TRAX rounds off the season with 30% increase on 2008
Future, the special interest media group has announced a record-breaking year for its Auto Events Series 2009, ending with an overall 8.5% increase on attendance across their five fuel-filled events in 2008, bucking the trend of the struggling automotive market.
The series culminated in a fantastic 30% increase in attendance for the final show of the year – TRAX, which saw 16,630 car enthusiasts come to Silverstone for the UK’s ultimate performance car event.
Headlining TRAX this year, was multi medal-winning Subaru Rally Team USA driver, X Games competitor and stunt driving sensation Ken Block, who put on an awe-inspiring stunt display in collaboration with the launch of new computer game Colin McRae:DiRT2. With non-stop track action including the JDM Allstars drift championship, track time on the Grand Prix circuit and over 4,000 club cars on display, it was a full on day of automotive fun, resulting in the highest attendance since 2002.
Going back to the beginning, Japfest kicked the season off in style in May, with its highest event attendance since launch in 2003, with 12,325 Japanese performance car fans enjoying themselves at Castle Combe, an increase of 10% from 2008. Highlights of the day included full-day track action including the JDM Allstars, and the Redline Power Paddock.
Similarly, the Classic Ford Show at Santa Pod brought it’s highest ever attendance, an increase of 26.5% on 2008, with 10,341 Ford enthusiasts coming to the show. A celebration of the blue oval badge, fans were treated to special displays of Capris and Anglias to celebrate the 40th and 50th anniversaries respectively, as well as ‘star car’s from Minder and Life on Mars, and thunderous action of the FireForce Jet car doing the ¼ mile in 6.5 seconds at 256mph.
The Performance Vauxhall Show made its debut as a two-day event this year, enabling fans of the marque to celebrate all-things Vauxhall over a full weekend at Santa Pod. Over 9,000 enthusiasts came to the show, with 4,000 people camping on Friday and Saturday which created a real festival atmosphere. Stunts from Russ Swift, drag cars and thousands of club cars made this show a real weekend treat for Vauxhall fans, and plans are already underway to make this bigger and better for next year.
Moving to Silverstone, Ford Fair reprised the record-breaking form, with their highest ever attendance – 8% up on 2008, with 17,695 Ford fans. The highest ever attendance to a Future Auto Series show, Ford Fair certainly proved to be Europe’s biggest and best Ford show; with a special cavalcade tour of Ford Anglias and Capris, sprint tests on the track, over 3,400 club cars and a pulsing Concours area.
With TRAX rounding off the season with a huge 30% increase from 2008, the Future Auto Events Series draws to a close on a high. Steve Foster, Events Manager for the series said:
“It’s been a non-stop show season for us, but despite the downturn in the automotive market we’ve increased our overall attendance this year by an amazing 8.5%, ending with a massive 30% increase in attendance at TRAX.
The success of the series this year is testament to the dedicated enthusiasts who remain passionate about their hobbies even in a difficult market. We’ve got some really exciting plans for next year including new events and I look forward to seeing everyone again for our 2010 Auto Series.”
About the Future Auto Series 2009:
Japfest – Europe’s biggest Japanese performance car show, Castle Combe,16th May, www.japfest.co.uk
Classic Ford Show – The UK’s premier classic Ford event, Santa Pod, Sunday 31st May, www.classicfordshow.co.uk
The Performance Vauxhall Show – The no. 1 performance Vauxhall event, Santa Pod,
6th & 7th June, www.pvshow.co.uk
Ford Fair – Europe’s biggest Ford Festival, Silverstone, 2nd August, www.fordfair.co.uk
TRAX – The ultimate performance car show, Silverstone, 6th September, www.traxshows.co.uk
For more information please contact:
Jen Campbell, Communications Executive on 01225 732269 or jen.campbell@futurenet.com
About Future
Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong market positions in games, film, music, technology, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include T3, Total Film, Digital Camera, Fast Car, Classic Rock, Guitar World, Official Xbox Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and MacLife. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, musicradar.com, photoradar.com and dailyradar.com. Future sells nearly 4 million magazines each month; we attract more than 25 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 25 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.
