THE popular race driver-car combination of Evesham’s Rob Austin and his Exocet Racing Audi, Sherman, will perform in front of 35,000 people at the much-anticipated Bug Jam Festival.

Bedfordshire’s famous drag racing strip of Santa Pod is the venue on Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20.

Austin competes in the star-studded British Touring Car Championship and made a breakthrough pole position and win last year. His Pershore-based Rob Austin Racing team enjoy plenty of support nationwide.

The Rob Austin Racing Owners Club has also been created to enable the public to buy shares in the team, which is a unique concept in British motorsport.

Now team, car and driver are preparing for some fun at Bug Jam, which comes in the middle of a six-week summer break in the busy BTCC calendar.

Not only will Austin demonstrate his 300-brake horsepower Audi several times each day but he will also be present for autographs and photos outside the Exocet Racing team awning, where Sherman will be on display.

Title sponsor FAST Exocet will be there as well with their range of octane-boosting fuel additives and other team merchandise on sale.

Austin said: “We are all really looking forward to this event – it’s a mini-Glastonbury for petrolheads and the atmosphere will be wild.

“Sherman is renowned for making great starts in the BTCC but even he’ll find it tough up against a top-fuel dragster in a straight line over a quarter-of-a-mile.

“Then again a drag car can’t do donuts like we can and you know me – I’m all about putting on a show for the people.”

Santa Pod’s commercial manager Caroline Holden said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Rob Austin Racing to Bug Jam this year, adding yet another dimension to an already impressive event line-up.

“Rob’s popularity and enthusiasm for what he does will go down a storm with our like-minded VW fans.”