A CROWD of 12,500 Formula One fans descended on Salthill Promenade to witness the Red Bull F1 Showrun in Galway on Sunday.
The sold-out event marked the second Red Bull Showrun in Ireland in two years and it was a testament to the fact we are a nation of petrol heads with a huge appetite for Formula One racing.
Gates opened from 4.30pm, allowing motorsport fans to catch a glimpse of the Oracle Red Bull Racing team’s garage that had been set up in the Salthill Car Park.
Here, fans could catch a glimpse of the F1 team putting the finishing touches to the two RB7 F1 cars ahead of the 7pm start time.
@darrenliggett857 Some fun at the @Red Bull F1 Showrun in Galway #redbullracing #redbull #redbullire #theirishsun #SUNmotors #thesunnewspaper #sunmotorsuk #redbullireland #redbullire #redbullgalway @Red Bull Ireland
These championship-winning machines that were driven by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in the all-conquering 2011 season are powered by a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated Renault V8 that produces 750bhp and can rev to 18,000rpm.
Wet conditions and low temperatures did not dampen the spirits of the thousands in attendance.
And the crowds were soon warmed up watching motorcycle trials rider Dougie Lampkin perform some daredevil skills, jumping guard rails and popping wheelies for fun.
Then Cork drift sensation Jack Shanahan put on a smoke show of his own.
Burning rubber in his 900bhp Toyota GT86, he powerslid it up and down the course.
Jack also stopped for plenty of donuts and managed to wave to the crowds while going sideways.
By now anticipation had reached fever pitch as Scottish F1 legend David Coulthard tore down the Prom in one of the two RB7 F1 cars.
DC was then joined by former Austrian F1 driver Patrick Friesacher in the second RB7, making it a record-breaking night for Oracle Red Bull Racing as it was the first time ever two F1 cars have performed simultaneously at a Red Bull Showrun event.
Neither driver held back as Galway reverberated from the sound of two V8 F1 cars screaming to redline.
It was a show-stopping performance by all the drivers and a night to be remembered on the west coast.
There were also sightings of an F1 car in Connemara earlier in the week, so fans will be keen to find out what Coulthard and the Oracle Red Bull Racing crew were up to, with a reveal expected before Christmas.
