AIMS past, present and future

...kicking off tonight with special appearances from V8 Supercar drivers.

Cars from several different forms of motorsport are also on show giving visitors the chance to get up close and personal with vehicles they usually only see flash by at racing speeds.

Porsche has the 2006 American Le Mans Series LMP2-winning RS Spyder on display, highlighting its racing pedigree, while the Toyota 86 which won its class in the 40th Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race in May is also present.

Mitsubishi also has the Pikes Peak conquering electric i-MiEV of Beccy Gordon on display, which was the only street-legal 100% electric powered production car competing in the gruelling 19.98 kilometre hill climb in the United States earlier this year.

If off-road motorsport is more of a passion, then visitors can get up close with the 2011 Asia Pacific Rally Championship-winning Proton or the current Australian Rally Championship-winning Honda Jazz.

It is not just championship-winning cars that are on display at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show, with racing legend Allan Moffat appearing at the Ford stand on both Saturday and Sunday.

In fact, a host of current V8 Supercar drivers will be at both Ford and Holden across the weekend, including drivers from Ford Performance Racing, Dick Johnson Racing, Stone Brothers Racing and the Holden Racing Team.

Visitors will also get the chance to see what’s next in the world of motorsport with some exciting concepts and prototypes dotted throughout the stands. Hyundai has the exciting new Veloster Race Concept car on display in tarmac rally specification, and with a few minor modifications, this vehicle would be eligible for Australia Production GT, Australia Rally Championship or Asia Pacific Rally competitions.

Ford is also showing off its V8 Supercar Car of the Future that it will use in the 2013 V8 Supercar Championship against long-time rival Holden, as well as new arrivals Nissan and Mercedes-Benz. Japanese manufacturer, Subaru is also displaying a track-ready BRZ concept from partner, New Zealand-based Possum Bourne Motorsport.

“The Australian International Motor Show is about all different forms of cars and much of what we see on the road in production models comes from what happens on the race track,” said Russ Tyrie, Event Director.

“In what promises to be an exciting closing weekend to the 2012 Show, visitors will get to see racing cars from the Past, Present and Future as well as plenty of their favourite motorsport identities.” The 2012 Australian International Motor Show will be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour until Sunday 28 October, opening at 10am daily.

DETAILS OF APPEARANCES

Friday 26 October

Saturday 27 October

Sunday 28 October