It’s not often a Grand Prix takes a back seat to another automotive event. But three days before the chequered flag drops at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, that’s exactly what’s happened. Welcome one and all to the 2011 Dubai International Motor Show.

Whether it’s down to pseudo-‘Christmas comes early’ excitement or a malfunctioning alarm clock, the crankandpiston crew arrives early to witness two halls of automotive excellence.  As such, the queue to get in has barely started to form, and we quickly make our way through for a sneak preview.

Our first port of call is the Porsche stand, and – lucky for us – the marque’s gorgeous 911Carrera S has been stripped of it’s protective shawl for a final layer of polish.

Just behind this, peaking out from behind the Panamera Turbo S, we also find the 918 RSR concept car. The velvet rope can’t stop our cameras, and the racing stripes ripping across the roof says everything. This is a serious piece of track kit, and we can’t wait for the tyre smoke to erupt.

Across the way, we stumble across Lamborghini and it’s gorgeous fleet of Aventadors. The Murcielago is a tough act to follow – Lamborghini’s latest holding its finely chiselled chin up admirably – but the Super Trofeo is a masterpiece of poise, dynamacism, and racing flair.

Next up, we have fellow Italian Stallions Ferrari dangling a GTO and 458 under our noses, lovingly displayed with the sense of passion and performance that patriarch Enzo would insist upon were he with us today. Job done, certainly.

Further down the hall, the Lexus LFA jumps out at us. A time-honoured luxury saloon provider by the ladelful, this bespoke muscle car-esque coupe keeps our interest much longer than anticipated. Those finely grafted bonnet inlets and front grills are just hypnotic.

The halls double doors open in just ten minutes, so we just have time to stop by Mercedes and gawk at the AMG collection receiving their final hoover. What can we say? The grooved bonnet, oh-so-subtly flared wheel-arches, and those headlights that almost seem to glare at you. Gotta love it!

0800. Doors open. Game on.