Personalities from UK TV,
radio, sport and music will line up on the grid today to
race Abarth 500 cars for charity at the world-famous
Silverstone Circuit. The minor celebrities competing in
the BSM Centenary
Abarth 500 Celebrity Challenge will be racing
road-going versions of the Abarth 500,
which will be modified to meet the required safety specification.
“With over 60 years
of racing heritage it is wonderful to bring Abarth
back to the race track and where better than
Silverstone” says Abarth Product Manager Ivan
Gibson. “The Abarth 500 esseesse provides our
celebrity drivers with the ideal introduction to
motorsport and demonstrates that, just as it was
back in the Sixties, the saying 'Small and Wicked'
is still very much in keeping with the Abarth
brand.
"All the
cars will carry the historic ‘Campovolo grey’ racing
colours of Carlo Abarth together with branding from
Britain’s largest and most popular driving school, BSM,
whose Chief Marketing Officer Kristian Welch commented:
“We are delighted to be celebrating BSM’s 100th
birthday at the Silverstone Classic. The
‘BSM Centenary Abarth 500 Celebrity Challenge’ is going
to be a fantastic event and we’re looking forward to
seeing Heston Blumenthal, Kate Silverton, Brendon Cole
and all the other drivers showcasing their skills on the
track and inspiring a whole new generation of car
enthusiasts and learners.”
After the race, the cars
– known as ‘Abarth 500 Silverstone Classic Celebrity
Challenge Limited Edition' – will be autographed by the
drivers who are all raising funds for the Bobby Moore
Fund for Cancer Research UK. Run in
memory of one of Britain's best-loved footballers, the
fund raises money for research into bowel cancer." The BSM
Centenary Abarth 500 Celebrity Challenge will provide
lots of fun for the competitors and spectators, whilst
raising money and awareness for a very good cause at the
same time” said Event Director Nick Wigley. “I
can’t wait to see all those DJs, musicians and TV stars
out on track in their race suits and helmets - it’s a
really exciting addition to the Silverstone Classic”.
‘Holby City’ actor and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ winner
Tom Chambers was the final
name to join the starting grid for today's BSM Centenary
Abarth 500 Celebrity Challenge. “I’ve been crazy about cars
since I was a tiny kid - although my first driving
experience wasn’t too clever” admits Tom. “I crashed my
father’s car into the greenhouse at home when I was two
years old. He’d left the keys in it, so I decided to take it
for a spin round the garden! As a teenager I counted down
the days until I could take my test and get out on the roads
safely. I just love cars. I own a vintage 1965 Fiat 500
which we used to travel from the church when we got married.
I’ve done loads of karting, just the kind you do on holiday,
and I did a five-day racing course at Silverstone back in
1999, but this will be the first time I’ve actually competed
in a proper race… and I can’t wait”.
The line-up for today's event includes Chambers’ old
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ adversary Brendan Cole. Brendan,
Tom, and all the other competitors had to pass their ARDS
test to obtain an official racing license in order to
compete in the event. The competition on track is set to be
hot, but Tom is only concerned one of his fellow drivers. “I
beat Brendan in ‘Strictly’ and I definitely want to beat him
again on track. As long as I finish in front of Brendan I’ll
be a happy man” he concludes. The final list of UK
"personalities" unfortunately doesn't include any recognisable names, but for the record taking part in the
race today will be Jonny Saunders, Luther Blisset, Rick
Parfitt Jnr, Johnnie Walker, James Martin, Brendan Cole, Tom
Chambers, Lord Charles Brocket, Richard Allinson, Paul
O’Duffy, Heston Blumenthal, Mark Gardener and Neil
Primrose.
The Silverstone Classic
is the biggest and best classic racing festival in the
world as well as Europe's most entertaining car-themed
event. It features some of the
rarest and most valuable racing cars in the world
battling it out on track. Tonight Silverstone will
rock to the sounds of two classic British bands from the
1960s and 1970s, when the Yardbirds and Dr Feelgood take
to the stage. Then, on Saturday
evening, the story comes bang up to date with a show
including Stars from the X Factor, with Jedward, Danyl
Johnson and Ruth Lorenzo, plus the Rick Parfitt Junior
Band. Along with the racing and
rocking, the circuit will be packed with off-track
activities and attractions to make it a weekend to suit
the whole family. Alongside the hot-rods, street car
shoot-outs and Harley Davidson displays there will be
funfairs, shopping malls, hot-air balloon fly-outs and
air displays adding to the sheer diversity of
attractions.
