Stars from one of Britain's leading ruby union clubs, Newcastle Falcons, will be guests at the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s city centre show along NewcastleGateshead’s Quayside today.

Fly-half Dave Walder, who has played for England, centre Tom May and scrum-half Hall Charlton will join the BTCC’s star drivers during a special autograph session during the event which starts at 18.00 hours.

Walder, May and Charlton, who will be out to help the Falcons to a second Premiership title next season, will be invited to ride alongside Yvan Muller in Vauxhall’s unique two-seater Astra Sport Hatch touring car and wave the chequered flag during the demonstration runs.

Putting on a show will be not just be Muller, but also the North-East’s own BTCC star Jason Plato, in SEAT Sport UK’s Toledo Cupra, current championship leaders Matt Neal and Dan Eaves in Team Halfords’ two Honda Integras, Rob Collard in WSR’s MG ZS and Tom Chilton in Arena Motorsports’ Honda Civic.

The event will act as the perfect precursor to BTCC race day at the Croft circuit near Darlington this coming Sunday 17 July – the action will be shown live on ITV1.

“Newcastle Falcons’ presence at our first city centre event is an undoubted added bonus for the media and crowds alike,” says BTCC Series Director Alan Gow. “The team is amongst the biggest in British rugby union and the BTCC is the biggest championship in British motor sport – it’s a perfect fit.”