A SUPERCAR designed to break the land speed record will be showcased at one of the world’s biggest motorsport shows this week.

The Bolt, built by Bolton-based Keating Supercars, will be on display at the Autosport International Show to potential owners.

A souped-up prototype of the new supercar will attempt to break the world speed record for production cars in Ras al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates later this year when it will aim to smash the 300mph barrier — hoping to reach 340mph.

The Bolt has already attracted the interest of motor manufacturers from around the world and it is envisaged that it will go on sale to the public next year.

Chief executive officer Tony Keating is a graduate from the University of Bolton and will be donating the first off the production line to the university’s Centre for Advanced Performance Engineering (CAPE), which will also have a stand at the show.

TV star and Porsche race-winning driver, Kelvin Fletcher, will be visiting the stand and helping to set the pace for a racing experience competition.

Visitors will have a chance to pit their skills against Kelvin and win prizes, including tuition fee discounts and a day on trackside with RLR Msport.

The university and RLR Msport and Keating Supercars will be at the NEC Birmingham from this Thursday until January 12.

CAPE students will show what they are learning as they study on campus and on the track, as part of their unique degree courses.

The Motorsport Technology and Automotive Performance Engineering (Motorsport) students joined the new honours degree courses in September.

As part of their studies, they have already been to Donington Park racetrack with RLR, experiencing working in the pits and measuring car performance.

Bolton Wanderers sponsors, FibrLec, a sustainable energy company working with the university, will also be taking a stand at the show.

FibrLec’s new product has the potential to generate electricity from motion, making it a strong contender for the motor industry investment.

University of Bolton vice- chancellor, Professor George Holmes said: “We’re very excited to be taking CAPE to the exhibition that brings the world of motorsport together — fans and professionals alike love this show. What better place to showcase CAPE — we are the first to have a professional Le Mans LMP2 series racing team based within a university centre.

“Our partnership of first-class on campus learning with the best in practical motorsport experience will give our graduates the competitive edge in securing careers.”