Media Release: Walkinshaw Helps Clock Up Croft Bear Miles For Great North Air Ambulance
Oxford, UK – Friday 14 June 2013; FW Motorsport heads to Croft, North Yorkshire, to continue its maiden Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup campaign on 22-23 June, with team owner/driver Fergus Walkinshaw racing to raise awareness and funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
As the British Touring Car Championship package roars into the North Yorkshire circuit, Walkinshaw will be urging race fans to buy a £10 Bear Mile and help save a life. Each £10 raised will cover the cost of keeping the GNAAS flying for one whole mile, and as a thank you fans will get their own cuddly pilot bear and a personalised certificate.
Operating three helicopter air ambulances from two sites, Durham Tees Valley Airport, near Darlington, and Langwathby, Penrith, GNAAS flies 1,000 missions per year across the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. Carrying cutting edge medical equipment, specialist trauma doctors and highly trained paramedics, GNAAS offers an unparalleled level of care to those in need.
It costs £4m per year to run the service, yet it receives no government funding and relies entirely on public support. BTCC fans can keep the GNAAS flying and saving lives by buying their Bear Mile at the charity’s stand outside of Clervaux Corner, throughout the weekend or visit www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk
Walkinshaw commented: “I’m really pleased to join forces with Croft circuit to help raise funds and awareness for the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Thousands of BTCC and Ginetta race fans will be heading to Croft, and if just a fraction of them could donate £10 we could help save a lot of lives.”
Mandy Drake, Head of Fundraising at GNAAS, said: “Fergus is doing a fantastic job raising awareness of the work of air ambulances throughout the country, so we are delighted to host him in our region. We fly more than a thousand missions every year and this would not be possible without public support, so we are very grateful to have the backing of both Fergus and Croft circuit. We will be fundraising onsite throughout the event and look forward to meeting motorsport fans on what promises to be a great weekend.”
As well as helping to clock up Bear Miles, Walkinshaw will fly the flag for FW Motorsport’s race debut at Croft. Approaching the midway point in the Ginetta GT Supercup season, the team has already recorded its first pole position and seven top-10 finishes, including fifth at Brands Hatch, amid the ever-growing grid.
Last time out at Oulton Park he continued the team’s steady development with a crowd-thrilling performance, salvaging eighth from 14th on the grid in round 10 and commanding a fierce six-strong mid-field fight in round 11. Sitting a solid ninth in the title standings, the young Scotsman will be aiming for a good points run to continue to climb up the order at Croft.
“Reaching the halfway point in FW Motorsport’s first year of competition, I think we can be pleased with progress so far. We know that we have a really strong wet set-up and we’ve made some significant development gains on our dry set-up in recent rounds. Everything is starting to come together.
“Friday testing at Croft will be our first opportunity to get the car set-up dialed in, so we’ll be looking to make the most of those sessions to get our race weekend off to a good start.”
Qualifying for the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup will take place at 11.30 on Saturday 22 June, followed by the first of three series races at 15.50. Sunday sees a double billing of GT Supercup action at 12.45 and 16.25, with live coverage on ITV4.
-Ends-
FW Motorsport Press Office
Emma Spearing: +44 (0)7736 341828 | emma@fwmotorsport.com
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