BTCC TO WOW CROWDS ON STREETS OF MILTON KEYNES
Milton Keynes, famous for its roundabouts and also Europe
’s largest indoor shopping centre, will stage the second
city centre demonstration by cars and drivers from the Dunlop
MSA British Touring Car Championship.
The Buckinghamshire city’s normally tranquil, tree-lined
Avebury Boulevard will be closed at 18.30 on Thursday 15 September
and spectacularly come alive to the sight and sound of Britain’s
most exciting racing cars for more than an hour. Drivers will
demonstrate their BTCC cars down Avebury Boulevard before
tackling a roundabout and returning on the opposite carriageway
between Milton Keynes’ massive indoor leisure complex
Xscape and the city’s indoor shopping hall – the
biggest of its kind in Europe – thecentre:mk.
The event will act as the perfect curtain-raiser to the nearby
Silverstone circuit’s BTCC race meeting on 17-18 September.
The meeting will host the penultimate round of the BTCC season
– being shown live on ITV1 – and so will be crucial
to the title outcome.
Spectator viewing for the Milton Keynes event is free and
crowds will later be able to meet the drivers during a special
autograph session outside Xscape when there will be plenty
of giveaways from teams and BTCC title sponsor Dunlop. All
nine BTCC teams have pledged to field a car. Also running
will be a car from each of the BTCC’s supporting championships
from prestige motor manufacturers BMW, Porsche, Renault and
SEAT. Coverage of the event will be included in ITV1’s
broadcast from Silverstone on BTCC race day.
In addition, cars from the BTCC and the support series will
be on display in thecentre:mk’s grand Middleton Hall
throughout the day from 9am onwards. Drivers will be present
to meet shoppers for autographs and photographs, while tickets
for the Silverstone BTCC race weekend will also be on sale.
The event’s announcement comes just over a month after
the BTCC wowed the public with a spectacular demonstration
along NewcastleGateshead’s Quayside on 14 July just
prior to the championship’s race meeting at the nearby
Croft circuit. That event attracted five thousand people.
Last week, the BTCC also made history when its leading cars
ran across the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland prior to their
race weekend at the Knockhill circuit in Fife .
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow says: “We are delighted
to announce this event in Milton Keynes – it is going
to be absolutely fantastic and is sure to attract a great
many people from not just Milton Keynes, but also neighbouring
cities and towns such as Oxford , Northampton , Aylesbury
and Luton .
“To be able to run an event in the Midlands following
such a successful maiden event in the North-East is of huge
importance. We are all about taking the show to the people
and Milton Keynes ’ central location means we can entertain
a whole new audience. It’s a spectacular show for everybody
to come and enjoy and the roundabout is a must!
“It is worth noting that the BTCC’s two big manufacturer
teams SEAT and Vauxhall are based in Milton Keynes and Luton,
so both I’m sure will make the most of this event in
terms of promotion. Our support championships also know the
importance of this type of event and their inclusion will
undoubtedly add to the evening’s excitement.”
Gow has enormous praise for Milton Keynes which has demonstrated
a receptive attitude since the start of talks with the BTCC.
He adds: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the
very dynamic people of Milton Keynes Council, thecentre:mk
and Xscape. They clearly know how to get behind an event and
it is clear to see why the city enjoys such a vibrant, cultural
atmosphere and huge commercial success. Silverstone’s
input into this event, which has been significant, should
also be recognised.”
Milton Keynes Council Leader Isobel McCall comments: "This
is a fabulous event to be coming to Milton Keynes and we have
worked very closely with various partners in the business
and cultural community to make it happen.
"The city has a very close association with the motor
racing world so it seems a natural progression to respond
to the BTCC that takes place at nearby Silverstone the following
weekend. This event will give a free community exhibition
of the cars at competition speeds right here where our divided
road and roundabout will provide great viewing."
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