Renault Campus, the Open Saloon series, a fleet of FIA GT3 automobiles and the hideously loud Speedcar V8's. It was an action-packed flyer, that read well, yet still failed to attract the crowd levels expected of such an octane-fuelled few days.

There's no pleasing some people, even with promise of a pit-walk, and autograph sessions with some fairly well-known celebs of the racing world. And that's without talk of the drift demonstrations, stunt-bike display, car parade laps and a party of parachutee's...

Needless to say we were there two fold; to show our support for an event, and secondly to fly the evo flag in the Gulf Radical Cup.

As soon as we landed we assisted Civic Type R Touring Car champ James Kaye's son to earn a few dollars, by charging 50c for a car wash, quickly rustling up enough cash to buy a round of ice creams. And from the small to the tall, evo moved onto a rather long-legged lassie, wearing a fetching blue dress, legs up to her armpits. Photographer Alejandro got scowled at whenever his lens was pointed in her direction and Jon got used to the word 'NO' a lot! After then proudly observing Bassam and the 'Carbon Creation' battle it out with Maurit Knopjes in the Gulf Radical Cup round, we all slunk back to the pits to check out the cars again, and mingle with more merry folk all of whom appeared to be either French or Italian.

Awash with local and international drivers, most of which were jetting around on mini motorbikes, evo decided that if we couldn't beat them - why not join them? Bagging ourselves a fiery-red Vespa from one of the pit garages we pondered the state of spectatorless motorsport in the Middle East. So it seemed the pits were not open to the general public, which lost some of the atmosphere expected, especially with the hype of a GT3-spec grid of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Porsche to admire.We all had a great time there, no question. A refreshing and much appreciated quick break from the Dubai Motorshow stand, but we still need more spectators in seats to support motorsport in the Middle East. What is the answer?