14/12/2008
NEWS STORY
The man versus machine challenge which was to see Lewis Hamilton take on Olympic gold medal winner Chris Hoy has been cancelled due to concerns over the safety of the track.
The event, part of the Race of Champions, was due to see Hamilton, in the latest McLaren built Mercedes SLR supercar, take on Hoy, who would have been using the bike he rode to gold in Beijing.
However, heavy rain throughout the weekend, not to mention oil spills, left organizers with little choice but to cancel the challenge.
Talking to Sky Sports, Hoy said: "There were a few accidents in the rain yesterday and there has been some oil spilt on the track. The organisers have done their best but you have to put safety first. It's a huge disappointment as I was really looking forward to it and I know Lewis was too."
Nonetheless, Lewis didn't disappoint the crowds, giving a demonstration in his championship winning McLaren and later appearing in the Mercedes SLR, giving Hoy and then his father Anthony Hamilton a ride they'll never forget.