Recent News and Events

March 2008. Another new franchisee.

Racing Challenge sets up its first franchise in Scotland! Bobby Gechie brings the Super 4 to South Glasgow and South West Scotland.

February 2008. The Stig puts down a hot lap at Research Machines.

A charity fund raising day at Research Machines in Abingdon saw the BBC's legendary white suited racing driver putting RM employees to the test. Some say that he sleeps hanging upside down from a bar and that he only eats bacon on a Wednesday. All we know is that he's called The Stig and that he thrashed all other competitors and put down a hot lap of 1.53.416!

January 2008. The fourth franchise training week.

Just in time for his first party in February, Eric Graham becomes the lastest franchisee to join the Racing Challenge team. He is now operating in the Buckinghamshire and Watford areas.

January 2008. Business Franchise Magazine at the GMEX in Manchester.

Business Franchise Magazine again hire the Racing Challenge to promote their magazine and entertain exhibitors and the public. The show was a big hit and many people attended from all over northern England. Look out for Racing Challenge at the London Olympia, Glasgow and Birmingham NEC franchise shows later this year.

December 2007. Third franchise training week.

Another fantasticly successful franchise training week sees the fourth and fifth franchises swing into business. Just in time for Christmas Mr Aidan McLoughlin takes over trading with his Super 4 simulator in Oxfordshire, with Southeast Gloucestershire and North Wiltshire included in his area also. Mr Paul Mahon was the other franchisee, he however becomes the first Super 8 simulator franchisee and will be trading throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

       Aidan McLoughlin:  Oxfordshire,                 Paul Mahon: Super 8 for Republic of Ireland

  East Gloucestershire and North Wiltshire

October/November 2007. Second franchise training week a big success.

Our third franchisee was put through the training course at the end of October and began trading at the begining of November. Mr Simon Alley is now running a Super 4 simulator for Racing Challenge Northwest, based in Cheshire.

Simon Alley: Racing Challenge Franchisee for Cheshire and the Northwest

October 2007. Business Franchise Magazine at the NEC in Birmingham.

Business Franchise Magazine hire Racing Challenge to entertain their clients at the Franchise show in the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. The two day show was a big hit drawing people from all over the country. Racing Challenge provided some much needed entertainment to the public and other franchise traders.

September 2007. Scouts 100th year anniversary at The Big Event in Kent.

Almost two years in planning, 2007 was the 100th anniversary of the Scouting movement. Many events were scheduled throughout the year but the highlight was to come at Kent Showground. Over 8000 Scounts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides and Brownies camped at the showground and enjoyed many different activities including zipwires, a model steam railway, bouncy castles, campcraft and much more. The Racing Challenge was also involved and entertained hundreds over the weekend.

August 2007. Jason Plato wows crowds at Beverley's Revved Up Race Day!

Racing Challenge recently entertained the public at a special Revved Up Race Day held at Beverley race course in Yorkshire . The event was part of a two day race meet hosted to raise money for Dove House Hospice. The first day was a Ladies Day and Racing Challenge was brought in the following day to entice the men to attend.

Jason Plato, 2001 British Touring Car Champion and current BTCC points leader, was present to race against corporate guests and the public and wowed the crowds with exceptional high speed laps of Monza . Due in no small part to Racing Challenge, attendance for the day was 40% higher than organisers expected.

July 2007. French Car Show at Rockingham Speedway .

Modified Renault, Peugeot and Citroen cars arrived in droves at Rockingham Speedway to display and race around the track. Upwards of 15,000 people attended with highlights including a jet pack being flown down the pit lane, Dave Coates the professional motorbike stunt rider performing tricks and monster trucks doing wheelies!

Racing Challenge provided further entertainment for the masses and was sponsored for the show by Gofaster energy drink, an American brand entering the British market. All in all a high octane fuelled day that petrol-heads thoroughly relished.

July 2007. British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The most eagerly awaited event in the British motor sports calendar lived up to expectations with incredible driving all round and, despite pit lane mistakes, another podium finish for the gifted Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Rikkonen held off the two McLarens to win, with Alonso grabbing second place. Nevertheless the day's best action was the drive from Massa , who after starting last from the pit lane, carved up the field to finish fifth.

Not all of the action was confined to the track however. The Racing Challenge Super 8 was positioned in its usual spot in E Zone on Stowe, attracting record crowds from Friday through to Sunday. Racing Challenge teamed up with the E Zone entertainment and allowed groups of eight drivers to race head to head for prizes including pit lane passes and helicopter rides.

June 2007. First franchise training week.

The first two franchisees attended a week long training course, equipping them with everything they need to know in order for them to run a successful Racing Challenge Super 4 simulator. Both franchises are now up and running; Mr Seamus Grimley running the Belfast and Northern Ireland area, and Mr Craig Bevan running Herefordshire and some of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

                                        Mr C. Bevan: Franchisee for Herefordshire.     Mr S. Grimley: Franchisee for Northern Ireland

June 2007. Lincolnshire Show.

Off to the North for two days of open countryside and fresh air! The Lincolnshire show attracted a hugely diverse crowd and many interesting events and stalls. The array of cutting edge agricultural machinery was fascinating and onlookers were entertained by a range of acts, including show jumping and daredevil motocross stunt riders.

Racing Challenge paired up with the Lincolnshire Road Safety scheme to promote road awareness. In order to race, a safety quiz first had to be answered. An average of 300 children per day completed the quiz before enjoying racing against one another. This result heavily surpassed Lincolnshire Council's predictions, and hopefully educated 600 children about the dangers involved in driving and roads.

June 2007. Iveco Stralis Truck Launch at Milbrook Test Circuit.

In order to promote the launch of the new Stralis truck, Iveco arranged a week long event at Milbrook Test Circuit. Clients were invited to view the new truck in its eye-catching New Zealand Rugby inspired livery and then to drive around the sweeping four lane track complete with banked corners and steep inclines. Between drives Racing Challenge was on hand to provide some real racing, making it slightly difficult to get clients back into the trucks!

May 2007. Caravan Club National Rally at Blenheim Palace .

Despite being one of the wettest weekends of the year, the Caravanners still arrived in their thousands! Whole acres of the Blenheim Estate were covered in caravans of all shapes and sizes from many different countries. A large number of activities were scheduled for the weekend, however many were cancelled as the weather worsened - bouncy castles were deflated and stall holders began lashing down their merchandise.

Nevertheless, at the Racing Challenge Super 4 simulator, crowds continued to swell, and those just sheltering under the awning from the elements were soon involved as well. In the end the rally was thoroughly enjoyed by all, even those who needed to be towed out of the mud!

April 2007. Bahrain Grand Prix.

One of the highlights in the Racing Challenge calendar and now our second year of attending the Grand Prix. A total of eight of the Racing Challenge simulators were lined up track side for the racegoers to experience the action for themselves. A very entertaining Grand Prix, with Massa taking the chequered flag just 2.3 seconds ahead of Britain 's talented Lewis Hamilton, who left Rikkonen trailing eight seconds adrift in third. Look out for Racing Challenge later this year at Silverstone!

March 2007. Bahrain Grand Prix promotion.

To shift eight simulators, each weighing over a quarter of a tonne, the 3,750 miles from Oxford to Bahrain is a large undertaking to say the least. After much blood, sweat and tears (well, not quite the tears) the simulators were safely packed away in specially constructed crates and so began the long journey involving several lorry rides and Grand Prix sponsor Gulf Air. Despite the blistering temperatures of over 35 ºC and a lot of sand and dust, the simulators remained in perfect working order and were in place ready for the Grand Prix and the month long promotions.

March 2007. British Franchise Show in London .

Due to the massive success of the Super 4 simulator since its launch in September 2006, Racing Challenge has decided to become a franchised operation. The decision was reached primarily because demand for the Super 4 for birthday parties and corporate events was far outstripping supply. The Franchise Show was a great success and we look forward to running our first franchise training week at the end of June. So look out for a Racing Challenge in your area soon!!

Silverstone Grand Prix crowds queue non stop to experience the Racing Challenge at the 2006 British Grand Prix. For 3 days, there was a constant queue of excited drivers wanting to race each other as the Racing Challenge was used by the Grand Prix race organisers in the Silverstone E-Zone.
At a rate of nearly 100 drivers per hour, from 7.30am to 6.00pm each day, many race fans more than made up for the disappointment of Jenson Button's race week-end.

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The Racing Challenge 2 was present at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix at the invitation of Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The 3,750 mile journey  to Bahrain involved specialist packing companies and aircraft operating only out of Amsterdam.
Racing Challenge 2 was part of an entertainment package especially hand picked to thrill and excite the local dignitaries attending the Grand Prix.
Operating in temperatures of over 30 degrees, the Bahrainis kept the Racing Challenge rev ving non stop for the whole 3 day week end!

 

Damon Hill, Ex Formula One World Champion, races on The Racing Challenge helping to raise over £50,000 for The Neuroblastoma Society at Horsley Towers on September 21st 2005.

At the inaugural Charity Evening held on behalf of The Neuroblastoma Society at Horsley Towers, East Horsley, Surrey, over £50,000 was raised during the evening for the Society. A silent auction was held and 70 lucky aspiring Formula 1 racing drivers each paid up to £50 to race against Damon Hill at Monza, Home of the Italian Grand Prix.

Damon then returned for his 11th race of the evening, by special request, and truly showed the other 7 drivers and the assembled crowd of 450 how a Formula One driver can drive flat out around Monza in a near record breaking lap time.

"The Racing Challenge really was a great success and helped to create a fantastic atmosphere. There really was a great buzz around the simulator all evening" said Claire Attard, one of the organisers.

" The Racing Challenge has always been brilliant for drivers. Now everyone as spectators can be fully excited too" said Area Manager Pub Co. at a recent Pub Challenge.

before winning his last race	after threatening one of his opponents

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The winning team (OH BEEHIVE) progresses to the next round in Bedford on July 3rd with the ultimate champions winning a VIP day at this year's British Grand Prix. For more pictures visit www.hertbeat.com

Formula 3 star Steven Kane shattered the R.C. Long Beach lap record by over 2 seconds on 6th June 2005 while the Racing Challenge was entertaining Corporate Guests at Silverstone Circuit.

He had completed over 40 laps of the Long Beach circuit and broke the record on his 41st. See www.steven-kane.com

The Racing Challenge has been hired by Silverstone Circuit for 15 dates over summer 2005 for Corporate Entertaining. More news soon.