21 April 2008
VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, is encouraging visitors to get up close to a working racing car from today, 21 April. The Britain and London Visitor Centre, VisitBritain’s flagship tourist information centre at 1 Regent Street, will showcase the A1GP Team GBR car to hundreds of tourists in the lead up to The Regent Street Pit Stop event on Sunday 27 April.
VisitBritain’s flagship tourist information centre at 1 Regent Street, will showcase the A1GP Team GBR car to hundreds of tourists in the lead up to TheRegent Street Pit Stop event on Sunday 27 April.
The Team GBR car will be on show in the BLVC from today through until Saturday 26 April. The Centre is open on Mondays from 0930-1830, Tuesdays to Fridays from 0900-1830 and on weekends from 1000-1600 and the nearest underground station is Piccadilly Circus.
A1GP pits nation against nation in the “World Cup of Motorsport” where drivers from 23 nations compete as equals without financial or technological advantage and aims to be both accessible and affordable to everyone. Thanks to the ongoing partnership between A1GP and VisitBritain, the centre has been able to host the A1 Team GBR car emblazoned with the Britain brand.
Branding the car raises awareness among the many countries where the cars race of Britain’s fantastic sporting calendar. Research from VisitBritain shows that 33% of international visitors would be very likely to watch a sporting event while on holiday in Britain and through the VisitBritain website www.visitbritain.com, visitors have access to details of the hundreds of major sporting events happening in Britain every year.
On Sunday 27 May, the A1 Team GBR car moves to the tarmac to join the other 21 competing A1GP nations as the entire field come out to play for the Regent Street Pit Stop. Lower Regent Street will be transformed into a grid with 22 single-seat race cars each emblazoned with their national flag and accompanied by their race teams, in preparation for the season finale at Brands Hatch the following weekend. With a live stage and giant screens broadcasting racing highlights from throughout the 2007/08 season the street will have a real carnival atmosphere. Display stands will showcase the culture of each nation competing in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, while activities ranging from Tyre Change Challenges and bouncy castles for the kids will ensure the whole family can get involved in the action.
Tom Wright, VisitBritain chief executive said:
"It is fantastic that we have developed this partnership with A1GP and are able to showcase the car to the thousands of visitors who pass through the doors of the Britain and London Visitor Centre each year. The Regent Street Pit Stop on 27 April will showcase cars from all over the globe and Regent Street is set to provide a spectacular backdrop. Sporting events are a real draw for visitors and we hope that we can enthuse them about our sporting culture and perhaps get them to come along to Regent Street and support cars from their own home nations!"
May sees one of the biggest motorsport events in the British sporting calendar, with the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season finale taking place from Friday 2 – Sunday 4 May at Brands Hatch circuit in Kent. At Brands Hatch, visitors will be able to see Britain’s only national motor racing team in action - A1 Team Great Britain.
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Further information: Sian Brenchley, Senior Press Officer: 020 8563 3220 or 07971 497047
Notes to Editors
· VisitBritain is responsible for promoting Britain as a world class tourist destination and for developing England’s visitor economy. It has representatives in 36 countries around the world and, in the last three years, has expanded into China, throughout Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, and increased its presence in India with representatives in Bangalore and Mumbai.
· The Britain and London Visitor Centre is based at 1 Regent Street andoffers a unique range of facilities, including travel, accommodation, sightseeing and theatre reservations, bureau de change, internet access, transport ticketing for London and gift shops.
· In 2006, there were 32.7 million visits to Britain, 9% up on 2005. They spent over £16 billion in the UK: a 12% increase on 2005.Globally, the UK retains 6th place in visitor arrivals, slipping one place to 6th in spend.
· VisitBritain’s international website, www.visitbritain.com, was awarded World’s Leading Tourism Authority Internet Site for the fourth year in a row at the 2007 World Travel Awards by more than 200,000 travel and tourism professionals. With information provided in 26 different languages, every year over 12 million visits are made by international consumers to the 46 websites that make up visitbritain.com. VisitBritain plans to increase this to 25 million by 2009.