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Top Hat and Masters historic racers will have an unprecedented televised season opener thanks to a deal between Masters Historic Racing, Motors TV and production company Race TV.

The Top Hat Raceday at Oulton Park on Saturday March 12th will receive a dedicated one-hour show highlighting the personalities, the cars and the action from the opening historic race meeting of the season. Viewers will be treated to the best of the action from the day plus in-depth features on some of the cars in action and interviews with leading drivers and preparers.

Top Hat Event Manager James Beckett said: “This is excellent news for Top Hat competitors who will have a chance to show a wide audience just what are race meetings are like. By focussing on people, cars and paddock atmosphere as much as the racing itself, we will be able to bring a great hour of entertainment to Motors TV’s viewers.”

Production of the telecast will be done by Race TV, which already has a wide portfolio of championships that it films for Motors and web-based transmission. Race TV’s Nick Barnett said: “I am delighted that we have been able to reach an agreement to show this opening Top Hat raceday of 2011. Historic racing is rich in personalities and mouth-watering cars and to bring those together, along with a circuit as picturesque as Oulton Park, will make for cracking television. We are working towards a transmission date of April 8th and every competitor who races at the event itself will receive a free DVD of the final programme making this a must-do event for the historic racing community.”

Races for Pre-66 Touring cars, Gentlemen Drivers Pre-66 GT Cars, Masters Sportscars plus Oldies but Goldies 50s saloons, a 70s Celebration Race and a Formula Ford 1600 race will make up the event content.