Two reporters from a family-owned weekly newspaper are currently enjoying the build-up to the start of the Formula 1 season in Bahrain.

Rotherham Advertiser sports editor Paul Rickett and motoring writer Tom Sharpe are in the Middle East to cover the exploits of the new Virgin Racing, which is based on their patch in Dinnington.

The duo is using CoverItLive to post reports, features and interactive chat on rotherhamadvertiser.com over the course of this weekend.

The web activity is being backed up in print by a six-page preview in this week’s Advertiser and extensive coverage planned for next week’s edition.

The paper is owned by publisher Garnett Dickinson whose chair John Dickinson raced a Lotus during the 1950s and 60s and has taken part in the Monte Carlo rally.

Timo Glock and debutant Lucas di Grassi are driving for the Virgin team.

Digital editor Richard Smith told HTFP: “It’s a brand new team in Formula 1 and the brainchild of former butcher John Booth whose dream was to get into Formula 1.

“The owners of the Advertiser are all members of the same family and are very keen on motorsport who have sponsored McLaren in the past so they didn’t have to justify this to the accountants.

“We wanted to be out there for the team’s debut race. The whole team, all their workshops, is based in Dinnington.

“A place like this is not normally linked with the glamour of Formula 1 and the owners want to support them in everything they do.

“This is the first time we’ve attempted anything like this and we’re really excited at being able to give our website users our unique take on the action as our local team gets to grips with the big names in Formula 1.”