MICA Moore begins her final push for a place at February’s Winter Olympics on Thursday when the bobsleigh World Cup season kicks off in Lake Placid.

The Newport brakewoman and driver Mica McNeill will take to the start line with Pyeongchang 2018 firmly in their sights.

Moore and McNeill enjoyed success during the last World Cup campaign and also won world junior championship gold in January.

They are in New York this week thanks to donations of more than £30,000 from the public after their funding was withdrawn by the national governing body.

“This isn’t just about feeling good about being back on ice – this is about trying to put ourselves in the best possible position to perform out in Pyeongchang in three months’ time,” said GB Bobsleigh chief Chris Price.

“We know we need to produce from the outset to give ourselves strong starting positions at the Games as results in the World Cup races will determine our Olympic ranking and the quality of ice we’ll get in South Korea.

“The mood in the camp is a really positive one despite it being a difficult summer and it’s been great to come into a squad that is pulling together and knows the importance of performing on the big stage.

“Everyone will get an opportunity to perform but there’s a real clarity in the squad about what we’re trying to achieve and we’re looking forward to what lies ahead.”

Great Britain’s top skeleton hopes are also in Lake Placid for their opening World Cup event of the winter.

Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold, Wrexham’s Laura Deas and Ashleigh Pittaway get things under way on Thursday in the women’s event.

That is followed by the women’s bobsleigh and then the first of two runs in the men’s two-man bobsleigh, which features Pembrokeshire’s Bruce Tasker.

The men’s skeleton and second two-man bobsleigh run – the four-man event has been cancelled – take place on Friday.