Rick Pearson driver bio.

Date of Birth: 15-03-1970

Lives: Fulham

First drove in competition: 22-03-95

First racing car: Caterham

First victory: Snetterton, 1999

Since starting his racing career five years ago, Rick Pearson has proved himself to be competitive in no fewer than three leading championships. The thirty year old Englishman joined his current team, Mark Fish Motorsport, mid-way through the 1997 Super Coupe Cup season.

Mark Fish Motorsport are multiple Renault saloon champions and boast a wealth of experience in the higher echelons of national racing. Fulham-based Pearson meanwhile, served his racing apprenticeship in the fiercely competitive Caterham K series. The partnership came to fruition last year when the Pearson piloted, Mark Fish-run Renault 5 GT Turbo clinched class victory at Snetterton.

The timely turn of speed was enough to net third position in the overall driver standings and, with a successful two and a half years in the Super Coupe Cup behind them, the Rick Pearson/Mark Fish pairing signed up for the 2000 Elf Clio Renaultsport UK Cup

With one pole position and one podium place to his credit in the year 2000, Pearson has been among the pace setters in this, the first full season of Clio racing in the UK. Fifth first time out at Brands Hatch in April, he has steadily improved as the season has progressed and claimed five top six placings from nine rounds.

With just three of the twelve rounds remaining, he is hotly tipped to secure the coveted runners up spot in the Clio Cup and currently lies sixth overall in the driver standings.

Pearson is a strong advocate of practice makes perfect and during a recent four week break in the TOCA calendar, he made a successful return to the freeparking.co.uk Super Coupe Cup at Thruxton where he was reunited with his Renault 5 GT Turbo machine. After qualifying second in class, he took the victory and finished an impressive fifth overall.

Off track, Rick is the chief executive of freeparking.co.uk, an Internet domain name registering service and the title sponsor for the 2000 Super Coupe Cup championship.

He lists his hobbies as running and soaking up the sunshine and has recently been snapped up by leading Internet web site, 10 Tenths Motorsport as a `roving reporter'. In a series of regular columns, he will detail his racing exploits to date and take a look at the national racing scene from a drivers-eye view.

What are your favourites?

Race car: Renault Sport Clio 172

Road car: Porsche 911

Circuit: Brands Hatch GP

Food: Thai

Drink: Vodka + Red Bull

Actor/Actress: Steve McQueen

Film: Apollo 13

Hobby: Motor Racing!

How and why did you get started in motorsport?

I was driving too fast on the road and felt I should fulfil my need for speed in a controlled environment.

Who has had the most influence on your racing?

Mark Fish. As my team manager, he has taught me to set-up a car and to always be aware of the need to be properly prepared for a race, both mentally and physically.

Who do you most admire in motorsport?

Yvan Muller. His car control is awesome.

What has been your most memorable achievement in motorsport?

Starting from pole position for the Clio Cup night race at Snetterton.

If you had one chance, what would be your dream motorsport event?

My ultimate ambition is to race in the Le Mans 24 hours.

Is there a motorsport regulation that you would like to change?

The Clerks of the Course should have more powers to penalise "dirty" driving.

If you could control the world for one day, what would you do to make it a better place?

I'd make all the Germans stay at home to free up some Sun loungers for the rest of us.

What is your ultimate goal?

To have the most fun and be the fastest.

The Elf Clio Renaultsport UK Cup will be run over twelve rounds, visiting no less than eight of Britain's premier racing venues including the world famous Brands Hatch and Silverstone circuits.

After nine rounds, Rick lies sixth in the overall driver standings.

ROUND

VENUE

QUALIFYING

RESULT

1

Brands Hatch GP

3rd

5th

2

Donington Park

9th

4th

3

Thruxton

5th

6th

4

Knockhill

6th

18th

5

Oulton Park Island

5th

13th

6

Silverstone

7th

5th

7

Croft

4th

14th

8

Snetterton

1st

2nd

9

Donington Park

4th

DNF

10

Brands Hatch Indy

-

-

11

Oulton Park Island

-

-

12

Silverstone

-

-