BTCC to dazzle Edinburgh Festival crowds

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Sat 6th June 2009 Edinburgh will again echo to the sound of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship's cars when the UK's premier motor racing series receives star billing during the city's world-famous Festivals period just prior to wowing the crowds at the Knockhill circuit in August.

Against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish capital's iconic castle, many of the BTCC's top drivers will put on a high-speed spectacle along Johnston Terrace just as they did in 2006 in front of a public audience of some 15,000.

This year's event will take place on Thursday 13 August but at the earlier time of midday, with an autograph session enabling the public to meet the championship's big names prior to their demonstration runs that will finish at 2.00pm. Among the drivers will be Scotland's very own BTCC hero, Airwaves BMW's Jonathan Adam. The 24-year-old from Kinghorn, Fife has rapidly established himself as a front-runner in his debut BTCC season and now comes the opportunity to put on a memorable performance in front of his home crowd.

Following the event, the teams and drivers will head north over the Forth Bridge to the spectacular Knockhill circuit in Fife for round seven of the 2009 BTCC calendar on the weekend of 15-16 August.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: "Everyone involved in the BTCC is delighted to be returning to Edinburgh. The city's Festivals period attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world so this is a golden opportunity for the BTCC to showcase itself in front of a vast new audience.

"The highest praise and a great many thanks go to Edinburgh City Council for welcoming the BTCC as part of its festivities and the efforts it has made in making this event happen. Our event in 2006 was highly exciting for the public as well as our teams, drivers and sponsors and we look forward tremendously to repeating that great atmosphere in August."

Adam, who hopes to one day follow former greats such as Jim Clark and John Cleland into BTCC folklore, added: "It's going to be a great privilege to drive my BTCC race car in front of the public in Edinburgh city centre. The city is famed for putting on top-level events for the crowds and the noise and spectacle put on by the BTCC's teams and drivers is sure to capture thousands of people's imaginations."

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh, commented: "We're delighted to welcome the BTCC back to Edinburgh once again. Thousands of people flocked to see this thrilling spectacle when it came to Edinburgh three years ago and I'm sure this year's event will attract similar numbers of spectators. The city is always buzzing at Festival time and events like this add even more excitement to the atmosphere. They're a great day out for all the family and stand as further evidence of Edinburgh's credentials as a premier events destination."