A knight of the realm named Stewart will be taking part in July\u2019s Silverstone Classic, but we don\u2019t mean the wee Scot Jackie, rather famed actor Patrick. Sir Patrick Stewart OBE has been rehearsing for his role as a real-life racing driver at this summer\u2019s Silverstone Classic, set for the weekend of July 28-30.<\/p>\n
The 76-year-old movie star who famously played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the iconic Star Trek<\/em> Next Generation<\/em> sci-fi series as well as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men<\/em> films has just passed his official ARDS racing driver test at the Silverstone Motorsport Academy, and is now ready to compete in a special Celebrity Challenge Trophy Race at the world\u2019s biggest classic motor racing festival.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a lot of fun,\u201d reported a delighted Stewart who passed both written and driving tests to obtain his competition license. \u201cFor someone who has followed motor racing since being a teenager, to drive around Silverstone and negotiate such legendary corners as Becketts and Stowe is just such a thrill. Speed is not a particularly big passion of mine, but when you are behind the wheel of a nice car it\u2019s quite exhilarating to open it up, and I am looking forward to the Classic race meeting very much. Everybody has got a little bit of competitiveness and aggression about them, so it will certainly be entertaining!\u201d<\/p>\n Other famous faces who\u2019ll be lining up on the star-studded grid include Olympic gold medalists Mark Hunter MBE, Jason Kenny CBE, Greg Searle MBE, Jonny Searle MBE and Amy Williams MBE, bike racing World Champions Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer, former England test cricket captain Mike Gatting OBE and a host of other famous faces from sport, film and television. All will be helping to raise funds and awareness for the Classic\u2019s official charity partner Prostate Cancer UK.<\/p>\n