THERE will be more than one reason for a celebration when the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power makes its return this summer.

The UK’s biggest celebration of power and speed, which takes place from June 15-17, is marking the 50th anniversary of the AC Cobra with a major vehicle display and thrilling, high-speed action on the venue’s circuit.

The event, at Cholmondeley Castle, will host the UK’s biggest gathering of the Anglo-American sports car this year in a special display entitled ‘Cobras at the Castle’, and are also introducing a special race category – the ‘AC Cobra 50th Anniversary Class’ that will showcase the most famous Cobras.

When it was introduced in 1962, the Mark I AC Cobra featured a 4.2-litre V8 engine from Ford motor company, and then upgraded to a 4.7-litre unit a year later for the Mark II.

The fearsome AC Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé won the 12 Hours of Sebring Gran Turismo (GT) class twice in 1964 and 1965, finished fourth overall in the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans and recorded victories across a number of other endurance events, including the 1965 International Championship for GT manufacturers in the World Sportscar Championship.

And its 7.0 litre engine made the Mark III Cobra the most powerful car in the world at the time of its 1965 release.

Event director James Hall said the organisers were proud to celebrate the anniversary of a world-famous motoring ‘icon’: “The AC Cobra has earned something of a cult following over the last 50 years, both through its GT racing pedigree and towering on-road presence” he added.

“The Cobras will make a thrilling addition to the 2012 Pageant.”

A full event schedule and list of participants at the Pageant of Power will be announced over the coming weeks.