Alton Towers has called a press evening for The Smiler on 17 May, fuelling speculation that the new ride will launch the following day.
This website has learned that selected representatives of the media have already received invitations from the park.
The ride has suffered from considerable construction delays, having originally been scheduled to open on 16 March.
It is understood that the delayed opening of the ride has had a significant negative effect on visitor numbers during the early park of Alton Towers’ season.
The Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter model will break the inversion record currently held by the 10-looping Colossus rollercoaster at Thorpe Park.
Its total number of inversions has not yet been confirmed, but is expected to be at least 14.