I was at the press launch for the Ignition Festival of Motoring this morning.
www.ignitionfestival.co.ukThis is a large-scale motor show at the SECC in Glasgow in early August, from the team behind CarFest and Top Gear Live.
The headline is that they will be closing roads around the SECC to create a street circuit, with over a hundred cars doing demo laps over the course of the event. Included will be David Coulthard in the 2011 world championship winning Red Bull F1 car and Jimmy McRae in his son’s WRC winning Subaru Impreza.
Ignition looks more like a festival than a traditional motor show – yes, there will be a main hall with manufacturers displays and supercar collections, and another with classic cars and bikes, but there will also be a strong active motorsport element. The street circuit will be accompanied by open paddocks and pit areas. There will be open-air grandstands, drift displays, stunt shows, food trucks and live music in the evenings.
Overall, it looks fun, but possibly risks trying to be all things to all people. I’m sure we’ll all hear more about it from the press as the event draws nearer.
