HER sprinting may have cost Alice Powell the chance of breaking into the Team GB skeleton bob squad but lack of pace on the motor racing circuit is clearly not a problem.

Cotswold racing driver Powell, 21, travelled to China at the weekend to compete in the latest round of the Asian Formula Renault series and for the second meeting in a row she came back with a race win.

The 2010 Formula Renault BARC champion who still has aspirations to race in F1, had to pull out of the British F3 Championship earlier this year due to lack of funding.

But the visit to the Zhuhai circuit in Southern China showed she had lost none of her touch, earning pole position and winning the first of the two weekend races.

“I had been out of a car for a while so I was delighted that FRD Motorsport invited me to drive in the Asian Formula Renault series,” said Alice. “The team did a great job. It was just unfortunate we could not win the second race as well as I had some throttle problems.

“I joined the series too late to think about winning the overall championship but I will be going back for the last two rounds in November (Shanghai) and December (Zhuhai).

“There is also a possibility I will compete in the whole series next season when the newer Formula Renault car will be used.”

Powell then reflected on her trials for Team GB’s skeleton bob team as part of this year’s Power2Podium, a programme similar to that which identified subsequent gold medal winner Lizzy Yarnold a few years ago.

Alice came through a number of qualifying camps before falling at the final hurdle to get in the last 10 possible candidates from an original entry of more than 1,000.

“It was an amazing experience and there were so many talented athletes involved,” she said. “My sprinting was just not quick enough, which let me down in the trial, but I would love to try again when they have the next scheme in 2016.”

Powell is also focusing on improving her hockey which has prompted a move from her local club Bourton to Reading Ladies.

“I’m very competitive and I would like to play at the highest standard I can,” said Alice.

“The coaching and facilities at Reading are first class and they have several England internationals in their squad.

“I am currently in the seconds side but I would love to break into their first team.”