BTCC TO WOW CROWDS IN EDINBURGH CITY CENTRE
Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh will host a spectacular
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship city centre road
show on Thursday 31 August, it has been confirmed. The event,
called ‘British Touring Cars Live: Edinburgh' will fall
in the final week of the city's culturally world famous International
Festival period, just days before the BTCC's only race meeting
of the year in Scotland, at the nearby Knockhill circuit on
3 September.
Edinburgh's iconic Castle, Scotland's number one tourist
attraction with one million visitors a year, will form a dramatic
backdrop to the event as cars and star drivers from Britain's
top motor racing championship wow the crowds with demonstration
runs along Johnston Terrace at the foot of the Castle's thousand
year-old rock face and walls.
And with the city's population having more than doubled during
the month-long Festival period, a sizeable crowd is anticipated.
Public admission will be free and there will be a chance to
look around the cars and teams in a specially-created BTCC
paddock on Castle Terrace. There, the crowds will be able
to meet the BTCC's top names during a special autograph and
give-away session.
Among the drivers will be Scotland's very own BTCC hero Gordon
Shedden - already twice a race winner this year and currently
fourth in the championship standings in his Clydesdale Bank/Team
Halfords Honda Integra.
In addition, tickets to Knockhill's big BTCC race day on
3 September will be on sale at reduced prices. Knockhill is
annually one of BTCC's best attended fixtures of the year,
with Scottish fans eager to see their touring car heroes in
action.
Adding to the spectacle, there will be demonstration runs
by cars racing in the BTCC's supporting categories at Knockhill,
expected to include Formula BMW, SEAT Cupra and Porsche Carrera
Cup GB. Lothian & Borders' Fire and Rescue Service will
also use the event to send out a powerful road safety message
with its own accident and rescue demonstration.
Provisional Edinburgh BTCC Timetable - Thursday 31
August:
16.30-17.00 Castle Terrace, Lothian & Borders Fire and
Rescue Road Safety Demonstration
Castle Terrace, OPEN BTCC PADDOCK THROUGHOUT EVENING
18.00-18.45 BTCC Drivers' Autograph Session
19.00-20.00 Johnston Terrace, BTCC cars in action
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow says: "The
BTCC is very excited and honoured to be coming to Edinburgh
for what I am certain will be a major highlight of our 2006
season. This will be a fabulous way to signal the arrival
of the BTCC in Scotland and in terms of exposure will benefit
greatly Edinburgh, the BTCC and our teams and partners all
of whom are hugely looking forward to this event.
"The City of Edinburgh Council should be applauded for
its enthusiasm, forward thinking and the very professional
conduct it has displayed in helping the BTCC put together
what is a very large scale and special event."
The City of Edinburgh Council says it sees the BTCC on its
streets as a welcome and unique event for the Scottish capital
as its Festivals period draws to a close.
Councillor Ricky Henderson, Edinburgh's Executive
Member for Sport, Culture and Tourism adds: "I'm
pleased and excited that we have been able to attract this
special event to Edinburgh. It will offer something very different
not only for the people of Edinburgh but also for the many
thousands of visitors we have in the city at that time of
the year. I'm sure it will attract not just the many motor
racing enthusiasts, but also the public as a whole."
Edinburgh city centre will set the scene for a major BTCC
road show during its world famous Festivals period in late
August
The BTCC's top drivers, including Scotland's very own Gordon
Shedden (above), will be in action at the Edinburgh event
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