Irvine and DC duel it out in battle-of-sexes.

Formula One stars Eddie Irvine and David Coulthard will be putting all their experience and expertise to the test next week, as they coach ten celebrities in the art of becoming a racing driver.

Sky One's The Race will be presented by Denise van Outen, and will pit two teams of five against one another for seven days of frantic battle-of-the-sexes action under the guidance of team captains Irvine and Coulthard.

Former Ferrari ace Irvine - who finished runner-up in the Formula One World Championship in 1999 - will coach the boys, comprising ex-boxing world champion Nigel Benn, England football legend Les Ferdinand, AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star Nick Moran and electro-pop pioneer Gary Numan.

Red Bull Racing pilot Coulthard, meanwhile, will be in charge of training up urban music maestro Ms Dynamite, Tamara Ecclestone - daughter of Formula One boss Bernie - former Atomic Kitten Jenny Frost, US film star Melissa Joan Hart and TV personality Ingrid Tarrant.

"I can't wait to get trackside with the girls and boys to find out once and for all which sex really is better behind the wheel," van Outen enthused. "This is going to be the hardest week of some of our celebrity's lives and with David and Eddie in charge I can't see anyone being given an easy ride."

Before the real trials begin, in the first show each celebrity will have to obtain their Association of Racing Drivers Schools certificate (ARDS) to qualify them for the challenges ahead and ensure they have the necessary skills to cope. If they can't make it past this then they don't belong in The Race.

From then on it's high-octane entertainment as every day from 6 November one driver from each team will step forward to take part in a one-on-one driving duel, the Rev Head Challenge. With the pressure all on one person to bag valuable points and move their team up the grid, this will be a true test of character.

The main event of each day will see the celebs competing as a team against the opposite sex in everything from superminis and monster trucks to off-road buggies and Formula Lotus sportscars to improve their grand prix grid standing and avoid being handed the suit of shame. With team pride and camaraderie playing as big a part as personal rivalries and self-esteem, passions and tensions are set to run high.

Overseeing it all will be safety expert Dave Allen, lads lieutenant Steve Deeks, girls guide Liz Halliday and of course Coulthard and Irvine, stepping in to pass judgment on their team's performance.

As if competing together wasn't enough to fray the nerves, the celebrities will be living together for the week in a purpose-built compound situated within the confines of Silverstone. They'll have all the comforts of custom-built luxury buses, but with the cameras following them here as well viewers will get to see how much heat they carry with them away from the circuit.

Every night live at 10pm on Sky One from the studio at Silverstone, van Outen will be looking back at the day's highlights from the track, as well as inviting a selection of celebrities to talk through their triumphs and disappointments. Viewers can then switch over to Sky Three when from 11pm Iain Lee will go further behind the scenes with more news and interviews trackside from throughout the day.

When the dust settles on Friday it's time to lose one member of each team as Coulthard and Irvine are asked to assess each of their team member's performances and, Weakest Link style, select their least impressive driver for elimination.

It's then onto Sunday's Grand Prix as the remaining eight drivers strap themselves into their high spec Formula Fords - capable of 0-100kmh in under five seconds - to put the week's lessons to the test with 30 laps around Silverstone in the thrilling finale. As the celebs go under starters orders they know they'll have to work with their colleagues to ensure valuable points for a team victory, while at the same time it's every man and woman for themselves as they all compete to be crowned champion.

"If five guys can't beat five girls it will be shocking!" Irvine told Crash.net, displaying fighting talk ahead of the competition. "Girls are good at making breakfast and guys should be better at driving.

"If these guys lose to a bunch of girls that's it - their lives will be history and you won't be seeing me in Europe again!"

For information on tickets for the final on Sunday, 12 November call 0870 067 8000 or visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk