Golden season for Oulton Park

Cheshire circuit gears up for 2008

27/02/2008 - Oulton Park celebrated its official 2008 season launch today (27 February), featuring riders and drivers from all the events coming to the circuit this year.

The day kicked off with some flying laps from Avon Tyres British GT Championship drivers Steve Clark and Paul O'Neill in the Dodge Viper, plus Andrew Howard and Jamie Smyth in their Aston Martin. This was followed by demonstration laps from Bennetts British Superbike rider, Hawk Kawasaki's Scott Smart, and local Formula Palmer Audi driver Tom Bradshaw from Blackburn.

Oulton Park is helping to celebrate some special anniversaries this year, including 50 years of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, and driver Chris Stockton was on hand to mark the occasion at today's launch. The Chester driver started the season by taking on last year's Oulton Park race winner Mat Jackson in a head-to-head race.

2008 is also the golden anniversary for Lola, and the car manufacturer will be celebrating its half-century at the Gold Cup in August. An impressive blue and yellow T70 did some demonstration laps to showcase the event, which will feature a parade of Lola racing cars from 1958 to the present day. Vintage cars were also out on track, including a 1931 Lagonda, to promote the Vintage Sports-Car Festival - which this year will commemorate 50 years since Mike Hawthorn became Britains first Formula 1 World Champion.

The day ended with a mini race from a trio of speedy superkarts.

Oulton Park 2008 Calendar

22/24 March - Formula 3 / British GT
3/4/5 May - British Superbike Championship
14 June - Vintage Sports-Car Festival
18/19/20 July - British Superbike Championship
26/27 July - British Touring Car Championship
24/25 August - Oulton Park Gold Cup