The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport will bring speed and excitement to the streets of Manchester, UK this summer as part of Sky Festival. In a UK-first, six elite A1GP cars and drivers will complete a 1.5km course, through the centre of Manchester from 2-3pm on Sunday 13 August – the third and final day of the three day free festival.
Members of the public will be able to take part in the A1GP action from special viewing areas as the cars roar through the city streets, reaching speeds of up to 70mph along sections of the course, which runs from Corporation Street, up to Albert Square, around Manchester’s Town Hall, along Deansgate, through St Mary’s Gate and back to the starting point in Corporation Street.
A dedicated interactive A1GP paddock, located in Exchange Square, will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday from 10am-8pm and on Sunday from 10am-12pm and 3.30pm-7pm, offering people the chance to get up close to the cars and drivers with a nine car display simulating a real-life race paddock. With interactive opportunities such as ‘wear the race suit’ and the tyre change challenge – members of the public will get a first hand experience of life as an A1GP driver and mechanic.
A1 Teams Australia, China, Great Britain, Ireland, Lebanon, and Malaysia will all run the specially designed road course on Sunday 13 August.
About Sky Festival
From Friday 11 to Sunday 13 August, Sky Festival will light up Manchester. With more than 31 TV channels hosting over 36 specially created events, Sky Festival aims to enthrall and entertain people of all ages and interests with a massive range of activities in and around Manchester’s most famous landmarks. What’s more it’s all free, although some events will be ticketed.
Offering something for all tastes and interests, festival-goers will be able to test their off spin at the Sky Sports Natwest Cricket Event, get up close to some of the world’s top sporting trophies in the Ultimate Trophy Room, take to the catwalk and find out if they could be the Next Top Model with LIVINGtv, try their hand at reading the headlines with Sky News, journey through the jungle and meet live animals with National Geographic Channel, attend an exclusive MTV party, meet some of their favourite kids characters with Nick Jr., get active with Sky’s Living for Sport and Dame Kelly Holmes or perfect their comic timing with Paramount Comedy’s stand-up comedy workshops. And with even more great events to entertain, involve and inspire the Sky Festival promises something for everyone in Manchester, the North West, and visitors from all over the country.
Festival Facts
– Over 36 different venues will be used to stage the events.
– Over 350 people will be employed by Sky to make the festival come alive.
– Over 500 live hours of events will take place over the 3-day festival.
– Over 70 TV screens will be set up across Manchester for the festival.
– Around 20,000 giveaways will be distributed at the events.
– All Sky Festival events are free to the public; however some events will be ticketed. To register for regular updates and ticketing information on Sky Festival visit http://www.skyfestival.co.uk/
Summary of Sky Festival Channel Events
Sky Movies
Free Film Weekend @ AMC Cinema, Great Northern Centre
Come and experience the best in Movies entertainment through free screenings and events
Sky News
Making The Headlines @ Piccadilly Station
Try your hand at reading the news at a specially – designed Sky News desk at Piccadilly train station.
Sky One
Brainiac Live @ The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Young science enthusiasts and their families can experience Sky One’s award-winning show Brainiac first hand when they have the chance to take part in some weird and wacky experiments. The event will go off with a bang at the Museum of Science and Industry
Sky Sports
A1GP cars run through Manchester City Centre
Be thrilled as Sky Sports team up with A1GP to run A1GP cars through the streets of Manchester. Get up close to the team cars, drivers and cars in the A1GP paddock area
Sky Sports
Trophy Room @ The Manchester Town Hall
Experience sporting glory as Sky Sports brings together some of the worlds most famous sporting trophies
Sky Sports
NatWest Cricket Roadshow @ Castlefield Arena
Perfect your off spin, try your hand at bowling, and practice the most extreme catching through this interactive cricketing experience
Sky Travel
Beach Café @ Albert Square
Come and relax at the Caribbean-themed beach café in Albert Square and enjoy fresh fruit smoothies to the sound of steel bands, or grab a delicious serving of salad and spicy jerk chicken. Rejuvenate yourself and get into tip top condition for the summer with a much deserved head massage, manicure or pedicure treat from expert beauticians
Sky’s Living For Sport
Reach for the Sky @ St Ann’s Square
Get active with Dame Kelly Holmes and try your hand at street dance, a climbing wall.
Sky Vegas
Vegas Night @ Hotel Rossetti
Experience the thrill of being a Vegas ‘high roller’ at a specially created casino night. Try your luck at poker, blackjack and roulette and bid in the Sky Vegas auction with your winnings.
Artsworld
All Singing, All Dancing, All Acting @ The Lowry
Fulfill your artistic dreams as Artsworld, the arts channel from Sky, gives you the chance to sing with English National Opera, dance with English National Ballet, or try your hand at acting with Chicken Shed Theatre Company. If you want to leave the entertaining to the pros, then be inspired by a special evening performance by Young Singers English National Opera and English National Ballet
British Eurosport
Tour de Manchester @ The Manchester Velodrome (National Cycling Centre)
Take a spin with British Eurosport for a cycle ride around Manchester inspired by the epic Tour de France
The Biography Channel
Your Very Own Celebrity Sanctuary @ Central Manchester College of Health and Beauty
Be pampered courtesy of The Biography Channel at the Central Manchester College of Health and Beauty who are offering free facials, massages, manicures and pedicures to make you feel a million dollars
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network’s Toon Party @ Piccadilly Gardens
Cartoon Network is having a party and everyone’s invited! Come and join Scooby- Doo and Mac and Bloo from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends for party games and hilarious capers
Challenge TV
Bullseye , it’s super, smashing, great @ Fat Cat Café Bar
Remember the classic 80s show Bullseye? Well here’s your chance to take part in the action, complete with Bully’s star prize! Challenge TV will be inviting you to come along and compete
Community Channel
Get involved in your Manchester @ Cathedral Gardens
Thinking about helping out in your community but not sure how to start? Got something to say about Manchester? Community Channel is bringing together local charities to let you know how to get involved and have the chance to say your piece
Community Channel
Calling all filmmakers @ the IMC (International Media Centre)
Want to make a film about your local community but don’t know how? Community Channel is running seminars full of tips for aspiring community filmmakers. Then enter Community Channel’s North West film competition and your film could be on national TV
Discovery Channel
Industrial Revelations Experience @ The Trafford Centre
Be inspired by the best of the best of British engineering as Discovery Channel explores the nation’s favourite iconic creations from Clifton Suspension Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral and the Routemaster bus through exciting interactive displays
Playhouse Disney
Magic of story telling @ The Trafford Centre
Enchant your kids with the chance to meet characters from Playhouse Disney and listen to one of the Disney Princesses reading their story in the magic Playhouse garden
E! Entertainment
Celebrity red carpet experience @ Triangle Shopping Centre
E! Entertainment gives you the chance to step on to the red carpet with a ‘celebrity’ on your arm for a fantastic Hollywood photo opportunity!
ESPN Classic
Penalty shoot out, legends Q&A session and Dead Good Sports Quiz @ The Sports Café, Quay Street
Take part in the ESPN Classic penalty shoot-out, fire your questions in an interactive session and then challenge yourself in the Dead Good Sports Quiz
TV5 Monde
The full French experience @ Alliance Française
Be transported to another land and brush up on your languages as TV5 Monde invites you to the Alliance Française for French lessons and the best in French culture
FX
Sharp Shooter @ Laser Quest, The Trafford Centre
Test your skills against the Special Forces Military at the Laser Quest Arena, The Trafford Centre. Find out if you measure up to the heroes of channel favourites’ NCIS, E-Ring or Texas SWAT, as under the watchful eye of the FX Sergeant Major you and your platoon will take on the bad guys in a SWAT assault shoot out.
The History Channel
Hidden House History @ The People’s History Museum
If your home could talk, what do you think it would tell you? The History Channel will be at the People’s Museum offering insider tips and know-how about how to read the history of your home
LIVINGtv
Britain’s Next Top Model @ The Trafford Centre
Do you have what it takes to be Manchester’s Next Top Model? Hosted by Lisa Snowdon, if you catch the judge’s eye you could be strutting the catwalk with the girls from Britain’s Next Top Model and could have the opportunity to walk away with a top fashion prize!
MTV
Pimp My Ride Party @ Bauer Millet – The Arches
Get blinged up at the Pimp My Ride party hosted Tim Westwood and have the chance to get your car pimped. Come Pimped up or not at all!
MUTV
MUTV present Manchester United Soccer Schools @ Old Trafford
Try out your soccer skills with MUTV who have teamed up with Manchester United Soccer Schools to deliver fun coaching sessions and activities for families at Old Trafford
National Geographic Channel
Geo Zones @ Arndale Centre
Walk into another world as National Geographic Channel transports you through sound, vision, smell and touch in an Egyptian tomb, the Air and Water zones and come face to face with live animals in the Jungle zone!
Nick Jr.
Nick Jr.’s Day Out starring LazyTown @ Cathedral Gardens
Join in with Nick Jr. and treat the kids to a great family day out in Cathedral Gardens. There’ll be a fantastic interactive show from the popular pre-school channel featuring games, songs, dances and, of course, LazyTown
Paramount Comedy
Comedy Workshop and ‘The World Stands Up’ performance @ The Frog and Bucket
Perfect your comic timing with Paramount Comedy’s stand up workshop. The winner has the opportunity to perform with the professionals, as Paramount Comedy invites comedy fans to a great evening of performances by established comedians Mick Ferry, Nick Wilty, Trevor Cook, Mitch Benn and Eddie Brill.
SCI FI Channel
To Space and Beyond @ Great Northern Square
Journey to Great Northern Square where SCI FI Channel will take you through space on their exciting simulator ride.
Star Plus
Celebration @ Bridgewater hall
Celebrate the best of South Asian culture with Star Plus at Bridgewater Hall and experience a stimulating mix of South Asian entertainment
TCM
Summer Under The Stars Bar @ Revolution
Get voting for TCM’s best classic movies chosen by the people of Manchester. Enjoy some original timeless movie screenings along with a movie quiz to celebrate the Summer under the Stars season
UKTV Food
Great Food Live @ Piccadilly Gardens
Love cooking? Then come and watch UKTV Food’s celebrity chefs Brian Turner, Simon Rimmer, Jeni Barnett and Andrew Nutter cooking up delicious dishes with local food from Manchester’s Farmer’s Market in Piccadilly Gardens
VH1
VH1 – Live @ The Life Café
Attend the ultimate gig as VH1 hosts an intimate live performance for 600 people. With the name of the act being kept secret until just a few weeks before the Sky festival, this is one worth waiting for
Notes to Editors
To receive regular updates from A1GP, download copyright free images or to register for media accreditation to attend an A1GP race, please register for access to the bespoke media website at www.A1GP.com/press.
– The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is the first opportunity in any area of motorsport for nations to compete with other nations on an equal basis. More than 20 national teams race identical cars with identical engines and no electronic driver aids. Performance is determined by human bravery, skill and excellence.
– All A1GP races will be shown live across a worldwide network of television stations. An announcement detailing television rights-holders will follow shortly.
– For additional information about A1GP including ticket sales and television viewing times, please visit http://www.a1gp.com/.
Media accreditation for race attendance will be run online through www.a1gp.com/press. The accreditation process will open on 1 July 2006. All applications must be made online a minimum of three weeks prior to race day.
– All races proposed on the 2006/07 season A1GP race calendar above are subject to FIA World Council approval and the successful completion of commercial agreements between the circuit management and A1 Grand Prix.
For further information please contact:
Nikki Rooke
PR and Communications Manager
T: +44 (0) 20 7201 9612, M: +44 (0) 7790 019518, E: mailtnikki@A1GP.com