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Top Gear TV Star ready for Lydden Hill

Tanner Foust is the latest international megastar to join the outstanding line-up of top class drivers competing in the UK's first ever round of the thrilling new FIA World Rallycross Championship event. The inaugural event will be staged at Lydden Hill, Kent over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (24-25 May).

Though perhaps, not a household name in the UK Foust is America's answer to Jeremy Clarkson as the 40-year-old is a presenter the US version of the globally popular Top Gear show.

In reality, though, he is rather more akin to the The Stig, the programme's driving legend, than to Clarkson. Foust has multiple motor sport and X-Games victories to his name and also has performed daring stunts in many blockbuster movies such as The Bourne Ultimatum and Iron Man 2.

The American ace has also boosted his reputation on both sides of the Atlantic with notable successes in the exciting sport of rallycross. He was a regular in the FIA European Rallycross Championship between 2010 and 2012 winning rounds in Portugal, Sweden, Norway and at Lydden Hill. Last season he made three further appearances, once again winning at Lydden Hill as well as in Finland.

For 2014 Foust has announced a limited four-round programme in the eagerly anticipated new FIA World Rally Championship and, based on his past wins in Kent, it's absolutely no surprise that he's planning to kick off his campaign at Lydden before tackling further events in Finland, Canada and Turkey.

"With back-to-back wins at Lydden Hill in 2012 and 2013, I'm going to be looking to keep my streak alive in 2014," grinned the Rockstar Energy Drink driver who has swapped his flame-spitting Ford Fiesta for a new Volkswagen Motorsport supported VW Polo over the winter.

"Competing at the Lydden Hill Circuit, where the sport of rallycross was invented, is always really special," continued Foust. "The track is what rallycross is all about, combining technical driving on the Tarmac sections with full-attack sideways slides through gravel. It's going to be a great FIA World Rallycross Championship debut for the Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Polo.

"Every season, the sport of rallycross steps up its game and this year is going to be the most competitive yet," he said. "It's been amazing to be a part of rallycross as it has grown over the past few years and I can't wait to get back out there and race in 2014. May 24th can't come soon enough!"

Tickets for the British round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill on 24-25 May - with discounts of up to 20 per cent for those booking in advance - are available via the official www.lyddenhill.co.uk website. Accompanied children aged 12 and under are admitted free.