THE countdown to this year’s Bournemouth Wheels Festival is in full swing.

With just six weeks to go until the Daily Echo-backed event hits the resort for its second year, preparations behind the scenes are gathering pace.

The event, which this year runs from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, is free to enter and organisers are expecting crowds to top the 500,000 people that were seen over the inaugural event last year.

More wheels on the ground are promised this time around and there will also be events in Southbourne to expand its reach.

On the demonstration straight on the East Overcliff there will be F1 cars, Le Mans cars, rally cars, supercars and vintage vehicles.

New this year will be stunt driver Paul Smith attempting to travel the whole of East Overcliff Drive on two wheels.

More highlights include families donning brightly coloured lights for the Big Community Bike Night Glow and Team Extreme will return to display bike and BMX tricks.

Festival director Jon Weaver said: “We’re thrilled about the return of the Wheels Festival after the unprecedented success of last year’s event.

“This year will see more monster trucks than before, performing in an arena twice the size of last year.

“Also new for Wheels 2015 a pop-up arena shows, hosting a spectacular variety of displays and precision driving stunts.”

The new ‘fringe’ event in Southbourne will see cars on show and family activities.

Jon added: “I’m expecting this year’s Wheels Festival to exceed expectations once again and I’m confident that there will be something to appeal to all tastes, from big scale arena displays to karting and even a lawn mower racing team.

“You’ll see the power and elegance of racing cars from across the decades, as well as some classic performance cars stretching back from 1912 to present day.”