The fastest man on earth will swap straight line speed for a motor racing circuit this weekend when he makes his competitive debut at the Snetterton Lotus Festival.

The fastest man on earth will swap straight line speed for a motor racing circuit this weekend when he makes his competitive debut at the Snetterton Lotus Festival.

Wing Commander Andy Green, who is a qualified fighter pilot, became the first person ever to break the sound barrier on land when he set the World Land Speed Record in 1997.

Green made his attempt in the American desert, driving a Thrust Super Sonic Car with a top speed of 717mph.

Despite his talent for high-speed driving, Green has never taken part in a circuit race.

However, the 47-year-old will make his racing debut in the Lotus on Track Elise Trophy this weekend.

Green will be driving a Lotus Elise, specially liveried to raise awareness of the Bloodhound SSC project, his latest attempt to break the World Land

Speed Record by exceeding 1,000mph!

As part of the preparations for his first foray into circuit racing, Green took his ARDS National B racing licence test at Snetterton last month - which he thankfully passed first time.

Green said: 'When the opportunity to race a Lotus Elise was first mentioned, I was thrilled.

'At first glance, driving a land speed record car and racing a Lotus Elise are very different challenges, but many of the skills are surprisingly similar.

'During the land speed record run, I'll be focused on keeping the car in a straight line - using steering inputs, wheel grip and aerodynamic stability, all of which will be changing dramatically during the run - and assessing the stability and controllability of the car continually.

'Learning to race a Lotus Elise involves all of these skills.'

'I've learned a huge amount about how to manoeuvre a car around Snetterton's challenging corners and fast straights, controlling over-steer and under-steer, and 'feeling' for the optimum speed to corner.

'The advantage of doing this at Snetterton is that I can practice it again and again - and of course I don't have to deal with the physiological effects of accelerating to supersonic speed, effects so powerful they would make most people pass out.

'I'm looking forward to trying out my new skills at the Snetterton's Lotus Festival, which is the perfect venue for the event.'

In addition to the Elise Trophy, the Lotus Festival will feature an F1 demonstration, a full programme of support races, plus a celebration barbeque and live band on Saturday evening.

Tickets for the Lotus Festival at Snetterton on Saturday and Sunday cost from �12 for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under.

For more information call 0870 950 9000 or visit www.snetterton.co.uk