AUTOSPORT International 2015 ASI 2015 Live - Thursday

Priaulx underlines that he'll be combining sportscars and touring cars this year, continuing with his already-announced programme in the European Le Mans Series with BMW and also in the United SportsCar Championship's North American Endurance Cup.

That does mean one BTCC/ELMS clash, where the GT duties take precedence.

Priaulx comes off-stage and greets our next guest David Brabham, who's been listening in with interest.

"You look great for 25..." Brabham tells Priaulx.

On the stage, David Brabham is talking about the battle to bring the Brabham trademark back into the family's possession, and it's clear how much it means to him.

"I ended up in the German courts three times in seven years, just to get our name back."

But now the Brabham brand is back where it belongs in more ways than one, with the Project Brabham programme under way to get the team on track again.

Brabham's return: The inside story

Project Brabham is one of the countless major motorsport organisations present at AUTOSPORT International, so visit its stand to find out more about the scheme and how you can get involved.

Andy Priaulx

We said that Andy Priaulx paused the WSR BMW unveiling for a selfie, and here it is:

"It's #selfie time! Great moment to be back! @Official_WSR @ihgrewardsclub @BMW_UK @DunlopBTCC #IHGracing"

On stage, Henry Hope-Frost asks David Brabham if he might be in the cockpit when the Brabham name is back in racing.

He suspects the younger Brabhams - Sam and Matthew - are more likely candidates given how much behind the scenes work he has on his plate.

As Brabham departs, our next guest will be Bentley motorsport chief Brian Gush to reveal his marque's 2015 racing programme.

Our Group F1 editor JONATHAN NOBLE has departed the backstage newsdesk to "find some tractors" after being transfixed by a Porsche-built agricultural vehicle last year. We wish him luck.

Bentley chief Gush is talking about his excitement at leading GT squad HTP Motorsport ditching its Mercedes to run five Bentleys, and that a name with Dyson Racing's pedigree has committed to its US programme.

And now for an announcement from Renault Sport, as the marque's Jeremy Townsend, Will Fewkes and Jean-Pascal Dauce take to the stage.

Kimi Raikkonen's Formula Renault

Townsend is talking about Renault Sport's excellent record in bringing drivers through UK motorsport, and one of its graduates is Formula 1 superstar Kimi Raikkonen, who won the 2001 Formula Renault UK title...

...and the car in which he did is right here at the NEC, tracked down by Motorsport News racing editor ROB LADBROOK:

"Check out this diamond in the COYS auction. Kimi Raikkonen's Manor Motorsport Formula Renault 2.0."

Dauce is explaining the theory behind the new RS01 one-make GT racer that will join the World Series by Renault package this year. You can see that monster of a car in the flesh for the first time here at AUTOSPORT International.

Renault also promises an announcement about the form its return to UK national single-seater racing will take very soon.

On stage now is 2001 World Rally champion co-driver Robert Reid, talking about his own rallying career alongside Richard Burns and his work with the current generation of rising stars.

Reid notes that the two Frenchmen who have won the last 11 WRC titles - Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier - didn't originally come from rallying backgrounds, having been a gymnast and skier respectively.

Then they entered rally driver search contests, got backing from the French federation, and were up and away.

Talking about the current WRC, Reid notes that with four manufacturers involved, it can't be too bad, but he thinks "there's not much depth of competition" in the driver line-up.

More sportscar news next, as Ginetta boss Lawrence Tomlinson comes in to talk about his firm's new LMP3 programme.

Tomlinson hopes to have nine LMP3 cars out by the start of the ELMS season, and admits his firm "seems to be leading the way" in this new market at the moment.

He's joined on stage by Professor George Holmes from the University of Bolton, which has partnered with Ginetta for the LMP3 project.

VW

The AUTOSPORT International Show is more than just about the biggest names and best machinery from the racing world.

There is a whole host of other attractions at the NEC - and one of the regular highlights is seeking out some weird and wonderful machinery for the annual Coy's Auction.

A year on from spotting the now infamous Porsche tractor, sadly there is no luxury farm machinery on offer this time around, reports JONATHAN NOBLE.

However, there were two gems that would be worth making a cheeky bid for.

If you move stuff around regularly for a living, or want something to get those surf boards down to the coast, then you should forget the usual Transit Van. What you need is the restored 1973 Volkwagen T2 Pickup that is up for sale.

There is a also a Police-badged 1985 Rover SD1 Vitesse - labelled in Grampian Motorway High Speed colours.

While not strictly intended for the road - and suitable only for museum or film use - it would certainly raise some eyebrows out on a Sunday drive!

Coming up next after a very short lunch break will be double British Touring Car champion Jason Plato, then the 2014 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists, including winner George Russell.

Grabbing a rapid lunch at AUTOSPORT International means having to politely ask two ex-F1 drivers to lean back so you can reach the cutlery. Thanks Jonathan Palmer and David Brabham for doing so.

We've already had one major BTCC driver announcement on stage here at ASI, with Andy Priaulx revealed as the second man alongside Sam Tordoff in WSR's three BMWs this year.

Next up is Tordoff's 2014 Triple Eight MG team-mate Jason Plato. We know he's leaving MG, with Andrew Jordan (another ASI guest) taking his place, but where's he going? Can Henry Hope-Frost tease any clues out of him?

As Jason Plato takes to the stage, Henry Hope-Frost admits that the BTCC star is one of his favourite annual guests because "you never quite know what you're going to get", and adds that Plato's slightly tartan jacket is "truly terrible".

Straight to business as Plato sits down, he confirms that he will be on the BTCC grid, and that a firm decision should be made on where and what with during the next three weeks.

More from Plato on not being a champion with MG:

"Is it all about winning championships? No, it's not, it's about winning races and being competitive.

"Sometimes the planets align and you win the championship. Sometimes you don't."

And Plato on how he's quite enjoying sorting a new team for 2015:

"I love the pressure of trying to piece together the commercial parts and all the deals. I don't cook, but it is a bit like putting together a cake."

Plato suggests the future BTCC prize system should be: "first place, a million quid. Second place, an ice cream".

We've got a bunch of enormously talented young British racing drivers backstage now, as 2014 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists George Russell, Alexander Albon, Ben Barnicoat, Sennan Fielding, Seb Morris and Harrison Scott are next up.

Plato is one of the Award judges, and he's currently raving about how impressive it is for drivers of their age and experience to cope so well with machinery such as the DTM Mercedes and Formula 2 car used for the assessment tests.

Winner George Russell was "really, truly outstanding over the course of the two days," says Plato, who adds that Albon and Barnicoat were "very close to taking it off him".

"Time to talk to men a third of your age and twice as talented," says Hope-Frost to Plato, and summons the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award sextet onto the stage.

Award finalist and possible 2015 European Formula 3 racer Albon reveals that he passed his driving test last week so can now drive a road car too.

A change of continent now. We've had a British Touring Car champion a few moments ago, now Camilo Echevarria - champion in Argentina's TC Pista series last year and who also made a one-off WTCC appearance in his homeland - is on stage introducing the crowd to tin-top competition South American style.

Next up: British Touring Car Championship chief Alan Gow, followed by Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery and then a gaggle of BTCC drivers.