Sign up now for 24-hour race on Top Gear test track

This year's RIDE24 challenge at the Top Gear test track should be bigger and better than last year's inaugural event (RIDE24)

Registration is open for the second RIDE24, an endurance relay for road racers at the Top Gear test track in Surrey.

Organisers are hoping to build on the success of this year's first edition and attract up to 60 teams of four riders.

The aim is to complete as many laps as possible of the floodlit airfield within 24 hours, and raise lots of money for children’s health charity Action Medical Research.

Event manager Sarah Stevenson, a keen cyclist, told BikeRadar that the Le Mans-style race was the only event of its type in the UK.

She said: "This year's event was a bit of a tester to see how popular it would be. We had 25 teams, lots of them from banks and blue-chip companies, and it was really hardcore.

"A lot of the guys who did it from Sky, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan had done marathons and ironmans, and they said this was much, much tougher than that.

"There's something unique about riding through the night with your team. The camaraderie is amazing. All of the teams that took part this year have registered again."

The 2010 event will take place at Dunsfold aerodrome on June 19-20. Organisers are offering a 50 percent discount on the £240 team entry fee until the end of November.

Food and drink will be provided, and teams can take advantage of free massages, music and entertainment in the Rider Village. All participants will receive a T-shirt and medal. The event will operate under British Cycling technical regulations.

It is hoped Olympic road race champion Nicole Cooke, cycling ambassador for Action Medical Research, will again make an appearance to present the prizes.

For more information about RIDE24, visit www.action.org.uk/ride24 or contact event manager Sarah Stevenson on 01273 735788 or sarahs@action.org.uk.

To get a taste of what the event's like, check out the video below:

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