ford championship, said: "I hadn't even met the team until we turned up at Donington, but we clicked straight away.

"The people are very friendly and warming, but they're also right on the button.

"Without doubt, I believe that it's the best team I personally could have joined."

Introduced to the UK in 2004, Formula BMW is widely regarded as one of the most important championships for the development of potential Formula One drivers.

The series, which provides the main support races at British Touring Car meetings, has a strong association with the BMW-Williams F1 team. Former protgs include Grand Prix winner, Ralf Schumacher.

Stroud's first duties as a Panther Motorsport driver will be at Thruxton in Hampshire, the UK's fastest circuit, where the first official Formula BMW pre-season test takes place on February 18.