A TRIO of top drivers will make a pit stop in County Durham ahead of this weekend's British Touring Car Championship meeting at Croft Circuit.

HiQ Darlington, based in Meynell Road, will host the evening of thrills and spills from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Thursday giving fans the chance to meet their racing heroes.

The motorsport forum is specially arranged by HiQ, official sponsors of the British Touring Car Championship, ahead of the next round of the championship on Sunday.

Drivers Harry Vaulkhard, Alan Taylor and Martyn Bell will all be on hand to sign autographs, answer questions and pose for pictures and admission is completely free.

Free food and drink will be provided and ten pairs of tickets will be given away during the evening.

Harry Vaulkard from Newcastle and Whitley Bays Alan Taylor and their team, Boldon-based Robertshaw Racing team will show off their Chevrolet Lacetti and Honda Integra race cars.

For the Robertshaw team, this will be its first race meeting in front of its home crowd as a BTCC entrant.

HiQ's BTCC spokesman Neil Burrows said: "We are really going all out for our most successful event yet and we want as many people to attend as possible.

"Our motorsport forums give people the chance to learn about HiQ, the BTCC and a chance to speak to some of the star drivers. We are delighted to be staging one at our Darlington store and we can't wait to kick-off the event."

HiQ Darlington is situated on Meynell Road. For more information call 01325-352727.