Media Release: Brabham’s Celebrity Karting Challenge On Track With Military Precision

London UK – Thursday 10 December, 2009; David Brabham’s Celebrity Karting Challenge on Friday 15 January will boast a brand new circuit at Autosport International, promising competitors the most challenging charity kart race yet. Hosted for the first time in the Live Action Arena in aid of Malaria No More UK, the task of installing a 402-metre specially-constructed circuit at the NEC Birmingham has required nothing short of military precision planning and help from the best experts in the industry.

Apex Circuit Design, specialists in FIA and CIK approved racing facilities who devised the 5.4km Dubai Autodrome, 1.2km Kartdrome, and the new French Formula One circuit at Flins-Les-Mureaux, willingly took on the task of designing the bespoke track for Brabham. The challenging 10-corner circuit offers the perfect balance of fast sweeping sections followed by technical sequences of corners requiring both all-out speed and delicate kart control. Each feature is named, some in honour of motorsport legends and some to recognise the event’s valued supporters. Promising to test both the experienced professional and novice public driver alike, 90 minutes of spectacular racing action is sure to unfold in front of the 5000 seat Live Action Arena grandstand. The mission to construct the specialist charity event circuit within one hour, of Autosport International’s Live Action Arena performance finishing at 2pm and the start of practice for the Celebrity Karting Challenge at 3pm, will be nothing short of a logistical feat. That’s why the best of the best – The British Army, has volunteered to help with the mighty task. A team of over 20 recruits from the Army Air Corps Centre, Middle Wallop, are lending their support to construct the circuit by placing some 860 metres of barriers in place. Measuring nearly half a mile in length end-to-end, filling three 42-foot juggernauts, the specialist barriers are supplied courtesy of Oaklands Plastics. Unrivalled experts in the plastics industry, the Birmingham-based company is ranked among the top rotational moulders in the UK. Aided with the invaluable and much-appreciated support of Autosport International’s expert Operations team, the Army will be assisted with the help of six forklift trucks to manoeuvre the barriers into position. When the track action begins, timing and scoring will be provided courtesy of Timing Solutions Limited (TSL) and beamed on to the giant Live Action Arena screen for the benefit of the gathered crowd. For those not fortunate enough to attend the event, live timing will also be simultaneously streamed worldwide online via www.tsl-timing.com. MRTC, providers of the latest in technology radio equipment to many Formula One teams, will be helping Brabham’s Racing4Charity team to keep in touch and mastermind the massive logistical challenge, by providing the event crew’s internal communication system. Brabham commented: “The level of support for the Celebrity Karting Challenge for Malaria No More UK is absolutely staggering. I am so grateful to each of the companies who have worked so hard to help make our first race hosted in Autosport International’s Live Action Arena an amazing event. “Racing4Charity is an organisation run by a small group of volunteers and this event relies on corporate sponsorship and support, as well as the valuable donations from the public paying to take part. “Apex has designed a cracking circuit but we wouldn’t be able to build that circuit without the help of Oaklands Plastics and, of course, the Army. The team at Haymarket Exhibitions has been incredible, helping us every step of the way to deliver what I hope will be a really special event. On behalf of the Racing4Charity team and Malaria No More UK, I’d just like to say a massive thank you.” Over 20 teams comprising four celebrity and two paying public drivers will take part in the 2010 event, including an unrivalled gathering of top drivers from across the sport. Members of the public can join the action for a charity entrance fee of just £300, which includes two tickets to Autosport International on what is an exclusive trade day. Book your public place now by contacting Bill Williams at bill@racing4charity.com or call 0044 (0)7712 578263. Autosport International trade visitors can take a grandstand seat and watch the Celebrity Karting Challenge action at 3pm on Friday 15 January as a complimentary addition to their standard trade ticket. Trade tickets cost £24 per person, simply register via www.autosport-international.com/trade. MSA licence holders can also attend Autosport International on both trade days, 14&15 January, as well as the public days, on 16&17 January. Simply register by visiting www.autosport-international.com/trade. -Ends- Circuit Map – Please click on the thumbnail below to download a jpeg file of the Celebrity Karting Challenge 2010 circuit map, provided courtesy of Apex Circuit Design. Notes to media: For further information on David Brabham, including his career history and biography, visit www.davidbrabham.com. To find out more about David’s Racing4Charity organisation and the Celebrity Karting Challenge 2010 visit www.racing4charity.com or www.autosport-show.com About Malaria No More UK Malaria No More UK launched in April 2009 fronted by David Beckham, Andy Murray and Denise Lewis, founding members of the charity's Leadership Council. Special Ambassadors for Malaria No More UK are exceptional people who choose to use their talent and/or experience to fight malaria. British mother Jo Yirrell, is also a Special Ambassador for the charity. Jo lost her 20 year old son Harry to malaria and she has since launched a high profile campaign to draw attention to the issue of malaria publically and politically. Malaria No More UK is committed to ending suffering and death caused by malaria, a preventable disease. The charity works with governments, corporations, celebrities and the public to raise mass awareness and funds to achieve the following UN goals: 1) Ensure every man, women and child at risk of malaria in Africa has access to a mosquito net by the end of 2010 2) Put an end to malaria deaths by 2015 A £5 donation to Malaria No More UK will purchase, transport and deliver a life saving bed net to a mother and her child in Africa protecting them for up to five years. 100% funds received by Malaria No More UK are used for malaria prevention and control programmes in Africa. For more information and to donate visit: www.malarianomore.org.uk David Brabham Celebrity Karting Challenge Media Contact: Emma Spearing, Hazel PR Tel: +44 (0)1202 862411 Mobile: +44 (0)7736 341828 Email: emma.spearing@hazelpr.com

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