Follow in the tyre tracks of celebrity chef James Martin

Grandstand Motor Sports is offering the opportunity to follow in the tyre tracks of celebrity chef and well known car enthusiast James Martin who can be seen on TV this Christmas taking part in ‘the world’s greatest road race’ the Mille Miglia’ in northern Italy.

The programme, which is called ‘The Real Italian Job: James Martin‘s Mille Miglia’, follows the progress of the celebrity chef in his recently restored 1948 Maserati AC6GCS, as he takes part in this open road endurance race and will be shown at 9pm on BBC 2 on 28th December.

For classic car enthusiasts eager to get a taste of this historic race, Grandstand Motor Sports has released the details of its luxury driving tour to see the 2009 Mille Miglia.

The 11-day Italian Lakes and Alpine driving tour to the Mille Miglia in Italy departs from Folkestone on Saturday 9 May 2009 and driving in your own car, takes a relaxed pace, passing through France, Switzerland and Austria, staying in accommodation of a high standard in Champagne, Alsace and the Austrian Mountains. Three nights are spent relaxing by Lake Iseo before the group travels to Brescia, where the Mille Miglia begins, for the ‘scrutineering’ of the race cars.

The tour goes on to explore other interesting sections of the route, such as the ‘Futa’ and ‘Raticosa’ passes. The final three days of the tour are spent travelling through Italy and on through France, en route back to the UK, enjoying the local gastronomy along the way.

The 11 day tour costs from £1,799 per person based on twin share and includes 10 nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, 8 dinners and a number of specially-arranged excursions including a boat trip on Lake Iseo in Italy and wine tasting.

For more information, log on to Grandstandmotorsports.co.uk.