Coventry 'could be England's Monaco' say Motofest organisers

[dutchman]

A Coventry motoring festival could turn the city into England's answer to Monaco, according to the organisers.



The first Coventry MotoFest will see the closure of part of the city's ring road on 1 June for a vehicle parade.

However, festival director James Noble said he hopes a change in the law will allow future festivals to use the ring road as a race track.

The Department for Transport said it was consulting on plans to allow motor sport events on public roads.

Mr Noble said the festival, which will include stunt exhibitions by Triumph motorcycles, stock car demonstrations and a display of cars in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, will run from 30 May to 1 June.

He said the ring road parade, designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the route's opening, would include classic cars, rally demonstrations and motorsports vehicles.

"Coventry's ring road is definitely unique," he said. "You either love it or you hate it but we see it as a natural circuit.

"It should be a real asset to the city. There's no reason why Coventry could not be like Monaco, which is famous for its Grand Prix. I doubt we would get Formula 1 here but I hope Coventry could become a centre for motor sports."

The event is supported by the city council and the local enterprise partnership.

The ring road will be closed to the public in an anti-clockwise direction between 09:00 and 17:00 BST on the day of the parade.

Mr Noble, who said the festival will be an annual event, added: "This year, the parade will be sticking to the ring road's 40mph speed limit. Longer-term, if there's a change in the law, we could see racing on the ring road."

The government said it was consulting over plans to allow councils to relax speed limits on roads to stage motor sports events.

Roads minister Robert Goodwill said: "This consultation opens up the possibility for these type of events to take place across the country."

[dutchman]

Coventry Motofest revs into the city

Bikes and cars were the stars as motoring came home to Coventry.

The city that gave the world Jaguar, Triumph and Standard celebrated its unique claim to fame as the spiritual home of Britain’s motor industry.

The three-day Coventry Motofest was not only a celebration of the past, but also a nod to the future, with one of the latest cars to be designed and built in the city unveiled for the first time.

The Lighting GT electric supercar runs on lithium titanate batteries and is capable of accelerating to 60mph in less than five seconds, has a top speed of 130mph, a range of more than 150 miles and can charge in as little as ten minutes.

It was designed by former Coventry University student Daniel Durrant and will be built by Exhall-based firm ADV Manufacturing, which won the contract to build Nissan’s new taxi for London earlier this year.

The company will be producing just 50 cars, hand-built in Coventry, each one bespoke to the owners requirements.

Iain Sanderson, chief executive of The Lightning Car Company, said: “We are delighted to bring the Lightning GT showcar to the Coventry Motofest 2014 event.

“With its Coventry connections, from Daniel Durrant’s design to plans for ADV Manufacturing to work on production elements of the car in the future, it’s great to able to showcase the Lightning GT in the city.

“It will give visitors the chance to see up close the next generation of electric supercar and we look forward to sharing the Lightning GT experience with those attending the Motofest event.”

Thousands of petrolheads visited the city centre for the three-day festival which included a cavalcade of motorsport vehicles around the ring road, stunt motorbike shows, a celebration of stock car racing and live music.

It was brought to a close with the classic 1960s film The Italian Job, parts of which were filmed in the sewers below Coventry, shown on the big screen in Millennium Place.

Mick Kyte was there with his wife Janet, from Allesley Park, their daughter Karen Hall and her children Danny and Lewis Hall, from Binley.

Mick said: “We’ve been round Broadgate where there’s a selection of vintage cars.

“I like to see the old cars from my era.”

Karen added: “I think it’s brilliant. It’s great for the kids.”

Also visiting were the Bradley family from Walsgrave - dad Marc, 40, mum Hannah, 39, and kids Ethan, five, and Sally, two.

The city’s motor industry is close to Marc’s heart as his grandfather worked in the Daimler factory years ago.

Marc said: “It’s a nice way to spend the day.”

Showing off his 6.75-litre V8 Bentley Mark VI Special was Taj Bhamra, from Coventry.

He said: “It’s got a presence, it’s different, and it’s fun to drive.

“I’ve always loved the shape.”

Speaking about the festival, he added: “This is what the city is famous for, but we don’t promote it enough.

“The reason why the city is so multi-cultural and diverse is because people came here to work in the factories.”