Plowman Patron of Karting for the Disabled at Karting Show Launch

Tamworth’s Martin Plowman will be attending the world’s biggest motorsport show, Autosport International, 10-13 January 2008.  Plowman will be travelling to the NEC in Birmingham to help launch a major new Karting for the Disabled initiative, take part in a special charity kart race which aims to raise £50,000, and unveil his high-profile plans for the 2008 season.

After a challenging two seasons in European Formula Renault and Formula Renault Italia with the Prema Powerteam, Plowman is set for bigger and better things in 2008.  With some exciting plans in place that will put him back on track to the higher echelons of the sport, Plowman will be announcing his 2008 ventures which are set to include racing with a brand new team in an exciting new formula.

Plowman will be attending Autosport International on the trade day, Friday 11 January, and on Saturday 12 January, when the show opens to the public.  As a former British, French and Asia Pacific Kart Champion, Plowman will be paying a special visit to the new Karting Show where he will join a plethora of established motorsport stars on the Karting Stage who will all be helping to get more people interested in starting karting.

At the NEC on Friday, the 20-year-old will help the British karting championship from which he graduated, BRDC Stars of Tomorrow, to launch its Karting for the Disabled initiative and partnership with Karting Endeavour, a group of drivers who do not wish their disability to interfere with their love of motorsport.  With the help of the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), the championship plans to use the BRDC Stars of Tomorrow Race Control Centre to transport karts to race meetings throughout the country, three karts initially and 10 eventually, modified with hand controls. 

Having worked with racing legend Alex Zanardi after launching and racing for karting Team Zanardi in 2005, Plowman has agreed to become patron of the initiative.  BRDC Stars of Tomorrow Championship Director, Carolynn Hoy, Kumar from Karting Endeavour, MIA Chief Executive Chris Aylett and Plowman will all unveil the initiative at 12pm on the Karting Stage. 

Plowman commented: “I'm proud to give my name to this worthy cause.  Having been closely associated with Zanardi throughout my career, I'm proud to represent this fantastic new initiative on his behalf.  Alex's story, along with those whom this charity will benefit, is one of courage, passion and determination to come back from personal set backs and still live life to the full.  These karters are true racers who deserve the utmost respect.”

Karting for the Disabled has a fundraising target of £50,000 and Plowman will help the project to further its fundraising efforts in the Autosport International BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded Charity Kart Challenge, on Friday at 1.30pm. 

Over 70 top motorsport celebrities forming 22 teams will be joining the special event organised by David Brabham’s Racing 4 Charity organisation, which aims to raise £50,000 on the day, in what is billed as the battle of motorsport formulas.  Plowman will be in excellent company, racing alongside some of the best names in the business, including Johnny Herbert, Allan McNish, Gary Paffett, Darren Turner, Gil de Ferran, Oliver Jarvis, Adam Carroll, Tom Onslow-Cole and Matthew Wilson, to name just a few. 

The Karting for the Disabled team will race in two hand-controlled karts and Plowman will be joined by project mentors, 250cc front runner Lee Shepherd and Kimbolton Senior Max racer Robin Milton.  Lee and Robin were both injured in motorcycle accidents and, as accomplished karters in MSA classes, are keen to support the initiative.  Completing the team will be BTCC’s Fiona Leggate and British GT and F3 driver Stuart Hall. 

Remarkably, members of the public have the exclusive chance to be a part of this star-studded event for just £300 per driver, simply contact bill@racing4charity.com or call 07712 578263.  The fun starts at 1.30pm on the Karting 4 U track in Hall 4, where a 30-minute qualifying session will precede the extended one and a half hour race, which starts at 3.15pm.