Help design Nick Heidfeld's helmet

From today, Nick Heidfeld's fans can get their creative juices flowing: the BMW Sauber F1 Team driver is asking his fans to submit innovative, striking designs for his racing helmet, which he will then wear at the German Grand Prix (10th to 12th July 2009).

Fans can send their designs to Nick's official website, www.nickheidfeld.com. After the race at the Nürburgring, the German's helmet will be up for auction, with the proceeds going to charity.

A digital design tool makes it possible to bring the colour and design of Nick's helmet to life. The best designs will be displayed in an online gallery and go through to the design competition. The winning design will be transferred onto a Schuberth Formula One helmet.

"I am looking forward to the creative designs, and am already very excited," says Heidfeld. "I am ready to be inspired. Together with my long-term helmet designer Jens Munser, I will then select the best design. The winner of the competition will then come to the paddock to personally hand me the helmet before the first free practice session on the Friday." And there is more: the winner will also receive an invitation and two gold tickets for the entire race weekend in the Eifel Mountains from the organisers of the German Grand Prix.

After the Grand Prix, the helmet will be auctioned in aid of the charity "Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e.V.", which supports aid projects for children in Germany and abroad. The auction starts on Friday 10th July, on the evening of the second Golf Grand Prix at the Nürburgring's experience world. From then on, bids for the helmet can be sent by E-mail to auktion@spendenmarathon.de.