UK: Miss England sets Team RAC pulses racing

Team RAC drivers Colin Turkington and Stephen Jelley took time out of their preparations ahead of the season finale of the 2008 HIQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this Sunday (21 September) to meet Miss England and announce Team RAC's link up with Everyman.

Team RAC drivers Colin Turkington and Stephen Jelley took time out of their preparations ahead of the season finale of the 2008 HIQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this Sunday (21 September) to meet Miss England and announce Team RAC's link up with Everyman.

Everyman, the UK's leading male cancer campaign, will benefit from this year's "RAC Charity Track Day" in which Miss England, Laura Coleman, will be one of the celebrities participating alongside Turkington and Jelley.

In the spirit of the day, the Team RAC drivers donned fake moustaches to lend their support to Everyman's TacheBack campaign which runs each September.

Heading into the final race of the BTCC, Turkington and Team RAC sit top of the Independent Drivers and Teams Championships respectively. Turkington said: "Personally, it's been a great season and lots of podium finishes have put me, and Team RAC, in a good position."

The Northern Irishman, who currently lies third in the overall Drivers Championship with 188 points, continued: "Heading into Brands Hatch, my aim is to secure the Independents Championship and I've got the chance to do so on one of my favourite tracks."

His Leicester-born team-mate, Jelley, coming to end of his first season competing for Team RAC in the BTCC, can't wait to return to the venue of his debut.

"Brands Hatch was the first place I raced at this level, and the first course I get to return to. I've learnt a lot this year and I'm hopeful that these factors combined will translate into my best performance for Team RAC to date."

Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal, said: "It's been a brilliant season so far for Team RAC and Colin in particular. The team have all worked extremely hard this season and I'm hopeful that we can keep the momentum going to finish on a high."

22-year-old Laura Coleman, from Melton Mowbray, who was crowned Miss England in July and will be representing England in Miss World in South Africa this December, said: "It was great to meet Colin and Stephen ahead of the final race and I wish them both the best of luck. I'm looking forward to meeting up with them next week for the RAC Charity Track Day Challenge and hopefully I can learn something from them, whilst we help Everyman raise awareness of male cancers."

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Notes to editors:

About BTCC
The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was formed in 1958 and is the UK's most popular motor racing spectacle. Its race season comprises ten events at top circuits across the UK. It is contested by professional racing drivers in competition versions of every day road cars, giving it tremendous public appeal. Around 300,000 watch the BTCC trackside each year. www.btcc.net

About RAC
RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organisations and a provider for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, windscreen repair and replacement, learning to drive, vehicle inspections, legal and financial services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists' needs.

Aviva announced its acquisition of RAC in 2005. The acquisition brings together RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Norwich Union Insurance (part of Aviva). Norwich Union is the UK's largest insurer, insuring one in seven motor vehicles and with a market share of around 14 per cent.

About HiQ
HiQ (part of Goodyear Dunlop) has become the BTCC's new title sponsor in 2008 in a new three-year agreement. It provides a fast-fit car care service at its 150 centres across the UK. In the next two years, that number will rise to 250 as HiQ embarks on revolutionising the fast-fit industry. It has already taken the lead by offering a unique online service www.hiqonline.co.uk for motorists to buy tyres and arrange a fitting appointment.

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