Bicester Millennium and Silverstone GP Circuit to host UK's "biggest ever" team time trial

Bicester Millennium Cycling Club from Oxfordhsire has teamed up with the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit in neighbouring Northamptonshire to host a team time trial in August featuring 50 teams, which it believes may be the largest event of its kind ever held in the UK.

The event, called the 9-Up Team Time Trial, will be held on the evening of Friday 10 August and aims to raise money for Help for Heroes as well as charities local to the Silverstone circuit, which is owned by the British Racing Drivers’ Club.

Some 40 teams, including professional and semi-pro teams and British Cycling-affiliated clubs, as well as teams representing Formula 1 and MotoGP outfits, have already responded to invitations to confirm that they will take part.

The time trial will see the teams tackle three laps of the Grand Prix Circuit for a total distance of 11 miles.

On the way, the teams will take on the likes of Stowe and Copse Corners and the Hangar Straight made famous through the Grand Prix held at the venue since the 1950s, although Fernando Alonso’s lap record of 1:30.874 set two years ago is unlikely to be troubled.

Bicester Millennium says that the decision to partner with Silverstone for the event, which will be raced on road bikes in accordance with British Cycling and UCI rules, was inspired by the success of the summer Team Time Trials that the club, founded in 1999, has previously organised in the past few years.

It adds that spectators are welcome to attend and that racing will start at 7pm with teams, which will be allocated pit lane garages for their race preparation, departing at one-minute intervals.