Rockingham Opens up New World of Motorsport to Young People
21 July 2010
A GROUP of young people with learning difficulties and severe disabilities were given the opportunity to taste life in the fast lane when they visited Rockingham yesterday (Tuesday, July 20).
Nineteen young people from across the county visited the circuit as part of a special Inclusion Day in partnership with Rockingham and Northamptonshire County Council's Core Offer for Disables Children's Youth Services.
As part of their visit the young people, aged between 12 and 25, enjoyed a spin around Europe's fastest racing circuit and the UK's only banked oval as well as followed in the wheel tracks of some of the world's top motor racing drivers on the 1.97 mile International Super Sportscar circuit.
Off-track, the adventure continued as the group enjoyed the tricky Rockingham 4x4 course courtesy of The Racing School, who supply driving experiences and corporate driving days at the Northamptonshire circuit.
However the fun didn’t stop there, as the young people got the opportunity to look behind the scenes with a guided tour of the facilities. They also gained an insight into the world of motorsport from Lunar Racing as well as put their own driving skills to the test on the challenging Rockingham simulators.
Northamptonshire County Council's Core Offer for Disables Children's Youth Services Manager, Steve Rustage, who arranged the visit, said: "As part of our annual residential course we like to arrange activities which are both new and challenging for the young people to enjoy.
“This was the first time many of them had been to Rockingham, and it was an excellent opportunity for them to experience something totally different away from their usual comfort zone.
“This visit was an opportunity to bring all the county groups together and challenge them to take part in different activities they usually wouldn't have had the opportunity experience as part of their everyday life."
Rockingham Director Charlotte Orton, added: "We are passionate about making motorsport at Rockingham accessible to everyone regardless of any disabilities they may have.
“We were delighted to welcome Steve and his group to the circuit and hope they enjoyed all the new activities they experienced as part of today’s visit.
“Rockingham is a fantastic facility, and as a result of their visit, hopefully the young people will come back and join us for a day of motor racing in September."
Core Offer for Disabled Children's Youth Service has seven groups across the county in Northampton, Brackley, Daventry, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Rushden.
The aim of the group is to provide various activities for young people with disabilities to participate in such as sport, day trips, discos and nights out. For more information please contact Steve Rustage on 01536 3139000 or email srustage@northamptonshire.gov.uk
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