This weekend's Classic Team Lotus Festival provides a rare opportunity to witness a contemporary Formula One car circulating Snetterton Circuit. The running of the Lotus T127 Grand Prix car will be the highlight of the whole season as the Hingham built vehicle will be given its shake-down prior to heading for the European Grand Prix, held in Valencia, Spain, which will be the Lotus marque's 500th World Championship start.

This weekend's Classic Team Lotus Festival provides a rare opportunity to witness a contemporary Formula One car circulating Snetterton Circuit.

The running of the Lotus T127 Grand Prix car will be the highlight of the whole season as the Hingham built vehicle will be given its shake-down prior to heading for the European Grand Prix, held in Valencia, Spain, which will be the Lotus marque's 500th World Championship start.

On display will be one of every single Lotus Formula One car produced and some will be demonstrated by ex-Formula One racers Martin Brundle and Martin Donnelly, while Chief Technical Director Mike Gascoyne will also drive.

Also attending the gala event will be Lotus Grand Prix drivers Jarno Trulli, pictured, and Heikki Kovalainen and test driver Fairuz Fauzy.

Toping the racing bill will be the second round of Lotus Cup Europe with Jon Walker and Gavin Kirby resuming their battle for supremacy.

In the Lotus Elise Trophy, Donnelly tasted success in the opening events while Marcus Jewell and Mark Speller have dominated the second and third rounds.

Mubarton's Tristan Cliffe will renew his battle for superiority with Jeremy Timms in the Mono 2000 races with the score three-one in favour of the latter but on home soil Cliffe will hope to even up the count.

The Heritage Grand Touring Cars will feature Diss racer John Dickson in his fearsome RAM Cobra. He was beaten into second place by the Morgan Plus 8 of Grahame and Oliver Bryant at Silverstone.

There will also be Aston Martin V8s and DB5s plus Chevy Corvette and Camaro and a brace of nibble Mini Coopers.

Liam Crilly dominated the latest races in the Production BMW Championship while BMW mounted Peter Seldon and Craig Jamieson, in his Sierra Cosworth, will battle it out in the Toyo Tyres Trophy races.

Racing starts on Saturday from 2.05pm and 10am on Sunday, with full details at www.lotus-festival.com.