CHOLMONDELEY POWER AND SPEED

CHOlMONDeley CasTle, CHesHire, 10-12 JUNe

It might have changed its name but the rebranded Pageant of Power still focused on what it does best – tyre-smoking supercar demonstrations.

The big changes this year came for fans of newer metal – including the chance for visitors to drive the track in Friday’s Motorshow Live! runs and securing a Ferrari FXX for the weekend’s performance car outings.

The 107 cars put through their paces on the Cheshire stately home’s 1.2-mile circuit included a big classic contingent, among them Tony Worswick’s rallyprepared 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB and Chris William’s 1929 Napier-Bentley.

The only letdown was the display area dedicated to classic clubs on the venue’s peripheries, which was noticeably quieter than it has been in previous years and felt removed from the heart of the three-day event’s action. But showgoers who stopped for a closer look were rewarded with plenty of classic metal – including turnouts from the TVR Car Club and the South Cheshire Classic Collectors’ Club.

Event director James Hall says: ‘Despite it being a damp weekend, it’s been a fantastic occasion, with some incredible content and a number of firsts. We’ve been delighted with the success of Motorshow Live! while the beer, food and comedy festival was a wonderful added element.’ David Simister