Among the top attractions are Subaru's new special edition Impreza, Vauxhall's all-new British Touring Car racing Vectra, and the Live Action Arena. Plus, British fans will get their first chance to see the record-breaking JCB Dieselmax.

The show opens its doors to the public on Saturday and we sent Trackside's Keith Collantine to bring you the highlights.

This is where the 2007 motor sport season begins. The Autosport International show boasts an array of exciting new car launches, the chance to meet your racing heroes, and a full grid of F1 cars.

Damon Hill starts the show

Ten years ago Damon Hill was the reigning Formula One world champion. Today he is the president of the British Racing Drivers' Club and fighting to keep the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

He opened the show this morning with Minister for Sport Richard Caborn and both paid tribute to the strength of the British motor racing industry. Caborn said Britain had: "the finest centre of excellence for motor sport in the world."

When the floor opened for questions the inevitable "are you The Stig?" was fired at Hill. Although he denied it strongly, Hill couldn't resist a gag: "I am not the Stig. But then, only the true Messiah denies his divinity."

Subaru Impreza WRX STI RB320

Subaru unveiled a very special version of their legendary Subaru Impreza. The model was in memory of Richard Burns, the only Englishman ever to win the World Rally Championship, who died of a brain tumour at the end of 2005.

The £29,995 car boasts the 320PS Prodrive Performance Pack, 18-inch alloys, Prodrive suspension, new anti-roll bar and rides 30mm lower at the front.

Proceeds from its sale will raise money for the Richard Burns foundation which helps those suffering from serious injury and illness.

Touring car stars

The British Touring Car Championship ended 2006 in fine style and looks set for another great year after some intriguing car launches.

The RAC British Touring Car team had a surprise – they will switch from MG Rovers to the World Touring Car Championship-winning BMW 320si E90 for 2007.

Colin Turkington was confirmed to be staying with the team for 2007, having finished third in the championship last year.

Vauxhall are also switching models from the Astra to the Vectra for their attack on the 2007 BTCC. And as the cliché goes, if it goes as well as it looks, we might as well give them the silverware right now.

British race-winner Tom Chilton and former European Touring Car Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi stay with the team for 2007.

Seat too had their new Leon Cupra BTCC car on hand, and Jason Plato is convinced he will be challenging for the championship this year.

Porsche/BP Ultimate 130mph demo

In an unusual display BP are demonstrating the capabilities of their Ultimate 102 fuel in a Porsche 996 GT2 Mk1 mounted on a rolling road. Capable of hitting 130mph on the dynamometer without actually going anywhere, the demonstration shows the power gain achievable with performance fuel.

Live show

The Live Action Arena is showing off some of the most exciting racing cars. How about an Aston Martin DBR9 and a Subaru Impreza World Rally Car in the flesh?

F1 grid and rally stage

F1 Racing magazine has one Formula One car from each of the eleven teams lined up in a replica of the start line at the historic Monza racing circuit. It's the closest you can get to an F1 car outside of the British Grand Prix!

Meanwhile a model of a stage of the British Rally has been set up with actually World Rally Championship cars including Sebastian Loeb's Xsara and Marcus Gronholm's Ford Focus.

The show is open to the public this Saturday and Sunday. For ticket information see http://www.autosport-international.com/.

Visitors at the weekend will get the chance to meet motor racing stars such as:
• Andy Priaulx – reigning double World Touring Car Champion
• Anthony Davidson and Takuma Sato – Super Aguri F1 racers
• Matt Neal – reigning double British Touring Car Champion
• Jason Plato – former British Touring Car Champion and star of Five's "Fifth Gear"
• Gary Paffett – McLaren F1 test driver
• Tom Kristensen - record seven-times Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Auto Trader links