THIS weekend at Shakespeare County Raceway could potentially see the first ever side-by-side 300mph drag race at the historic Warwickshire quarter-mile race track.

Headlining the aptly named Shakespeare Nationals, defending European champion and track record holder Andy Carter in the B & Q Power Tools Top Fuel Dragster will be facing the green light in a special best of three-match race against Darryl Bradford driving the John Woolfe Racing/Shakespeare County Top Fuel dragster in a straight line dash to the finish which will see more than 12,000 hp unleashed on the race track - all at the same time!

Following a huge engine explosion at the raceway four weeks ago, John and Lesley Wright (owners of Wright Racing) have been working day and night rebuilding the Formula 1 machine of drag racing ready to take on the champion known as the 'Bad Boy'.

Wright Racing's Darryl Bradford can't wait. "Obvio-usly it's a stiff test going out against the might of the current FIA title holder, but David can beat Goliath," says a defiant Darryl.

Although taking on the European champion Darryl will also be aiming to set new track records. "John used to hold the track record here at SCR before Andy snatched it off us last year (5.19s at 288 mph). Now it's our turn to get it back."

With all eyes on the Top Fuel cars, the Shakespeare Nationals also features round two of the track's Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship, the highly competitive and sometimes explosive world of Super Mod-ified - drag racing's answer to touring cars but faster!

The Long Marston Raceway is open between 10am and 6pm on qualifying Saturday and 11am and 5pm on raceday Sunday.

Admission is £15 (Saturday) and £20 (Sunday) or £30 gets you a weekend pass.

Under-16s go free and advance weekend tickets can be purchased at a cost of £26 by calling 01803 550306.