This week the NEC in Birmingham hosts Autosport International from 8th to 11th January. Run in conjunction with Autocar and PistonHeads, the show will see the biggest names in the performance and race car games showcasing their wares alongside owners clubs, racing teams and aftermarket tuning outfits. If you're a car fan, you're not going to want to miss it! Autosport International If that isn't enough for you, Autosport International runs alongside The Performance Car Show, a celebration of every type of dream and exotic car you can think of. The two elements of the show together cater for every petrol head out there. From karting to Formula 1, from Brabham to Zenos, this is the first car show of the new year and has everything you could possibly want, all in one place. Autosport International One of the best things about this show is the sheer range of cars on offer and the chance to get up close and personal with some dream machines that us mere mortals don't often get the chance to see, let alone touch and maybe even sit in. Well, not without getting arrested. This year you can expect to see exhibits from (amongst others) racing legends such as Brabham, Lotus, Lister, McLaren Honda and Radical. There will also be the chance to see some cars you've probably only seen on Top Gear from the likes of Noble, Renault Sport, Porsche UK and Zenos Cars. And unlike a lot of shows on the calendar, you'll have the chance to see these beasts in action rather than just penned up behind the velvet rope. Autosport International Autosport International has a 5000 seater indoor arena. They've been running the show since 1991 and their indoor track has quite the reputation for, um, 'encouraging' showy driving due to it's extremely slippy surface.  The drivers' loss is your gain as any pacy lap is bound to generate some seriously exciting driving and plumes of tyre smoke. Confirmed for a slippy run in the arena this year are Petter Solberg and his Citroen DS3 rally car. If last year's lineup of stock cars, autograss cars, stunt drivers, Japspeed drifting and National Hotrods is anything to go by, you can expect great things right under your nose this coming weekend. Oh and Autocar will be showing off their collection of Britain's best handling cars in the arena too. Autosport International The show opens it's doors on Thursday 8th January but the first two days are for trade only. It's open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday and you can get tickets from the ticket factory. Prices start at £32 for an adult and £21 for a child. Why not kick off the new year with one of the biggest and best motor shows on the circuit?