Piquet Jr set to thrill crowds at Renault Roadshow in Dubai

Nelson Piquet Jr, driver of the Renault Formula 1 team, will be raising decibels, scorching tires and generally thrilling the crowds this weekend as the Renault Roadshow brings the glamorous and high-octane sport of F1 to the city of Dubai for the first time.

The Renault Roadshow pulls into town on Friday, at the waterfront promenade between The Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar at Burj Dubai. A specially designed platform is being constructed over a section of the lake and will act as a demonstration track for various Renault machines, including one of the team's F1 cars.

Drivers, including Piquet, will take turns on the platform performing tricks, including handbrake turns, wheelspins and power slides.

Mohammad Bennani, the managing director of Renault GCC, said: "This is the first event for the 2009 global Renault Roadshow and we are looking forward to giving a real-life demonstration of the excitement, noise and atmosphere of F1 and motorsports in general," he said.

There will be six shows over two days. Friday's event will be at 4.30pm and 7pm. On Saturday they will run at 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm and 7pm.