It may be a long way in the future, but motoring enthusiasts had better start getting their engines warmed up for an incredible charity racing event to be held in the UK this September.
The Circuit is a new, exclusive event in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's (NSPCC’s) Child’s Voice Appeal, featuring fast cars, professional drivers, celebrities and action-packed racing.
The event is organised by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and ex-F1 driver Mark Blundell, with Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson hosting the lunch break and auction.
In association with Palmer Sport, ‘The Circuit’ will see participants drive six high-performance racing cars around Bedford Autodrome. The cars are the Formula Jaguar, Porche 911 JP3, Palmer Jaguar JP1, Renault Clio Cup Racer, Caterham 7 Superlight and the Jaguar XKR.
It is hoped that the event will raise a minimum of £100,000 for the Child’s Voice Appeal, the NSPCC’s three-year appeal to raise £50 million to maintain and grow the NSPCC’s helplines, text and online counseling services. The Child’s Voice Appeal aims to raise £50m so that the NSPCC’s vital helplines can answer many more cries for help. To date the appeal has raised £13m. The funds will mean that ChildLine’s volunteers can counsel 500,000 more calls every year; children will be able to choose how they access ChildLine’s help – by phone, online or by text; the NSPCC Helpline can grow by over 60% to counsel 18,000 more adults a year who have concerns about a child; and counselors can provide personalized help by email to nearly five times as many concerned adults.
120 participants will be divided into teams of 20, each captained by a professional driver and a celebrity from the world of sport and entertainment. Drivers will have the freedom to push the cars to their maximum limits on four purpose-built tracks. All drivers will also get a memory stick of onboard footage from their every lap in both the Formula Jaguar and the Palmer Jaguar JP1.
The day begins at 08.00 with breakfast and briefings. Racing starts at 09.30 until lunch break where there will be sumptuous food and refreshments, and the chance to bid for exclusive auction prizes. Racing restarts at 14.00 and the day ends at 17.30.
Racing enthusiasts, keen to pit their driving skills against professional drivers, celebrities and other competitors, can purchase tickets for £2,000 by contacting 020 7825 2608 or e-mailing sports-team@nspcc.org.uk . Further information is also available at www.nspcc.org.uk/thecircuit .
