STAGE SET FOR SEASON OPENER
A host of stars and sensational machinery from every level of the sport are in Birmingham to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Europe’s biggest motorsport show, Autosport International, which opens to the public on Saturday.
Following two industry-focused days, fans of the sport will flock to the NEC on Saturday and Sunday to start the new motorsport season. There, they’ll hear from the likes of 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard, FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg, FIA World Endurance Championship-winning drivers Allan McNish and Anthony Davidson and recent F1 debutant Will Stevens.
British Touring Car Champions Colin Turkington, Andrew Jordan, Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden will also be present, along with new Audi factory sportscar driver Oliver Jarvis, 2014 GP3 Champion Alex Lynn and former FIA World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff.
Accompanying them, Autosport International will feature exclusive displays, including the popular F1 Racing Grid, which is led by Lewis Hamilton’s World Championship-winning Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid.
The Dunlop MSA BTCC is in the spotlight, with three-time FIA World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx announcing at the show that he’ll return home to join 2014 titlists West Surrey Racing. His new BMW takes pride of place on the Autosport Stage, while former champion Andrew Jordan’s new MG headlines the special BTCC feature.
Fans can also get up close to the Porsche LMP1 919 Hybrid and the Renaultsport R.S. 01, check out 60 Years of Motorsport News and Wales Rally GB features, and inspect a special collection of Track Icons and Wild Road Cars like the Mercedes C11 and Ferrari F40 in a feature presented by Classic & Sports Car Magazine and Silverstone Classic.
Among each show in the Live Action Arena, the UK’s largest indoor racetrack, Solberg will wow fans aboard his ex-WRC Citroën Xsara.
“I started my 2014 season at Autosport International, had a great weekend and ended up winning the FIA World Rallycross Championship, so it’s great to be back in Birmingham,” Solberg, also a former World Rally Champion, said.
“I’m having a blast driving my Citroën Xsara in the Live Action Arena, I can’t wait for the weekend’s shows and catching up with guys like David Coulthard, Anthony Davidson and Allan McNish.”
Under the same roof, the Performance Car Show, presented by Landsail Tyres, in association with Autocar and PistonHeads.com is packed with supercars and high-performance favourites, including the LaFerrari, Lamborghini Huracán, BMW i8 and a special showcase of winners from Wednesday’s What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2015.
Finalists from Autocar’s Britain’s Best Driver’s Cars 2014 will also fire up the Live Action Arena, led by the winning Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ariel Atom 3.5R and McLaren 650S.
Doors open at 9am with adult tickets available for £35, children’s tickets priced from £21 and children under five years admitted for free. For more information, visit www.autosportinternational.com.
Notes to editors
Further news from Autosport International can be found here: http://news.cision.com/autosport-international-2015
Applications for media accreditation have now closed. Media accreditation is available on the day at the discretion of the organiser. Those wishing to be accredited must bring photographic ID and a dated letter on headed paper from their commissioning editor confirming they are covering Autosport International for that publication. Full terms and conditions can be found athttp://www.autosportinternational.com/trade/Content/Media-accreditation-TandCs
For more information or high resolution imagery, please contact a member of the Autosport International Press Office on +44 (0)121 2600119 or email asi-pr@rsm-auto.com.
Tickets are now on sale for the public show, which is held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, on 10-11 January 2014. Advanced adult tickets cost £32, with children’s tickets priced at £21 (children under five years of age go free). Group tickets are also available. Paddock passes are available from £42, with VIP tickets from £120.
Paddock passes include general admission plus: access to Driver Signing Area where visitors can get autographs of famous drivers and motor racing celebrities, access to the backstage Paddock Area and a paddock guide.
VIP tickets include: exclusive access to the VIP enclosure at the very top of the Live Action Arena grandstand, complete with complimentary champagne and canapés, a dedicated Club Lounge where VIP Club ticket holders can chill out, complimentary parking at the NEC, complimentary cloak room, access to Driver Signing Area and dedicated VIP signing sessions, fast-track entry to the Live Action Arena and access to the backstage Paddock Area, plus a paddock guide, show guide and goodie bag.
For more ticket information call +44 (0)844 581 1420 or visit www.autosportinternational.com
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