ONE of Britain’s most popular race driver-car combinations – Rob Austin and his Exocet Racing Audi ‘Sherman’ – will perform in front of 35,000 people at the UK’s world famous drag racing strip of Santa Pod during the venue’s eagerly anticipated Bug Jam festival (July 19/20).
Evesham’s Austin is one of the top names in the star-studded British Touring Car Championship – the UK’s premier motor racing series – and arguably the favourite driver among its millions of fans, with many having labelled him ‘the people’s champion’.
Similarly his Rob Austin Racing squad that prepares Sherman is known as ‘the people’s team’ and that support has only grown as results on the track – including a breakthrough pole position and win in 2013 – have improved.
The Rob Austin Racing Owners Club has also been created to enable the public to buy shares in the team – a unique concept in UK motorsport.
Now team, car and driver are preparing for some fun at Bug Jam which comes in the middle of a six-week summer break in the busy BTCC calendar.
Not only will Austin demonstrate his 300bhp Audi several times each day, but he will also be present for autographs and photographs outside the Exocet Racing team awning where Sherman will be on display.
Title sponsor FAST Exocet will be present as well with its range of octane-boosting fuel additives and other team merchandise on sale.
Austin commented: “We are all really looking forward to this event. It’s a mini-Glastonbury for petrolheads and the atmosphere will be wild.
“Sherman is renowned for making great starts in the BTCC but even he’ll find it tough up against a top-fuel dragster in a straight line over a quarter of a mile, but then again a drag car can’t do donuts like we can and you know me, I’m all about putting on a show for the people!”
Santa Pod’s commercial manager Caroline Holden: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Rob Austin Racing to Bug Jam this year, adding yet another dimension to an already impressive event line-up.
“Rob’s popularity and enthusiasm for what he does will go down a storm with our like-minded VW fans!”
Watch out in the coming days on Austin’s social media for a competition to win tickets to Bug Jam 2014.