Autosport International 2016 - 16 things to see and do

6 - Coys auction

Classic cars to be auctioned by Coys on the Saturday of the show include a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, a 1985 MG Metro 6R4 and a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL. Even if you’re not in the market for a slice of motoring history, the auction itself is often worth a watch. Record-breaking bids are commonplace. Just be careful what you do with your hands if you’re watching rather than bidding.

7 - Hot Hatch Nirvana

The Performance Car Show will display the Evolution of the Hot Hatch, celebrating 40 years of svelte performance machines. Curated by our very own Richard Bremner, the top 10 hot hatches as determined by a global vote by Autocar and Pistonheads readers will be on display. The outright winner of the vote will be announced during the show. Forming the backdrop to the hot hatch display will the Hot Hatch Wall of Fame, a collage made up of pictures of enthusiasts’ own hot hatches, submitted via social media.

8 - Star cars from UK marques

It almost goes without saying that a dazzling array of cars will be present at the show, including McLaren’s P1 GTR and 570S, the BAC Mono and track-themed cars from Noble, Radical and Avatar to match the motorsport theme.

9 - Zenos E10 R debut

Rising sports car manufacturer Zenos will unveil its hot E10 R in the midst of the show. The £39,995 E10 R is powered by a 2.3-litre Ford Ecoboost engine, producing 350bhp and 350lb ft, with a power-to-weight ratio of 500bhp per tonne, and a 0-60 sprint time of 3.0sec.

10 - Arrinera Hussarya GT

Another debut taking place at Autosport International will be that of ‘the first Polish racing car’; the Arrinera Hussarya GT. Although a little-known operation, Arrinera is well-connected in the motorsport world, with the company’s CEO, Greg Pękala, having formerly worked at Mosler and Lotus Motorsport.

11 - Ginetta G57 prototype debut

Zenos won’t be the only manufacturer holding a debut at the Autosport show; Ginetta will reveal its G57 prototype racer. No performance details have been released for the G57, other than its use of a 580bhp 6.3-litre LS3 V8 engine sourced from Chevrolet, and technical specifications, such as its six-speed sequential gearbox by Xtrac, carbonfibre monocoque chassis with crash box, and steel rollcage.

12 - Adrenalin Zone

The Adrenaline Zone hosts lots of wheel-to-wheel racing on the karting track. Visitors can get behind the wheel of a 115cc kart for arrive-and-drive sessions. Passenger rides in a Ginetta G40 are also available, taking willing volunteers around a specially made drift course.

13 - The Pie and Piston

Pistonheads’ Pie and Piston pub will open its doors again, so stop for a refreshment if you need a break from the rest of the show. This is also your chance to get up close and personal with some of the Pistonheads team’s favourite cars, and if you’re lucky, you might just meet a member of the team in person.

14 - Ford GT Le Mans

The Le Mans-prepped Ford GT will appear at the show on the main stage. The headline-grabbing racer will also be joined by the recently-announced British members of the Ford Le Mans team, Andy Priaulx and Marino Franchitti. Of particular note is the fact that 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1-2-3 Le Mans finish of the original Ford GT40.

15 - Jaguar C-X75

As seen in the Bond film Spectre – driven by Bond villain Hinx, played by Dave Bautista - the Jaguar C-X75 will make two appearances at the show; one example on static display, with the other taking a turn in the 5000-seat Autosport International live arena.

16 - Sky Sports F1

The Sky Sports F1 team will be hosting two events per day throughout the show, including interviews with star guests such as Felipe Massa, Claire Williams, Pay Symonds and Rob Smedley. The Sky team, which includes hosts Natalie Pinkham, Simon Lazenby, Rachel Brookes and Ted Kravitz, will be based at a temporary studio near the Autosport stage.