This weekend sees the first round of the 2006 Formula One Grand Prix Championship. As part of the first race, being held in Bahrain, Nick Mason takes a break from Pink Floyd-related activity to participate in one of the support races at the event.

Nick Mason at Goodwood

With 380-horsepower, the cars won’t be too easy for some of the racing novices to handle, so each celebrity will be partnered by an accomplished race driver.

There will be two races: one on the Saturday and one on Sunday before the Bahrain Grand Prix. Each ten-lap event will consist of 16 cars with the professional drivers driving the first five laps. They will then pit to hand over to their celebrity partners for the remainder of the race.

Commenting on the race Nick Mason said: "I could hardly believe the invitation when it arrived... see what promises to be one of the best GPs for some time, drive a seriously exciting race car in the shape of the 5 litre V8 Lumina, and escape the British winter! Not only that, but compete against one of my heroes in the shape of Sir Steve Redgrave. I may have some motor racing experience, but I suspect anyone who has quite so many gold medals is unlikely to head out onto one of the most sophisticated of all Grand Prix circuits for a gentle meander around!"

Here's the schedule for the Pro-Celebrity Challenge:

• Thursday 9th March
  3:15pm - 4pm - Track Familiarisation
   
  
• Friday 10th March
  12:30pm - 1pm - First Practice Session
  4:20pm - 4:50pm - Second Practice Session
   
  
• Saturday 11th March
  4:45pm - 5:30pm - FIRST RACE (10 laps)
   
  
• Sunday 12th March
  11:15am - 11:45am - SECOND RACE (10 laps)

Our thanks to Pete Johnson and Tomas Ordonez-Saenz for their help with this info.