Inaugural Ignition Festival of Motoring Takes to the Road at the SECC; Glasgow, UK
Over 25,000 visitors attended the first ever IGNITION motoring festival at the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC), Glasgow, UK, this weekend (5 – 7 August 16) in what was a high octane, high speed, unique showcase of motoring.
For three days, the entire SECC campus was utilised to host the festival including the creation of Glasgow’s first ever specially constructed Street Circuit around the venue’s closure roads and The SSE Hydro.
Iconic rally driver Jimmy McRae christened the circuit in Colin McRae’s original Subaru along with laps from Scotland’s own Formula One star David Coulthard, The Stig and Team Japspeed driver Shane Lynch.
Alongside the high speed racing displays taking place out on the circuit, making use of every aspect of the SECC campus – Hall 3 was transformed into a ‘Live Action Zone’ featuring performances from the Top Gear Live stunt team, led by Paul Swift, with Halls 4 and 5 featuring motoring exhibitions and displays of classic cars, supercars, rally cars and motorcycles – all paying homage to some of the world’s finest motor sporting heroes.
In the Lomond Auditorium an on stage Q&A was held featuring a line-up of top motoring stars, with The Hydro also providing a range of catering options for visitors. Car parks were fully utilised with a special ‘star’ carpark for VIP guests to display their own vehicles, as well the formation of a motorsport autotesting and trial biking area, plus a general paddock and holding area for the racing cars participating.
Dan Thurlow; Director of Exhibitions, SECC said: “Delivering this event has not only been a real city wide collaboration but also a real showcase of what the SECC can offer, with almost all areas of our campus being utilised. We were transformed across the three days, into a real high action, thrill fest with some hugely impressive displays and memorabilia from all facets of the motor industry.”
IGNITION Event Director, Jeremy Vaughan, said: “The combination of motor sport heroes, stunning cars in action, coupled with A VIBRANT MOTOR SHOW had been a huge hit with Scotland’s passionate motoring crowds.
“Scotland’s rich heritage in motoring and passion for motor sport helped make the 2016 IGNITION event a major success for all involved.
“David Coulthard and Jimmy McRae are legends in Scotland and the fact they and Mark Webber mingled with the crowds made the event very special indeed.
“We were so encouraged by the attendance, the personalities and the support we received from Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Event Scotland, the SECC and the media.
“The feedback from all the exhibitors and sponsors has been overwhelming, which has already shown in their commitment to next year’s event. Visitors flocked into the halls to see over 20 marquees represented by dealers and manufacturers, plus a wide variety of products, services and luxury goods all creating an annual destination as the leading motor show in Scotland.”
Joe Aitken, Head of Major Events at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “IGNITION was the most exciting, ambitious and complex motor show ever to be staged in Scotland and it was the sheer scale of this high-octane festival which proved so appealing. From the creation of Scotland’s first-ever Formula 1 street circuit and a stellar line up of some of the biggest names in world motorsport to a truly remarkable collection of supercars and bikes, classic cars and the Top Gear Live stunt team, IGNITION took over every part of our state-of-the-art SECC complex; demonstrating the unrivalled capacity and flexibility that this now world-class event campus can offer.
“Glasgow’s global profile as a diverse, vibrant and world-class major events city has never been greater. Today, we’re recognised by organisers of some of the world’s biggest events – and widely respected by the events industry at large – as a city with the expertise, excellence and innovation to deliver show-stopping events that pack a real punch for audiences.”
Stuart Turner, Head of EventScotland, said: “The inaugural IGNITION Festival of Motoring has been a great success for Glasgow and Scotland as a whole, providing a wonderful weekend of fast-paced action and excitement for spectators. With its thrilling programme of motoring displays and performances, and use of state-of-the-art facilities, IGNITION demonstrated just why Scotland is the perfect stage for events.”
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