Activities began last night, with the drivers and team personalities attending a special dinner hosted by the Mayor at Villa Miscemi before a party hosted by the Billionaire nightclub at the Tonnara Fiorio.

Today’s event saw the new car officially unveiled in the historic Teatro Massimo. The neo-Classical building was completed in 1897, and is Europe’s second most famous opera house after La Scala.

The action then moves to the city centre streets. While Jarno and Fernando conduct the F1 demonstration, the guests will enjoy a parade of Renault Sport and Renault cars, featuring Franck Montagny and RDD drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Jose-Maria Lopez.

Sicily may never have hosted an F1 race, but the island has rich racing heritage. In 1906, Vincenzo Florio organised the first Targa Florio, winding around the mountains over a 150 km lap!

The event became a sportscar classic, held on public roads until safety pressure ended it in the 1970s.

Palermo also saw the last bow of a motor racing legend: the great Tazio Nuvolari made his final competitive start here in a hillclimb at the Monte Pellegrino on 10 April, 1950.