What's the news?

There is nothing unusual about vehicles accelerating down the runway at Edinburgh airport; but on 4th September expect the wheels to remain firmly on the ground as the roar of jet aircraft is joined by the sound of car engines. For one day the airport's auxiliary runway will host Race the Runway, a charity drag race, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, to raise funds for the Glasgow-based Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.

Owners of high-performance cars are invited to race their vehicles on the runway in return for a donation to the Hospice, allowing drivers to reach high speeds without having to worry about speed cameras. To show everyone how it should be done Mercedes will bring along the Silver Arrow Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 W03 car from 2012 - as was driven by Michael Schumacher. Team Development Driver and Sky Sports presenter Anthony Davidson will drive the 750hp, 600kg racing machine.

The company will also bring a selection of AMG road cars with a combined power output of over 3,000hp. The new A 45 AMG and 360hp GLA 45 AMG will line up alongside a range of AMG V8-powered models from the C-Class, E-Class, SL and SLS ranges.

Rob Halloway, Communications and Events Director Mercedes-Benz UK said "We're delighted to be back at Race the Runway. It's great fun and a real privilege to thunder along the tarmac at take-off speeds in a car - and of course it's all perfectly legal!

"But best of all this remarkable day raises awareness and funds for a terrific cause - the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice. I'm certain that when Ant Davidson gets behind the wheel of the Formula One car it'll be unlike anything seen before at Edinburgh Airport, and a real magic moment in the story of the Silver Arrows."

Anything else?

Supercars from around the world will run in a series of heats with the fastest car from each heat going through to the next stage. At last year's event the finalists were reaching 180mph on the runway. The rest of the airport will remain open with aircraft taxiing to and from the terminal building while the racing takes place.