A “LIVERPOOL Pageant of Power” will see Formula 1 and Le Mans supercars drag racing down The Strand.

Powerboats and jet skis will speed across the River Mersey and helicopters will take off from Chavasse Park during the free festival, set for May.

Although details are still being hammered out by event co-ordinators – including Liverpool One, the council, Mersey Travel, and Ernst and Young – super vehicle specialists Cholmondeley Pageant of Power revealed what up to 20,000 spectators could witness come the spring.

Event director James Hall said: “We’re well into our third Pageant of Power at Cholmondeley Castle, in Cheshire.

“It’s an amazing show incorporating land, sea and air.

“We’ve got Le Mans and Grand Prix cars, powerboat racers from Formula 2, 4, and OSY (Outboard Stock Yamato), as well as helicopters and aerobatic displays.

“That’s what we’re going to be bringing to Liverpool in co-operation with our partners.

“The Strand is an ideal space for us. Liverpool couldn’t have been designed better for our air, sea and land purposes.”

The plan is to close both sides of The Strand after rush hour on Tuesday, May 25, and use the southbound side for spectators while supercars burn rubber along the north bound stretch between police headquarters and Mann Island.

Estimates suggest it could bring £500,000 into the city in one night while a week of events, including rides in Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and possibly even helicopters, will coincide with Liverpool One’s second birthday on May 29.

Planning began before Christmas and is just now reaching fruition.

Mr Hall said: “It seemed to us to be a good direction to go to grow the event and show what we’re all about.

“We had a smaller event at Liverpool One last year where we drove some supercars around the pedestrianised area and it went well.

“They are keen to promote their second birthday and with it being 45 minutes down the road it was obvious we could make our statement in Liverpool.”