TWO OF Britain’s top motorsport aces paid a visit to RAF Leuchars yesterday to feel “the need for speed” at two entirely different levels.

Reigning British touring car champion Matt Neal and his Dalgety Bay team-mate Gordon Shedden brought along some of the kit used by Team Halfords, and took on one of the base’s 56 Squadron Tornado F3 fighters in a sprint down the runway.

The squadron invited the drivers, their team management and sponsors to meet local children and RAF service families, and allow them to see the 160mph car up close.

In the race the car, which is leading this year’s championship, was driven by Matt while Gordon was in the rear seat of the F3 fighter. Squadron Leader Richard “Dicko” Moyes, last year’s Tornado F3 display pilot, then took him for a short flight.

Tomorrow the squadron will perform a fly-past to open the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Race Day at Knockhill, by Dunfermline.

For the record, the Honda Integra Type R came a fairly distant second to the Tornado.