KNARESBOROUGH-born racer Darren Manning is ready to grasp his big chance with both hands when he lines up against the best drivers from the American Champ car racing circuit.

Manning, a former pupil at King James' School, still hasn't given up his dream of breaking into the elite world of racing - whether it be Formula One or the American CART series.

And the 27-year-old may never get a better chance after being selected as the driver for Team St George in a special one-off clash against the leading teams from the CART FedEx series at Rockingham - Britain's only banked oval track.

Manning, who was selected for the all-English team ahead of F1 veteran Johnny Herbert, began qualifying today, with the main race scheduled for tomorrow.

He told the Evening Press: "I'm prepared as well as I can be - I've been flat out for this event, but I have had to be.

"This is a real opportunity for me, a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I've got to grasp it with both hands.

"I've raced in some big races before, but to be driving against the best from Champ cars is something else.

"This is a marvellous opportunity as I will be in the shop window, as opposed to testing, so if I can go out there and prove to a few people what I can do, then hopefully something further will come of it.

"If everything has gone to plan, then after the race I'll be knocking on everyone's doors to get a drive - whether it is in F1 or Champ cars."

Manning will go into the race in top form, having won at the Goodwood Revival Meeting in a 1966 Ford GT40 - slightly different from the Ford Lola Cosworth Champ car for this weekend.

"It was a great relaxing weekend to be honest," added Manning. "It was all in retro gear, and good fun.

"But it was a great win as there was some stiff competition."

East Yorkshire rally driver Jonny Milner, and navigator Nicky Beech, finished second in the Ulster Rally in his Team Dynamics Pro Rally Toyota to keep alive his British Pirelli Championship dream.

Updated: 12:08 Friday, September 13, 2002