THE wait is nearly over for the arrival of the newest racing car to join the Rockingham fleet.
Fresh from supporting the 2008 Gulf Air Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix, the V8 Supercars are due to arrive at the Northamptonshire circuit in two weeks time.
The exciting addition means that Rockingham will have the largest fleet of genuine former racing cars of any circuit in the UK available to guests – an experience which cannot be repeated anywhere else.
Guests on one of Rockingham’s driving days can already experience single-seater racing in the shape of an authentic Formula One car and its younger brother the Formula Three.
Now it’s the turn of racing saloon cars as guests will be able to get behind the wheel of the Gulf region’s equivalent of a British Touring Car for an exhilarating drive.
The arrival of the thrilling V8s is creating a buzz of excitement at Rockingham, and driving days are set to get even better as the racing V8s feature on the Rockingham Masterclass and TrackPro packages.
Unlike any other circuit, guests will experience first-hand what it is like to be strapped into fully race prepared, rear-wheel drive machines, with 5.7 litre engines and a whopping 380bhp.
Manufactured by General Motors in Australia, the Supercars are Chevrolet Lumina SS V8s fitted with full roll cages, racing seats and harnesses, and capable of reaching a staggering 170mph.
Just like the British Touring Cars, these vehicles are based on a road car, which means drivers of all abilities can immerse themselves in the full racing car experience and yet still feel in control.
Charlotte Orton, Rockingham’s Director of Sales & Marketing recently went to see the V8s competing in the Lumina CSV Middle East race series, the Gulf region’s equivalent to the British Touring Car Championship.
She said: “There is a lot of excitement surrounding the arrival of the V8 Supercars, and after seeing them in action for myself, I can see exactly why.
“These high-performance cars are awesome to watch as racing machines, but will be even more exhilarating to drive. At Rockingham we don’t restrict our guests to the grandstands, we encourage them to get behind the wheel.
“As the V8 Supercar is a racing version of an ordinary road car, it means drivers of all driving abilities can appreciate the full racing experience without feeling out of control. The V8 Supercars are going to be a great asset to Rockingham and add an extra dimension to our driving days, as there is nowhere else you can get behind the wheel of a real touring car.”
The track used for the V8s will be Rockingham’s 1.7 mile National Circuit, which has everything, from long straights to technical corners and tight hairpins.
For more information about the new V8 Supercars or to book a corporate driving day, contact the Rockingham Team on 01536 271273.
You can watch the V8 Supercars on satellite channel Motors TV at 7pm on Sunday, May 11, when they compete in round four of the championship at Barbagallo Raceway in Australia.
