- Johnny Herbert gearing up for debut BTCC drive with Team Dynamics- Vulcan bomber taking to the skies for Silverstone display- Bumper Bank Holiday entertainment
Johnny Herbert is gearing up for his highly anticipated race debut in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Silverstone this weekend (29/30 August). The former F1 driver says there couldn't be a better circuit than Silverstone - scene of his 1995 British Grand Prix victory - at which to get his first taste of the fender-bending action that makes the BTCC such a hit with the public.
Herbert has signed to race in the UK's premier motor racing series with former title-winning squad Team Dynamics, and this marks a significant change in the style of racing he's used to in F1 and sports cars.Speaking ahead of the weekend Herbert commented, "I'm going to be going three or four abreast into corners for the first time since my Formula Ford and Formula 3 days in the mid-Eighties.
"I'll be up against some of the best touring car names in the world with the likes of Matt Neal, Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi and I've seen what these boys get up to along the way....scraping panels and having a wing mirror or bumper taken off is part of the game and it's something I'm going to have to adapt to quickly."
He added: "Silverstone is a fitting place for me to begin what is the start of a new chapter in my career. I've got memories of some great races here in the past. It was always a special place for me, but then of course I got my win in the Grand Prix in '95. It's where I was able to experience something that not many British drivers have, so I suppose it makes it that bit extra special."
Herbert joins the BTCC grid at what could be a critical stage in the race for the title. Northern Ireland's Colin Turkington, aiming for his first Drivers' crown, will arrive at Silverstone leading the championship but by just nine points from Italian megastar Giovanardi, the BTCC champion for the past two years.
Local favourite Jason Plato (Oxford) and Matt Neal are also still in with a realistic chance of the title.Turkington and Plato are both looking forward to three important races at Silverstone on Sunday: “I don’t recall ever having won a race at Silverstone, and the BTCC is more competitive than ever” commented Turkington. “I have had a very good run out of this year and with three rounds to go I am in a great position being nine points ahead. I think Silverstone is a circuit that should suit the BMW more than the previous round, I just need to try and hang in there and hope Jason [Plato] doesn’t win all three races.”“I definitely feel that the Chevrolet will be very fast at Silverstone, it is a circuit which will suit the car and the target is three race wins”, commented Plato.
BTCC fans purchasing Weekend Tickets (in advance) will also have the opportunity to enjoy the final day of the 2009 World Aerobatic Championships, taking place on Saturday 29 August. The tournament, which will now be held in memory of American pilot Vicki Cruse, is being held in the UK for the first time in 29 years and will provide an amazing spectacle for race-goers.
Continuing the aviation theme, fans attending the BTCC round on Saturday will be treated to a spectacular air display by the XH558 Vulcan, famed for its "Black Buck" missions to the Falklands during the South Atlantic Conflict in 1982. XH558 was the last Vulcan to leave RAF service, flying until 1993 after a career of 33 years.
The Vulcan’s final flight was on 23 March 1993 after which it was sold off to C Walton Ltd, a family firm who purchased and maintained her, with the thought that one day, she might be returned to flight. First estimates suggested that over £3.5million would be required to pay for the restoration. Finally, 14 years after its last flight and with over £7million spent, Vulcan XH558 roared into the air again on Thursday 18 October 2007 - a perfect day for flying. It was also an unforgettable day for the ‘Vulcan to the Sky’ team, whose drive, energy & enthusiasm ensured the project was a success.
In addition to the air display, there will also be a ground display for the Vulcan XH558 at Silverstone. The ‘Vulcan to the Sky’ Trust has some major educational objectives: helping people to understand the history of the Cold War (1946-1991), and inspiring the young in technology. To keep XH558 flying at air shows and to deliver its inspirational educational activities, the ‘Vulcan to the Sky’ Trust has to raise over £1.6million per year. They are now totally reliant on donations from the public and on sponsorship.Free access to the BTCC paddock, a Red Devils parachute display, fun fair, dodgems and children’s rides will all add to the off-track entertainment over the Bank Holiday weekend at Silverstone. While ontrack action includes a further seven races - making it ten in all on the day - from the supporting Ginetta Junior, Ginetta G50, Porsche Carrera, Renault Clio and Formula Renault categories.
- Tickets for Silverstone’s round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (29-30 August) are priced at £15 for the Saturday and £23 for the Sunday (if booked in advance).
- Sunday tickets will cost £30 if purchased on the day.
- Weekend Tickets only available in advance, offering great value at £27 for both Saturday and Sunday.
FREE Grandstand seating; FREE access to children aged 15 and under; and FREE parking are included in all ticket prices.
- A combined BTCC weekend ticket and World Aerobatic Championship ticket for Saturday costs just £32, and are only available to purchase in advance.
To book tickets for Silverstone’s round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, or the 2009 World Aerobatic Championships, visit silverstone.co.uk or call 08704 588 260.
