Dual sportswoman Liz Halliday will be taking to the track this weekend to help raise money for the annual BBC charity extravaganza, Children In Need.

The Californian-born, West Sussex-based sportscar and equestrian star will get behind the wheel on Saturday (1 November) for a charity karting event organised by former Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell at his Dunkeswell raceway in Devon.

Halliday will make up one eighth of the all-female ladies team which includes, amongst others, DTM ace Katherine Legge and British GT Championship regular Rachel Green.

The final result of Saturday's two hour-long races will be decided by the aggregate times of each added together. Although only a fundraiser, it will be Halliday's first taste of competitive karting, having never raced karts in anger early on in her career.

“It's a chance for us all to relax and have some fun at the end of a long season whilst knowing we're doing our bit for charity,” the 29-year-old explained. “Doing something like this makes us realise how lucky we were growing up, so it's nice to give something back, especially for such a worthwhile cause.

“Having said that, the competitive instinct of racing drivers always burns brightly, so I'm sure there will be plenty of action taking place out on the track. We've got some good drivers in this team, so we'll be hoping to give the guys a decent run for their money.”

The event will also be Halliday's first outing since coming home fourth in the LMP1 class and 18th outright in the final round of the American Le Mans Series in her home state at Laguna Seca earlier this month, sharing the Creation Autosportif CA07-AIM with Jamie Campbell-Walter and Stephen Simpson.

The karting races will feature as part of the evening-long entertainment to be broadcast on BBC1's flagship Children In Need programme from 7pm on Friday, 14 November. The 28th annual telethon fundraiser will highlight awareness for society's deprived and underprivileged youngsters.

To make a donation, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey