MOTORSPORTS fans at the prestigious Autosport Show were the first to see the unveiling of a new race carwhich will compete in this year's European Le Mans series.

The University of Bolton is the first to own the Ginetta-Nissan LMP3 which will be raced by RLR Motorsport, the university’s partner racing team based on the campus.

Students studying at the university’s Centre for Advanced Performance Engineering will work on the car in the workshop and on the racetrack.

Enthusiasts had a chance to see what is "under the bonnet" of the new-for-2015 racing car.

A stripped down version of the car was unveiled on the university’s stand at the Autosport Show in Birmingham on its opening day yesterday and will remain on display throughout the four day event.

Its engine, rollcage and suspension are on show to highlight the engineering partnership between the university and Ginetta, one of the country's leading builders of racing and sports cars.

Bolton’s Vice Chancellor, Prof George Holmes, said the University of Bolton was the first university with an in-house, fully-functioning race team on campus and the prospect of working on a Le Mans car provided "a unique and exciting experience for the students".

Ginetta chairman Lawrence Tomlinson said: “We think this is a vital partnership with Bolton.

"It helps to prepare quality students who are properly qualified to come into the industry and work for companies like Ginetta.”

As part of the partnership between the university and Ginetta, internships in design and aerodynamics will be offered to students at the car company’s Leeds headquarters.

Also taking to the track in the Le Mans series will be Olympic legend and Nissan brand ambassador Chris Hoy.