Road car to be unveiled (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Road car to be unveiled

PRODRIVE is using the Autosport International show for the world premier of its unique new road car, P2, which will be unveiled by Prodrive Chairman, David Richards at the NEC, Birmingham on the opening day on Thursday, January 12.

The two-seater sports car has been developed by the motorsport and automotive technology specialist, which runs the Subaru World Rally and Aston Martin Racing teams, to showcase its innovative technologies and engineering skills and to demonstrate its ability to design and build a unique road car in less than a year.

At its core, P2 uses an Impreza STi engine, transmission and four wheel drive system. To this, Prodrive has added its own active handling system, ATD, and an engine turbo anti-lag system developed from its Subaru World Rally Cars, helping to give the lightweight car a predicted power to weight ratio approaching 350 bhp/tonne.

Styling has been in the hands of Peter Stevens and the entire design, engineering and build of the car has been carried out at Prodrive's facilities at Banbury and Warwick in the UK.

While there are currently no plans to put the car into production, if it were produced in volume Prodrive expects the car would be priced at approximately £40,000, putting it in its own niche sector.

To see the new P2 on the Prodrive stand at Auto-sport International, you can avoid the queues and book online now at www.autosport-internat-ional.com for tickets to the show, which include entrance to the Live Action Arena at £25 for adults and £17.50 for children. Alternatively, call the ticket hotline on 0870 380 2244.

Brand new for 2006 is an exclusive Paddock Pass ticket available at £31. This special pass gives holders access to the new paddock area built backstage in the Live Action Arena where you can get up close to the cars and talk to the drivers.

You will also get fast-track entry and priority seating in the Live Action Arena plus the opportunity to watch extra performances from the sidelines.

This fantastic offer also includes exclusive access to the Driver Signing Area with the opportunity to obtain autographs from your racing heroes.