British adventurer joins 2014 Mazda3 Celebrity Challenge

Mazda has signed up its first international driver for the 2014 Mazda3 Celebrity Challenge, with TV adventurer Charley Boorman confirming his place on the grid in the Australian F1 Grand Prix support race.

Ewan McGregor's travelling partner in the acclaimed documentary Long Way Round, Boorman is the second driver attached to the crash-and-bash race that runs concurrently with the F1 GP, March 13 to 16.

Melbourne media personality and Mazda ambassador Lauren Phillips is the only other confirmed driver, but Mazda says more celebrities will be announced in coming weeks.

There will be a total of 20 vehicles competing in the race, which eschews last year's Mazda6 diesel sedans for petrol-powered Mazda3 hatches and sedans.

Propulsion for the third-generation Mazda3 vehicles to be used in the event comes from the 2.5-litre SKYACTIVE-G petrol engine. Banging out a very handy 138kW/250Nm, it should make for decent top speeds on the front straight.

In addition to his globetrotting TV adventures, which include competing in the gruelling Dakar Rally on a motorcycle, Boorman is also a travel writer and actor, as well as a mad-keen rev head and F1 fan.

"I’m absolutely elated to be racing on the same track as the Formula 1 drivers and I’m of course looking forward to beating all the other celebrities," said Boorman, who is clearly confident of his ability behind the wheel.

Last year's driver line-up included athletes, television stars, pop stars, supermodels and celebrity chefs. It was eventually won by former test cricketer, Brad Hodge.

Despite hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of damage to the Mazda6 race cars punted around the Albert Park Lake circuit at the 2013 Australian F1 Grand Prix, Mazda hasn’t shied away from a second go at staging a race more renowned for its potential for destruction than its driving skill.

Mazda Australia Marketing Director, Alastair Doak, said the exposure for the Mazda3, Australia's best-selling car in recent years, was worth returning for.

"With huge crowds watching both trackside and at home, the 2014 Mazda3 Celebrity Challenge provides us with a great opportunity to showcase the all-new Mazda3,” said Doak. “We look forward to working with a dynamic mix of celebrities and introducing them to a whole new world of ‘Zoom-Zoom’."