BTCC to wow crowds in Edinburgh.

Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh will host a spectacular Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship city centre road show on Thursday August 31, it has been confirmed.

The event, called 'British Touring Cars Live: Edinburgh' will fall in the final week of the city's culturally world famous International Festival period, just days before the BTCC's only race meeting of the year in Scotland, at the nearby Knockhill circuit on September 3.

"The BTCC is very excited and honoured to be coming to Edinburgh for what I am certain will be a major highlight of our 2006 season," said BTCC series director Alan Gow. "This will be a fabulous way to signal the arrival of the BTCC in Scotland and in terms of exposure will benefit greatly Edinburgh, the BTCC and our teams and partners all of whom are hugely looking forward to this event.

"The City of Edinburgh Council should be applauded for its enthusiasm, forward thinking and the very professional conduct it has displayed in helping the BTCC put together what is a very large scale and special event."

Edinburgh's iconic Castle, Scotland's number one tourist attraction with one million visitors a year, will form the backdrop to the event as cars and star drivers from the BTCC wow the crowds with demonstration runs along Johnston Terrace at the foot of the Castle's thousand year-old rock face and walls. And with the city's population having more than doubled during the month-long Festival period, a sizeable crowd is anticipated.

The City of Edinburgh Council says it sees the BTCC on its streets as a welcome and unique event for the Scottish capital as its festivals period draws to a close.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Edinburgh's Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Tourism added: "I'm pleased and excited that we have been able to attract this special event to Edinburgh. It will offer something very different not only for the people of Edinburgh but also for the many thousands of visitors we have in the city at that time of the year. I'm sure it will attract not just the many motor racing enthusiasts, but also the public as a whole."

Public admission will be free and there will be a chance to look around the cars and teams in a specially-created BTCC paddock on Castle Terrace. There, the crowds will be able to meet the BTCC's top names during a special autograph and give-away session.

Among the drivers will be Scotland's very own BTCC hero Gordon Shedden - already twice a race winner this year and currently fourth in the championship standings in his Clydesdale Bank/Team Halfords Honda Integra.

In addition, tickets to Knockhill's big BTCC race day on September 3 will be on sale at reduced prices. Knockhill is annually one of BTCC's best attended fixtures of the year, with Scottish fans eager to see their touring car heroes in action.

Adding to the spectacle, there will be demonstration runs by cars racing in the BTCC's supporting categories at Knockhill, expected to include Formula BMW, SEAT Cupra and Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Lothian & Borders' Fire and Rescue Service will also use the event to send out a powerful road safety message with its own accident and rescue demonstration.