Hordes of Moscow locals on Sunday turned out to watch two Williams and Red Bull formula one cars drive on a temporary circuit through Red Square and past the Kremlin.

Nico Rosberg piloted the Toyota-powered Williams, and Russian local Mikhail Alyoshin was at the wheel of the Red Bull Racing machine, for the demonstration organised by Rotterdam Racing.

"I've never been (to Russia) before," German Rosberg, who recently turned 23, said. He was accompanied on the visit by team boss Sir Frank Williams.

"There is clearly a massive appetite for formula one here," Rosberg added.

Joint championship points leader Lewis Hamilton, and British compatriot Jenson Button, were also busy at the weekend, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex (UK).

Referring to crowd favourite Hamilton, who drove his 2007 McLaren up the famous hill, spokeswoman Janet Bradley said: "The crowd went absolutely wild, they loved him."

Source: GMM