THERE will be a sizeable field of entries when Accrington Motor Sport Club host their latest production car autotest event at Blackburn Services on Sunday.

The M65 service station will also be the venue for an autosolo as well as an autotest hosted by CSMA Group North West during the day.

On Saturday the Under 17 Motor Club will hold a production car autotest as part of a training day for young drivers to give them the chance to drive legally before they pass their test.

Steve Johnson, of Accrington Motor Sport Club and the Under 17 Motor Club, said: “We have six young drivers doing training between 11am and 3pm on Saturday and we have about 28 entries for Sunday. It takes place between 10am and 3pm on Sunday and it only costs £25. You can turn up in a standard road car, your own car.”

Entries close today, and anyone wanting to take part can contact Steve Butler on 01254 389089.

The lorry park at the service station will then be the venue for stunt driving from Paul Swift on Friday, August 31 to raise funds for the East Lancashire Hospice.

Under 17 Motor Club members will provide the support act in two stints between 5.15pm and 6pm, and between 7pm and 7.45pm.

Swift, who is a global leader in precision driving and has displayed his skills on Top Gear, will be in action between 6pm and 7pm, and between 7.45pm and 8.30pm. An auction will be held with passenger rides with Swift available to the highest bidder.

A minimum donation of £10 will secure a passenger rider in an Under 17 Motor Club car.

Johnson said: “The Under 17 drivers will be the support act and it is all for a great cause, the East Lancashire Hospice. Bob Milloy, the chairman of the ANWCC, will be providing commentary.”

But Johnson’s participation in the Centenary Stages at Barkston Heath in Lincolnshire on Sunday ended in retirement alongside co-driver Butler in a Nissan Micra.

“The first six stages went well but then the heavens opened and I started the seventh stage just after the biggest thunderstorm the world, although it was the same for everybody,” he said.

“As I set off the clutch felt weird and there were vibrations, but once I started I had to keep going.

“Then there was something terminal with the engine, I think it lost oil so I had to retire on the stage and wait a stage and a half before I could get recovered.

“But it did allow me to sit there and see a lot of young drivers with real skill. I think there were 10 18- year-olds faster than me and that’s fantastic.”

Blackburn’s Terry Martin, co-driving for Simon Chapman, also had to retire from the event on the first stage.