ONE OF the great names of Formula One returns to Castle Combe for the biggest day in the Wiltshire circuit's recent history.

Nelson Piquet junior is set to ride out in the big race of the day, the Formula Three Championship in which the young Brazilian is showing some remarkable family traits.

His father Nelson senior was three-times world champion and 30 years ago used to battle it out with Hampshire legend Derek Warwick for that same British F3 trophy.

Nowadays father is in the background nurturing his son's blossoming motor racing career which began to take real shape at Silverstone last month when he won his first championship race.

With two more podium finishes, Piquet junior is beginning to close on the championship leader Alan van der Merwe from South Africa. The battle between the two of them and top Brits Jamie Green and Adam Carroll at The Combe on Sunday promises to be red-hot.

"We have attracted a star-studded international line-up," beamed Castle Combe circuit chairman Howard Strawford. "There's something like 15 countries represented."

And there's a good support programme of GT racing as well as the mighty TVR Tuscans and the lightning fast Caterham R400 Superlights plus the Castle Combe saloon car championship and a special Formula Ford race.

As usual there will be plenty of local interest. Ricky Cole from Southampton is beginning to make a mark in the GT Championship alongside co-driver Peter Le Bas in the GT Series.

Their bright yellow Chevrolet Corvette is beginning to run at the front of the field. Fourth place at Snetterton looked like being improved on at Silverstone until the car went off the boil. Steve Hyde from Winchester is another driver at the forefront of the GT pack.

Watch too, for West End's exciting young startet Jon Barnes in the Caterham event and Richard Stanton from Salisbury, who is a genuine title contender in the TVR Tusacans.

Race fans looking to book in advance can purchase a weekend ticket for £20 by calling 01249 782417. Practice on Saturday starts from 9am with qualifying from 1pm. Sunday sees racing from 11.00am.