Four of the UK’s most talented young saloon-car racing drivers are to join forces in aid of the British Heart Foundation for a special charity kart race at the NEC in Birmingham on Friday, 11th January, as part of the world-famous Autosport International show.Northern Ireland’s Andrew Herron, who finished a superb ninth overall in the 2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup standings and claimed a maiden victory en route to the Vice-Champion’s position in the four-round winter series, will team-up with fellow Clio Cup drivers Andrew Bentley, Michael Doyle and Paul Rivett for the BP Ultimate Celebrity Kart Challenge.Joining the quartet of motor racing stars will be a, yet-to-be-determined, member of the public who will pay £300 into the charity prize fund for the privilege of taking part in the exciting event which is expected to see over 20 teams all competing against each other in a 90-minute endurance kart race at the NEC.Rapidly becoming an integral part of the annual Autosport International show, the Celebrity Kart Challenge sees teams of drivers from a variety of motorsport disciplines, including GT racing, touring cars and single-seater competition, all come together with exactly the same aim – to raise as much as possible for their charity.Among the huge names taking part in this year’s event will be Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert, two-time Indy Car Champion and Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran, reigning American Le Mans Series Champion and former Le Mans 24 Hours winner Allan McNish and winner of the GT1 category at the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours, Darren Turner.In the case of Dromore-based Andrew’s ELF Renault Clio Cup entry, which will run under the tongue-in-cheek banner of Calamity Clios, the team will be competing for a top three placing in the race to win a share of the prize fund for one of the UK’s most worthwhile charities, the British Heart Foundation.In addition to the fun and fundraising, the event will offer excellent media exposure for the charity itself and also any potential team and driver sponsors as extensive highlights of the race action will be featured on cable and digital satellite channels Men & Motors and Motors TV.Clio Cup rookie Andrew, who is backed by Brian Herron Contracts, will be taking part in the Celebrity Kart Challenge for the first time and is looking forward to the 2008 event where he aims to help raise as much as possible for the British Heart Foundation.He commented: “The Celebrity Kart Challenge promises to be great fun and I’m delighted to be able to take part in the event this year, I’ve always enjoyed doing my bit for charity. I think we have a terrific chance to do well in the race and finish in the top three for the British Heart Foundation. “Every racing driver out there will want to win the race outright, that’s in our nature, but the main reason to be involved is helping to support one of the UK’s most worthwhile charities. It’s a fantastic event to be involved in, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Heart and circulatory disease is the biggest cause of premature death in the UK with Cardiovascular Disease responsible for almost 40 per cent of deaths. Coronary heart disease, the main form of CVD, causes almost 120,000 deaths each year in the UK which translates to approximately one in five deaths in men and one in six in women.As with any charity event of this nature, all donations are welcome, so if any local businesses would like to get involved with the Celebrity Kart Challenge as a sponsor for Andrew’s squad as it attempts to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, please contact team manager Marc Orme on 07773 424295.The 2008 Autosport International show will run over four days at the Birmingham NEC, starting with press and trade day on Thursday, 10th January. Trade visitors will continue to have access to the event on Friday, 11th January, the day of the Celebrity Kart Challenge, ahead of the two public days on Saturday and Sunday, 12th/13th January.