YOU could soon be hearing squealing tyres or an international pop star crooning at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

While the dust from the Singapore Airshow is still settling, plans are already afoot to use the 30ha venue (about the size of 45 football fields) for car launches, construction-related trade shows, and even a concert featuring a major international act, The Straits Times reported.

These will be in addition to the Formula Drift event in April, which will see over 40 drivers competing to do sideways slides at speeds of over 100kmh.

Mr Jimmy Lau, managing director of Singapore Airshow & Events which runs the centre, declined to give further details of the plans and the number of people they will draw.

But he confirmed that there will be at least 12 motoring-related weekend events featuring key luxury car brands held this year.

They will range from launches of new models to "customer appreciation" days for a select group to test drive new cars.

Event organisers could create temporary lanes on any part of the 90,000 sq m of tarmac at the site, said Mr Lau.

A $100 million permanent racetrack, which will likely be 2.8km to 3.5 km long, will also be built next to the centre by 2011.

At least one brand confirmed their interest in the site as a possible venue.

BMW Asia spokesman Mr Michael Lim said the site was "excellent" for its advanced driver training programme.

"It has uncluttered space, panoramic views that are breathtaking, and facilities that are brand new," said Mr Lim.

The centre also hopes to continue serving the aviation industry while preparing for the next Airshow in 2010.

For instance, it may become a backup facility for private jets when Formula One rolls into town this September.

Mr Lau's company, along with the Singapore Tourism Board, is also currently wooing the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition to hold their annual event here.

They have been holding it in Hong Kong for the past two years.

Local exhibition organisers and other companies which The Straits Times spoke to are still assessing the viability of the space for events.

They agreed that the area and seaside location was a boon.

But they also pointed to its distant location, plus the lack of amenities such as food outlets a

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