The British International Motor Show looks set to be the biggest and best ever with special features, themes and attractions backing up the array of new cars, writes David Duffy.

Star Studio, sponsored by Virgin Cars, is the show's exclusive main feature in Hall 3. It is a gallery of original dream car drawings sketched by more than 50 celebrities, from Ronan Keating and Kevin Keegan to Claudia Schiffer and Carol Smillie.

As well as being a major visitor attraction, the cars and drawings will be auctioned to raise money for BEN, the motor industry charity. A series of raffles will be held throughout the Motor Show so there's an opportunity to own an original piece of artwork by a famous star! The Lego Adventure Zone will feature a life size model of the F1 Silver Champion model created entirely out of Lego and using 250,000 pieces. Four interactive car-building sites will also be available to the public for the first time, allowing visitors to design, build and trial their own racing car on a custom-built track.

The Sega Adventure Zone will display its latest console game, the Metropolis Street Racer (MSR). The stand is designed to offer the comforts of your own home, so why not settle into the sofa, put yourself in the driving seat, and be one of the first to test your road handling and racing skills on this new game? Classic car enthusiasts can enjoy the 'Century of British Sports Cars' feature in Hall 8, a rare chance to see 28 examples of the very best of British automotive design. The collection represents a cross-section of sports cars from the last 100 years ranging from a 1902 Napier, Healey and Astons to E-Types and the supercars of today.

The racing theme continues in 2000 with the ever-popular Motor Sport days on Friday and Saturday October 27 and 28.

As the Formula One and British Touring Car Championships draw to an exciting close and the rally world looks forward to the Rally, a selection of competition cars from all areas of the sport will be on display.

This year's Motor Sport days will bring the biggest stars, the most popular personalities and the most glamorous machinery from all over the racing world.

The Career Focus stand, in Hall 3, is an industry wide initiative, a forum to raise awareness and attract people at all levels. There is advice and information for anyone that is interested in working in the automotive industry: from graduates, senior and middle management, technical staff, clerical, secretary, to sales and marketing.