A 180mph ice cream van will be sending a 'ripple' of excitement through motorsport fans as it tries to 'scoop' victory in a dare devil race against a British touring car on Sundae...sorry, make that Sunday.

Crowds at this weekend's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) event at Snetterton should not be fooled by its pretty pastel coloured exterior, cute ice cream cone decoration and twinkly chimes.

Because under the bonnet sits the brooding engine and transmission of a Jaguar XJ220 supercar making it arguably the fastest ice cream van ever to take to the tarmac.

And while the touring car racers take a break during Sunday lunchtime, driver Justin Law will be showing just what the gutsy pimped-up van can do as it aims to 'lick' Airwaves Racing's turbo-charged Ford Focus ST into second place in the most barmy fun race yet to be held at the new 300 circuit.

The odd couple lined up on the starting grid today and gave a sneaky preview of what the Snetterton crowd should expect.

Chuckling engineers rushed from the pit lane and leaned over the barriers recording the surreal spectacle on camera phones.

Everyone couldn't help but smile and shake their heads as over the distant roar of a revving engine, floated the ghostly sound of an ice cream van jingle – the tune of 'Just One Cornetto' – as the vehicles did battle out of eye shot around the winding track.

Michael Caine, the driver of the opposing Ford Focus who is the front runner in the supporting Porsche Carrera Cup GB for Motorbase which prepares the Airwaves BTCC cars, said: 'I have never raced an ice cream van before, except I probably chased one when I was a kid but my dad told me that when the chimes sounded they'd run out of ice cream.'

Justin, who runs Don Law Racing and has gained success as a driver in the Group C Racing Championship, added: 'That was terrifying. I very nearly rolled the thing. It actually went up on two wheels. It's always a very interesting experience but great fun.'

Snetterton race day tickets cost �30 on the gate, while admission for children aged 12 and under is free. For more information, visit www.snetterton.co.uk

See tomorrow's Pink 'Un for a preview of all this weekend's racing action at Snetterton, plus visit the EDP24 website for the latest updates and pictures from the circuit.