Star of the Great British Bake Off Paul Hollywood will be opening this year’s Henry Surtees Challenge at Buckmore Park.

Hollywood will also leap behind the wheel to do a few laps of the Chatham track himself on October 8.

Mr Surtees’ father, former motor racing champion John Surtees, said: “When Paul isn’t baking or judging others he is a great two and four-wheel enthusiast with his Ducati motorcycle and Aston Martin and he is enthusiastic about karting.

“Paul and I have recently had an adventure at Brands Hatch when he tested my 1960 MV Agusta World Championship model motorcycle.”

More than 30 young drivers have signed up to compete in the charity competition organised by Mr Surtees and the Henry Surtees Foundation.

Young drivers will battle it out in Club100 Birel karts and the top three drivers will win a Henry ‘H’ trophy.

Now in its fourth year the Henry Surtees Challenge offers a spectacular range of prizes that will accelerate the careers of young drivers and help them in their race programme preparation for 2015.

The foundation is named after Henry who died in an accident in 2009.

It helps young people with accidental brain and physical injuries with education and training in technology, engineering and fitness.