RECORD numbers of petrolheads flocked to this year’s Pageant of Power in Cholmondeley.

The annual motoring event celebrating the UK’s biggest and best in power and speed promised to deliver more cars, bikes, planes, powerboats and helicopters than ever before, and it didn’t disappoint.

Thousands of people headed to the Cholmondeley Estate for the sixth annual car show.

There were two very special occasions during the weekend, as two of the world’s most iconic brands celebrated their birthdays.

Aston Martin marked its centenary year with a display of more than 100 classic and modern models, as well as a special Aston Martin Centenary race that saw a number of the legendary cars take to the circuit.

And to celebrate 50 years of Lamborghini, a 30-strong display of vehicles illustrated the evolution of the legendary Italian supercar manufacturer.

The event also saw other acclaimed marquees, including McLaren, Bentley and Porsche, going head-to-head on the Pageant’s timed Supercar class race.

And the exclusive hypercars gave the public a chance to see the rare and impressive Bugatti Veyron Super Sport and Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse – the two fastest road cars in the world.

Meanwhile, the Bentley team marked the 10th anniversary of their win at the Le Mans 24 Hour race with a presentation and a lap in the actual race winning Bentley Speed 8 car, while other highlights were demonstrations from World Rally Championship (WRC) and British Rally Championship (BRC) contenders including Elfyn Evans in his Qatar M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC car and Tom Cave, who finished second in the 2012 BRC.

The new Rally Village attracted thousands of visitors who were able to get up close with the most notorious cars from rallying history, including Colin McRae’s 1996 WRC Subaru Impreza, Mikko Hirvonen’s 2010 Monte Carlo-winning Ford Fiesta S2000 and, for the first time, Francois Delecour’s Ford Escort Cosworth WRC was on public display – the winner of four rallies between 1993 and 1994.

Going beyond the realms of cars and bikes, were displays and stunts to give families and enthusiasts one of the most varied days out in the UK.

In the air there was the memorable Battle of Britain Memorial flypast with one of the few remaining Lancaster Bombers and Spitfires as well as helicopter agility competitions and thrilling stunt-plane demonstrations.

On the water there was an incredible array of machines and demonstrations including the UK’s leading freestyle jetski stunt team as well an official round of the adrenaline-fuelled National Hovercraft Championship.

The Defence Helicopter Flying School also gave a live search and rescue demonstration in a Bell 412 Griffin.

Event director James Hall said this year was the ‘biggest and best Pageant to date’.

“It had everything – action on land, water and air to provide something for everyone.”

“It was great to see so many families and motor enthusiasts enjoying the different elements whether it was the ultra-exclusive hypercars, historic Formula One cars, Second World War planes or the hovercraft racing providing a backdrop to World Rally demonstrations,” he added.