Publishing Officer Pat King is on track for her Italian car rally next month (October) – and is offering you the chance to ride in a race Mini at Lydden this weekend.

As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the University is supporting a number of staff and student initiatives, including Pat’s involvement in The Italian Job rally in October. Pat, based in Enrolment Management Services, and her husband Stephen will be competing as Kings on the Run in their 1971 classic rally Mini.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the rally which to date has raised more than £2m for Variety, supporting sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in the UK. Pat and Stephen have raised almost £2,000 so far. You can boost their fundraising – and enjoy a taste of motor racing – at Lydden Circuit on Saturday 6 September, from 10am-4.30pm. For £20, you can experience three laps of the circuit, in a race Mini driven by amateur racing driver Stephen.

Stephen said: ‘It’s a great opportunity to have an exhilarating ride around one of the prettiest circuits in the UK and raise money for a good cause.’

Stephen, who has been racing Minis competitively for 22 years, has had a lot of success at UK and European circuits, most recently securing pole position at Spa Francorchamps in July and taking third at Zolder, Belgium, last month in his race spec Mini Miglia, which reaches 0-60mph in approximately five seconds!

Stephen had his first ever race win at Lydden circuit in 1998, and was also Lydden SEMSEC (South East Motor Sport Club) saloon champion in 2006, so he knows the circuit well. Participants must be aged over 14.

Find out more at: www.facebook.com/Kingsontherun