This year’s Motorcycle Plus Show is set to welcome F1 star Grand Prix driver Heikki Kovalainan’s famous Dallara Nissan World Formula car, one of Ireland’s fastest racing cars.
The car which became best known for propelling Kovalainan’s racing career is set to be a fan favourite at the biggest motorsport event to take place this year in Northern Ireland.
The motorcycle show returns for the first time in four years on February 4-5, 2023, at the Eikon Centre in Lisburn, hosted by 360 Events in what promises to be a packed weekend for fans of motorsport.
According to one of the show’s organisers and director of 360 Events, Malcolm Beattie, the car is likely to be a firm favourite with petrolheads, motorsport fans and racecar enthusiasts.
He explained: “We had the opportunity to view this machine close up in the garages and the engineering and attention to detail around the engine and chassis is a work of art.
“The sheer speed and acceleration of the machine are phenomenal, and the noise for a motorsport fan like me just made the day, even the commentators raved about the sound.”
The Dallara Nissan World Formula car which will be displayed on the Global Oils stand was driven by Grand Prix Driver Heikki Kovalainan to win the Nissan World Series before he took the Renault F1 seat and later drove for McLaren and Manor Motorsport amongst others before moving to Japan to race in Super Formula and GT racing.
Champions in this series included drivers such as Marc Gene, Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica, Robert Wickens and Pietro Fittipaldi.
Built by the racing car manufacturer based in Faenza in Italy, the company that builds not only the current HAAS F1 cars but also every car on the IndyCar grid in the USA, the car itself is a Dallara T08 Chassis powered by a 3.0 litre V6 Nissan race engine which puts out 480 bhp, with 300 lb ft of torque weighs a mere 600kgs and runs with a 6-speed sequential gear box.
Directors of 360 Events, Malcolm Beattie and David Nelson had the opportunity to witness the car in action at the 2022 Leinster Trophy meeting at Kirkistown. Driven by Portadown man Noel Robinson in his first competitive outing, the car was timed at 176mph entering Debtors Dip corner.
David said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome this car to the Motorcycle Plus Show. It will be an excellent opportunity for people like me who have never witnessed the power and magnitude of this machine to see just a small glimpse of its capacity.
“When I witnessed it in action I was blown away by not only its speed in a straight line which is comparable to bikes but how smoothly it can take corners.”
Malcolm explained that the opportunity to showcase the vehicle was an exciting addition to the already event packed weekend.
He said: “As one of two cars run by Magic Bullet Racing in the BOSS (Big Open Single Seaters) series, 360 Events Ltd would like to thank Stanley Watson of Global Oils Ltd and Magic Bullet Racing for allowing this exciting car to be displayed.”
The Motorcycle Plus Show will take place at Eikon Centre in Lisburn on February 4-5, 2023. For tickets go to www.motorcycleplusshow.co.uk.
All online bookings will be entered into a raffle to win prizes such as a small motorbike, discounted ferry bookings and other prizes.
