Ignition chiefs hail '˜passionate' fans for festival's success

Over 140 exotic and performance cars took to the street circuit surrounding the SEC arena with drivers such as rally legends Ari Vatanen, Stig Blomqvist, Miki Biasion, Markku Alen and Timo Salonen among those wowing crowds with spectacular high-speed driving and daring stunts.

Scots Rally legend Jimmy McRae took the wheel of the 555-liveried Subaru Impreza made famous by his late son Colin in the World Rally Championship, while Touring Car ace Gordon Shedden proved that you can have smoke without fire, shredding the rear tyres of an Aston Martin to the delight of the massed spectators.

Speaking of smoke, inclement weather on the Sunday proved no concern to the drivers of the Japspeed and Monster drift teams, whose heavily-modified Japanese cars created clouds to rival anything hanging over Scotland’s largest city.

Rain failed to dampen the spirits of the thousands of fans present on Sunday but the wet conditions did prove too much for one driver as event anchor - Ayr born Formula 1 presenter Lee McKenzie - was forced to wrap up the early afternoon Bumper Formula 1 segment before the penultimate lap due to ‘technical difficulties’. Said difficulties were a classic Formula 1 car parked in a hedge following a mishap . Thankfully the driver was unhurt in the incident.

Cat Stanford, Ignition festival director, said: “We’re delighted with the reaction to the second instalment of Ignition Festival of Motoring.

“To see over 27,000 visitors come through the gates was fantastic and it really underlines the passion of the Scottish crowd for all things motoring. It was always going to be a big challenge to emulate Ignition’s first year success but that’s what we’ve achieved. The challenge will now be to improve the festival offering for future years and continue to bring a truly unique automotive event to Scotland.”