,,,,   At BTCC's Quayside Spectacular

MSA British Touring Car Championship title sponsor Dunlop will serve free drinks to the crowds from its famous Café Dunlop during the BTCC’s spectacular city street show along NewcastleGateshead’s Quayside on Thursday 14 July.

Café Dunlop, opened earlier this year by legendary motor racing commentator Murray Walker, is normally reserved for teams and media during BTCC race weekends.

But Dunlop, which employs over 700 people at its nearby Washington plant, will open up the café to the people of NewcastleGateshead. In addition, the Dunlop Race Academy girls will hand out free Dunlop winners’ caps to the crowds.

Café Dunlop will also serve as the ideal backdrop for a special drivers’ autograph session that will enable the crowds to meet the stars of Britain’s biggest and most exciting motor racing championship. On display alongside Café Dunlop will be the six BTCC top cars that will be giving demonstration runs in front of the crowds: the SEAT Sport UK Toledo Cupra; Vauxhall VXR Astra Sport Hatch, Team Halfords Honda Integra; Arena Motorsports Honda Civic, WSR MG ZS, HPI Racing with Friends Reunited Lexus IS200.

The NewcastleGateshead event, that starts at 18.00hrs by the city’s famous Millennium Bridge, will be featured in ITV1’s live coverage of the BTCC action from Croft on Sunday 17 July.

James Bailey, Corporate Communications Manager for Dunlop says: “We’re delighted to be supporting this very special event on the streets of NewcastleGateshead. The company employs over 700 people at Washington, manufacturing car tyres for UK export markets.

“This plant builds the tyres for manufacturers such as Vauxhall and Honda with a capacity to manufacture over 10,000 tyres per day. Many of the Washington team will be coming to Croft to see the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship action on the weekend of 16-17 July.”