Touring car champ ready to rev up Bradford show

Motor racing star Matt Neal will be speeding into Bradford for this year's Bradford Classic Car Show.

Two-time British Touring Car Champion Matt Neal will attend the Bradford Council-organised show in Centenary Square on July 21 and will be bringing his Team Halfords Honda Civic S2000 car along too.

Matt's attendance has been secured by the classic car show's sponsor Yorkshire Bank, which is also one of the Team Halfords sponsors.

Matt became the first driver in 21 years to win back-to-back drivers' championship titles last year and is currently busy battling to land his third consecutive crown.

He also won the British Racing Drivers Club Silver Star in 2006 for outstanding achievement in national racing.

Head of the district's regeneration Coun Andrew Mallinson said: "Our thanks go to Yorkshire Bank in helping secure Matt Neal's attendance at the show.

"It is another huge boost for us and everyone involved in making the classic car show bigger and better, and I'm sure his competition car will be a big draw on the day, as will all the other great cars that have registered."

David Gold, Senior Partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Bradford Financial Solutions Centre said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Bradford Classic for a second year. The competition car on its own proved to be a fantastic draw last year, but we wanted to do more this year to help take the event to another level.

"Through the Yorkshire Bank sponsorship of Team Halfords, we approached Matt Neal and he immediately agreed to attend for the day on Saturday 21 July, which is great news for the event and Bradford.”

Matt and his car are one of a host of attractions already lined up for the classic car show. On the second day of the show, a special performance in the Bradford Kickstart Superstage by Slowly Sideways' Group B rally cars, will take place at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal.

The cars were banned from competing in the 1980s due to their incredible speeds but still demonstrate their power at rally events across Europe. Also on hand to show off his incredible skills behind the wheel will be Russ Swift who regularly appears on television performing amazing stunts in his mini.

Tickets for the event cost £6 for adults, £3 for concessions and £15 for a family ticket. They are available from the Bradford Bulls ticket hotline on 08701 202 040.

A fundraising Tribute to Rallying dinner takes place on the Saturday evening at the Hitlon Hotel when rare motoring memorabilia will go under the hammer to raise money for the Lord Mayor's Appeal and two of motorsports' favourite sons through the Richard Burns Foundation and the Michael Parks Fund.

Other events include a photographic exhibition of some rare BMW Art Cars from world renowned artists including Bradford's David Hockney at the Great Victoria Hotel.

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11.00-11.45am
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Braking and cornering performance of classic cars - an automotive engineering student's investigation.
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