Stig set for blast in Scotland 19 | 05 | 2016
THE STIG IS coming to Scotland. Top Gear’s tame racing driver will be in action behind the wheel of an impressive selection of supercars at Glasgow’s Ignition Festival of Motoring this summer.
One of the star displays at the festival, to be held at Glasgow’s Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre on August 5-7, will be the Top Gear Magazine Supercar Grid, which will be crammed with Lamborghinis, Porsches, McLarens, Mustangs, Mercedes and more.
At regular intervals, the supercars will be fired up and taken out on high-speed laps of the show’s bespoke street circuit to be laid out around the SECC and the nearby SSE Hydro Arena.
The Stig will be the lead driver for the performance laps throughout the Show’s three days.
“You seldom see cars like the Lamborghini Huracan, Audi R8 V10 and McLaren 675LT out on the road,” Top Gear magazine editor in chief, Charlie Turner, said, “but thanks to Top Gear magazine, you can go one better than that.
“Come to our grid at Ignition and not only can you get up close to some of the latest and greatest cars from around the world — including the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Ariel Nomad, Mercedes AMG GTS, the iconic Mustang V8 and many more — but you will also be able to see and hear them in action.”
Advance tickets for Scotland’s three-day festival of tyre smoking, engine-revving excitement, are now on sale. Single tickets bought in advance start at £28, while a family day ticket for two adults and up to three children costs £65.
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Full details on all ticket prices, including special VIP entry to the show’s star-studded opening evening, can be found on the Ignition website.
As well as hall after hall of cars and bikes old and new, highlights include a live action zone while there will also be display laps by competition machinery, including a Red Bull Racing RB7 Formula One car which will be driven by Scotland’s own Formula One ace David Coulthard.
Coulthard will drive the RB7 on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7; Sergio Sette Camara from the Red Bull Junior team will be behind the wheel on Friday, August 6, while five-time British rally champ Jimmy McRae will demonstrate Colin’s world championship-winning Subaru Impreza.
“We're really looking forward to hosting the inaugural Ignition Festival of Motoring,” Joe Aitken, head of major events at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said.
“The announcement of the Street Circuit is incredibly exciting as it marks a UK first for Glasgow and will put the city right at the heart of the action. Today's announcement reinforces Glasgow's enviable reputation as a world-class destination which works with major event organisers to create show-stopping events that pack a real punch for audiences.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s director of events, said: “The Ignition Festival of Motoring promises to be an exciting event, and it is fantastic news that the Stig will be the lead driver for the performance laps.
"The event is expected to attract visitors from across Scotland and further afield, for what will be thrilling weekend of motoring action that will fully utilise the outstanding facilities in and around Glasgow’s SECC."
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Jim McGill