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MotoFest Coventry revs up for return wth its biggest ever entertainment programme
MotoFest Coventry is all revved up for a roaring return this weekend with supercars, competitive time trialling, Jaguars on the prowl in their home city, a parade of 30 UK and US police cars and a special ‘Royal car’ all part of the festival programme.
The Supercar Driver (SCD) – the UK’s leading club for supercar owners – will make a welcome return to MotoFest Coventry, in partnership with E.ON Drive, with dynamic displays on the Ring Road Sprint Circuit and their own dedicated ‘Supercar Paddock’.
With approximately 50 SCD members and their cars due to appear across the two days on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June, they will take to the circuit each day for dynamic displays on the Sprint Circuit, in what promises to be one of the most spectacular sights of the festival.
Once they have completed their runs on the circuit, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, McLarens and Porsches will be parked up in a new dedicated ‘Supercar Paddock’, located on Greyfriars Green, with visitors able to get up close to the cars and enjoy plenty of photo and video opportunities with them.
The British Automobile Racing Club’s (BARC) Connaught Speed Championship Rounds 10 and 11 will mark the return of competitive motorsports to the MotoFest Sprint Circuit for the first time since 2019, with time trialling taking place on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
As well as the BARC Connaught Speed Championship, MotoFest Coventry will also host an official round of the British Autotest championship, along with an array of modern and historic race vehicles taking part in the Sports and Performance section during the festival.
The Jaguars will make a roaring return to their home city, with the Jaguar Heritage Trust set to bring some notable ‘star cars’ to the event. The 1956 Jaguar ‘Long Nose’ Penultimate D-type 393 RW, which set the fastest lap in the famous 1956 Le Mans 24-hour race, and TWR XJ-S, the 1984 Group A European Touring Car Championship Winner, will bring the motorsport past gloriously to life when they take to the MotoFest circuit.
Another special vehicle on show is the 2002-built Daimler XJO8, the last model in the range and the Queen’s very own personal car from 2002 to 2004. Joining the Queen’s Daimler on the circuit is a 1983 Jaguar XJ-S Coupé Police Demonstrator car, once a regular car in the Warwickshire constabulary fleet, and on Sunday part of the ‘One Big Alarm’ vehicle parade.
The ‘One Big Alarm’s is billed by organisers as the city’s Sunday morning “wake-up call”. It will see 30-plus UK and US police and emergency heritage vehicles make their way through the city with full sirens blaring, before entering on to the MotoFest circuit for a parade lap.
As part of MotoFest’s past present and future theme for the event, the future will be showcased with the latest in sustainable transport, low-carbon motoring, advanced automotive and electric vehicle technology.
One of the future technology highlights on display will be the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) vehicle, track and a first-of-a-kind CVLR simulator.
For the first time, the public will be able to get on the zero emission, battery-powered CVLR vehicle and explore its interior. Experts will be on hand to explain its key features and innovations.
Motofest Coventry visitors will also be able to take to the controls – on a state-of-the-art simulator which features three screens for a near-perfect view of the first city centre demonstrator route. As part of the Future Technology Zone at the festival, there will also be drone displays and autonomous vehicle displays.
James Noble, MotoFest Festival Director, said: “We are delighted to announce the full return of the MotoFest Coventry 2023 festival. This year MotoFest Coventry will be back bigger and bolder than ever, with a non-stop cultural celebration of the city’s motoring past, present and future.
“We welcome the return of traditional MotoFest favourites such as the unique Ring Road Sprint Circuit, the BARC sprint championship rounds, the supercars and the Jaguar Heritage Trust classic cars.
“We will also be showcasing the best in sustainable transport, low carbon motoring and electric vehicle technology. This includes the first-ever public appearance of the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) vehicle, track and a first-of-a-kind CVLR simulator, drone displays and autonomous vehicle displays.
“There will also be the usual live motorsport and motorbike displays, the new Drift Arena with the Crewsade Team and our big free-to-attend Saturday night music event, the MotoFest After Party, to provide a fitting finale to the first day’s entertainment.
“It’s set to be a fantastic weekend full of thrills, family fun and high-octane entertainment with something for everyone to enjoy across the festival weekend.”
The free-to-attend MotoFest After Party, in partnership with Madri Excepcional, takes place on Saturday 3rd June at Warwick Road in Coventry city centre, with every act on the bill, including the headliner, either featuring a female singer or a female band member.
The concert will be headlined by 23-year-old singer/songwriter Cameron Hayes, who will perform a set list that includes her latest single, ‘Sold My Soul’. The track has already earned Cameron a spot as BBC Introducing Berkshire’s Artist in Residence this summer and garnered support from BBC Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe on her BBC Intro Rock show.
Cameron will be supported on the bill by exciting, young female-fronted, Brighton-based indie band, Niches. Another female-fronted band taking to the stage is blues and rock act, Born Healer, with lead singer Helen Turner recently nominated for the UK Blues Federation’s best vocalist award.
The final female-fronted band on the bill are East London-based indie rock band, Emma and the Fragments. With charismatic lead singer Emma alongside her husband Jon, their deep connection and shared musical vision have been the driving force behind the four-piece band’s success.
For those wanting to enjoy an early preview of the fantastic music, including Cameron Hayes tracks, on offer at the MotoFest After Party, visit the MotoFest After Party playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ficLCE8qJeT0XPiYqebNb
The musical feast being served up at the MotoFest After Party is part of a broader entertainment menu featuring a host of activities across the festival weekend. In addition to the main concert on Saturday night, there will be live music across both days with various stages featuring local Coventry and West Midlands performers and community groups.
MotoFest Coventry, in partnership with E.ON Drive, is a two-day festival dedicated to the city of Coventry’s motoring heritage, taking place on Saturday 3 June and Sunday 4 June. It will feature a unique blend of racing demonstrations, static displays, live music and anything else with a connection to Coventry, transport and the city’s motoring heritage.
For more details about MotoFest Coventry, visit https://www.coventrymotofest.com/.