DRIVERS are revving up this morning for a cross-Channel challenge that has already raised £175,000 to help disabled people.

One hundred cars will be roaring away from Blenheim Palace on the first day of the Twin Town Challenge, which aims to raise £250,000 for Charlbury charity SpecialEffect.

Organiser Brendon Cross, vice president of SpecialEffect, said the challenge will be a “lifetime experience” for the motorists as well as helping to change the lives of many people living with disabilities.

The managing director of the Witney-based STL Communications added: “It’s great to see the cars lined up here at Blenheim Palace ready for the off.

“The event will be lots of fun and provide some once in a lifetime experiences as we drive round the track at Silverstone and Abbeville in France.

“But more that that it will change the lives of so many people with disabilities that can be helped by the £250,000 that we will raise for SpecialEffect.”

All the cars cost £500 and will be put through their paces in a series of challenges in the UK and France over the weekend.

This morning the challengers set off for Silverstone for the first tasks before travelling through the Eurotunnel to Le Touquet on the French coast.

The second day will see the cars carry out more trials around the town, before drivers head to the Abbeville circuit for the last of the challenges.

All the teams will return to the UK on Monday for the prize giving ceremony and an afternoon tea at Abbott Diabetes Care in Witney.

The staff will be making cakes and scones for the teams, but there will also be a Great British Bake-Off style competition with the cash raised going to charity.

The cars will then be sold of at the West Oxfordshire Motor Auctions on Tuesday, June 7, after they have completed the 12 challenges – which include a treasure hunt and a giant human formation.

Throughout the weekend there will be street parties, live bands and events including 10-piece band the Village Idiots, from Stonesfield in Oxfordshire, who will be playing live on stage on Rue de Metz, a road in the centre of Le Touquet.

Mr Cross thanked all the businesses across the county which have supported the event, which is organised by a team of volunteers and funded through sponsorship.

SpecialEffect adapts games consoles and controls so that people with disabilities can play video games with able-bodied friends and family on a level playing field Its founder Dr Mick Donegan said this year’s event was a massive landmark for the charity because of the amount it has raised so far.

He added: “Twin Town 16 is a landmark step for the charity. It represents so much – a leap in fundraising, a leap in awareness about the charity and the ability to plan further into the future.”

“But best of all it will enable hundreds more people with disabilities experience a huge leap in quality of their own lives.”

Visit twintown16.co.uk