The Irish Festival of Speed returns for a second year following its successful debut in 2011. The original one-day event has been extended to cover a whole weekend; and organisers are hoping to double both the 16,000 visitors and the €3 million revenue it saw two years ago.
The venue for this year's event is the Greenmount Racecourse in Limerick where a special track has been constructed for the exhibition. Over the course of the weekend the circuit will see supercars, racing cars, rally cars and motorbikes dating as far back as the 1930s doing laps. In addition, the organisers have said that sprint racing, stunt riders, sky divers and aerobatic displays will take place on and over the bespoke track.
As well as showcases at the venue, Limerick will also see a part re-enactment of the 1930 "Round the Houses" Grand Prix; as some of the historic vehicles from the original race take to the streets of Limerick's city centre.
"We see the event growing in a similar fashion to the Goodwood Festival of Speed," comments Richard O'Donnell, one of the co-founders of the Irish Festival of Speed. "In five years' time we expect to have grown this to a 100,000 person event; attracting people from around the globe. We have made the biggest investment into Irish motorsport in 40 years by laying a purpose built track; and we think that this year's festival will be one of the best events in the country this year."
The 2013 Irish Festival of Speed runs from 3rd-4th August. Tickets are currently discounted by 35 per cent; meaning that a one-day pass is now €20 and a weekend ticket costs €28.50. More information can be found at www.irishfestivalofspeed.com.
