Manning makes pit-stop in Hyde Park

With the British Touring Car Championship also in action at Brands this weekend, reigning champion James Thompson joined in the event with the works Vauxhall team to show off their pit-stop skills.

Manning and Thompson circled their respective vehicles around Hyde Park's bandstand, before making a series of demonstration pit-stops. The Walker Racing crew made a fastest pit-stop of 8.56s. It was such a slick display that the team had to be instructed to slow down its stop so that the BBC camera crew could capture all the action.

"I've been round here in the summer, having the odd beer, but it's a bit different to be driving my Champ Car round here," said Manning about the event. "I think it's going to create a bit of interest. I'm sure we've woken up the city this morning!"

The driver did his best to demonstrate the awesome power of his RAC sponsored racer, getting it very sideways on the park's loose gravel paths. "It's got to be done," he laughed. "It's easy in my car, with 800hp and rear-wheel drive. It's a bit different to a front-wheel-drive 275hp touring car."

Despite its BTCC Astra Coupe lacking power, the Vauxhall team showed that it was no slouch at pit-stops, with its fastest four-tyre stop of 8.87s comparing well against the Walker crew.

James Thompson said: "it's a great chance to come down here and show that our guys are as good at pit-stops as anyone else in the world. With Darren and I here you'd be forgiven for thinking Yorkshire is taking over motorsport," he added.

Running a Champ Car in the heart of London raises one question close to the heart of most London residents. Did Manning have to pay a congestion charge fee for his Champ Car, like everyone else?

"I hope not," he said. "Well, I won't anyway. Maybe the RAC will have to pay, but I'd have thought that they can get away with it..."