Charles Hollings showed impressive form in his first official Formula Renault test in preparation for stepping up to the formula in November's winter series.

The 20-year old from Norwood, who has suffered a disappointing season in this year's Slick 50 Formula Ford Zetec championship, was fastest overall in the wet, competing against drivers who have been in the series for some time.

When the track dried out later in the day Charles dropped to sixth place, highest of the drivers who had not raced in a slicks and wings category before.

"I was pleased with how everything went. After a bad year it's good to be quick again, hopefully in the winter series I'll be able to prove what I can do after a disappointing season," he said.

The Formula Renault winter series, held at two double-header meetings on the Rockingham and Donington Park circuits, will see Hollings team up with the Saxon International team and Mark Goodwin, who engineered Charles' car when he took second place in the 1999 Formula EuroFirst winter series.

Formula Renault itself has recently been highlighted by Formula One team boss Ron Dennis as being alongside Formula 3 and Formula 3000 as one of the feeder categories to Formula One.

Finn Kimi Raikkonen, who will replace former world champion Mika Hakkinen at McLaren next year, won the Formula Renault 2000 championship before graduating to the Sauber Formula One team this year.

Championship dates are:

Rounds one and two: November 10-11, Rockingham Motor Speedway.

Rounds three and four: November 17-18, Donington Park.