Formula One Party: Tamara Ecclestone Hosts Celebrity Party For Great Ormond Street (PICTURES)

PICTURES: Celebrities Line Up For Formula One Party

A host of celebrities took pole position with racing drivers on Wednesday night at a Formula One party to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The star-studded event was organised by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's daughter Tamara, who has been involved in raising money for the children's charity for the past five years.

She said: "We raised £650,000 last year and this year, in my mind, the target is to beat that. Great Ormond Street is such an amazing place and obviously they need all the money we can get.

"These are hard times for people but I think people who come here tonight should dig deep and spend lots of money."

The socialite, who wore a gold beaded Pucci dress for the occasion, said it would be "amazing" if a Grand Prix was to be held in central London as has been suggested by her father.

She said: "I think London is such a fabulous city and Formula One is glamourous and fabulous and fantastic, and street circuits have such a great buzz about them so I would be all for it."

Ecclestone also walked the pink carpet at the event tonight but refused to pose for photographs or speak to reporters.

Other famous guests included Great Ormond Street Hospital patrons Vernon Kay and his wife Tess Daly, singer Beverley Knight and TV reality star Mark Wright.

Wright said: "I'm a big supporter of the charity. I'm a supporter of any charity that I'm invited to, because it's just good to come somewhere when you know it's such a good cause.

"I'm a big fan of Formula One. I love Lewis Hamilton, (Fernando) Alonso... it's just something I've always watched since I was a kid. I've got a fast car myself."

Tribute was also paid to Spanish test driver Maria De Villota who lost an eye after being seriously injured in a crash at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire yesterday.

Spanish racing driver Dani Clos said: "We don't know much. It's a difficult situation.

"It's been a really big punch in the face for all the people, and for the Spanish and for her.

"These things can happen. It's sad, but she has to keep pushing and be strong and keep pushing forwards."

F1 has raised more than £2.6m towards the hospital's new heart and lung centre since 2005 and this year will begin raising money for its new surgery centre.

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