An estimated 12,500 Formula One fans packed onto Salthill Prom for the sold-out Red Bull F1 Showrun in Galway on Sunday night – as some of the fastest engines in the world ironically brought the city to a halt.

The speed and power of two Formula One cars, combined with mesmeric bike and drift displays, made it a night to be remembered on the West Coast – except for unwitting drivers who found themselves in logjams because of road closures in the city.

Motorsport fans poured into town all afternoon, descending on the car park on the Prom to catch a glimpse of the Red Bull F1 fleet on display, with the Oracle Red Bull Racing team putting the finishing touches to their cars ahead of the 7pm start time.

Wet conditions did not dampen the spirit of those in attendance, with the crowds warmed up by magical performances from motorcycle trials rider Dougie Lampkin and Irish drift star Jack Shanahan.

Anticipation had reached fever pitch just as British F1 legend Coulthard tore down the Prom in one of the two RB7s used in the night’s event.

He was then joined by former Austrian F1 driver Patrick Friesacher in the second RB7, making it a record breaking night for Oracle Red Bull Racing — the first time ever two F1 cars have performed simultaneously at a Red Bull Showrun event.

By the event’s end, the crowd were left in no doubt of the cars’ championship winning capacity – the two RB7s were driven by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in the all-conquering 2011 season.

The sold-out event marked the second Red Bull Showrun in Ireland in two years – a testament to the appetite for Formula One in the country.

And with sightings of the Formula One car across Connemara earlier in the week, Irish F1 fans will be keen to find out what David Coulthard and the Oracle Red Bull Racing crew were up to — with a reveal expected before Christmas.

Pictured: David Coulthard entertaining the crowd of more than 12,000 spectators on Salthill Prom during the Red Bull Showrun. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane.  Inset: after completing his run. Photo: Sebastian Marko.