10/10/2003

The racing may be over in the 2003 Green Flag British MSA Touring Car Championship, but far from sitting back and relaxing after a gruelling season, some of the series' leading personalities are swapping the race track for the football pitch in a bid to raise funds for road safety charity 'Brake'.

Sixfields Stadium, home of Northampton Town FC, will host the Green Flag BTCC Soccer AM Challenge on Sunday 26th October and already some of the Championship's top drivers have pledged their support.

Looking for another challenge after landing Vauxhall's third consecutive manufacturers crown, VX Racing team mates James Thompson and Paul O'Neill jumped at the chance to have a go at a very different sport, as did the MG Sport and Racing pairing of Warren Hughes and Colin Turkington. Honda Racing's Matt Neal is set to offer a unrivalled height advantage over the opposition, ably supported by team mate Alan Morrison, whilst Luke Hines and Alan Blencowe represent the Production Cup.

The BTCC boys maybe at the top of their game behind the wheel, but they will have an uphill struggle to emerge the victors at Sixfields as they take on amongst others, Lashings XI, a charity football team that counts among its ranks former professional football players including former Watford and England star Cyril Regis and ex-Arsenal player Paul Davis.

Captaining the BTCC drivers' team, however, will be former England, Watford and AC Milan Luther Blissett, who is not only an avid motorsport fan but also raced in the Vauxhall Vectra challenge in the late 1990s.

Completing the four team line-up are the Badgers, from Sky Sports' Saturday morning programme, Soccer AM, led by presenter Tim Lovejoy, and a second team more familiar with four wheels than a football - Jordan Formula One.

Nick Page, Green Flag sponsorship manager, said: "The charity match offers a chance for motorsport fans to see top drivers in a more relaxed setting, away from the pressures of the race track. It should be a real test of their fitness to play against household names from the world of football and at the same time help to raise much-need funds for Brake and help improve awareness of road safety issues."

Kick-off is at midday and entry to the stadium costs just £5 for adults and £2 for children. All proceeds will go to support the work of Brake, a national charity dedicated to stopping deaths and injuries on roads through awareness-raising campaigns. The charity also runs Road Safety Week, an annual event involving schools and businesses that received backing this year from many BTCC drivers.

Northampton Town FC's ground is located at Sixfields Stadium, Upton Way, Northampton. Details on how to get to the stadium are available at the club's official website at www.ntfc.co.uk.