THE crackle and roar of richly-tuned nitro fuelled Funny Cars will thunder into life this Bank Holiday weekend as drag star John Spuffard starts his British Championship title defence in drag racing's popular 280-mile per hour class, Nitro Funny Cars at the Shakespeare County Raceway.

Last year, Spuffard, an engineer from Northampton, drove his 6000 bhp/8 litre burning Pontiac Funny Car called 'Showtime' to the championship title at the Warwickshire drag strip in what was best summed up as a 'fairy tale' ending in the last round when Norm Wilding won the final on his return from the USA.

Despite playing second fiddle to Team Showtime, last season's runners-up Gordon Smith driving the 'Shockwave' Pontiac is optimistic about the season.

The championship, the first of its kind for more than ten years, consists of four rounds taking in two rounds each at Shakespeare County Raceway and Santa Pod Raceway.

Additionally, close to 230 amateur drag racers will be competing in a variety of sportsman car and motorcycle bracket eliminations for the opening round of the Super Series championship.

Racer parking for the event will begin tomorrow. Qualifying for all classes will commence on Saturday at 10am. Qualifying for the 230mph Methanol Dragsters and Funny cars will also commence Saturday.

Final eliminations will start Sunday and end Monday beginning at 11am each day.

With a smooth strip with a sticky launch pad run by a top professional crew running the show, spacious free grandstands just yards away from the strip and evening entertainment in the clubhouse, it's no wonder the Long Marston strip is one of the best places to race.

Admission to the Super Series Springnationals is £15 Saturday, £18 Sunday and £20 Monday. A full weekend pass is £35. For ticket details call 01483 236 262.

Located six miles south of Stratford-Upon-Avon off the B4632, Shakespeare County Raceway is easily accessible from junction 15 off the M40/A46 - a primary north-south route through the county of Warwickshire.