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SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OPEN WITH SPECIAL SHOWCASE AT AUTOSPORT SHOW
• 25th anniversary marked with huge historic racing display at the NEC• Symbolic Group C Mercedes ‘Silver Arrows’ on pole position
• Line-up of supercar legends from the pages of Classic & Sports Car
Two of the leading names in the global classic car world are joining forces to provide visitors with a very special showcase at next month’s Autosport International show at the NEC, Birmingham (8-11 January).
Kicking off its Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Silverstone Classic is teaming up with Classic & Sports Car magazine to create a huge display. This will not only feature a dazzling collection of truly iconic racing and road cars from previous eras, but also representation from all the top series organisers responsible for ensuring the UK’s revered position right at the forefront of the thriving historic motor sport movement.
The set piece will put the spotlight on many of the stunning grids that have established the Silverstone Classic as the World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival as well as a number of the renowned supercars that are regularly acclaimed in the pages of the world’s best selling classic car magazine.
The dazzling 1990 ‘Silver Arrows’ Mercedes C11 sports prototype will take pole position among the eight competition cars gathered to mark the Classic’s 25th anniversary. Raced in period by the great Michael Schumacher, the fearsome twin-turbo Group C machine is always a real crowd-pleaser at Silverstone and, aptly, has been selected to symbolise the Silver Jubilee event.
Emphasising the unrivalled diversity of historic motor sport competing on the hallowed British Grand Prix circuit at the Classic, the other track cars on show range from a revered Jaguar D-type from the Fifties to more recent pin-ups such as the ex-James Thompson Honda Accord from the much-admired Super Touring generation which was a born-again winner in James Dodd’s hands at last summer’s event plus one of the amazing Lister Storm that took part in July’s dramatic 90s GT Legends demonstrations.
Stellar grids of Grand Prix cars from evocative golden eras are also among the regular crowd favourites and the special display in Birmingham will include both an eye-catching JPS Lotus 87 once raced by local hero Nigel Mansell and one of the very first rear-engined Cooper F1 creations from 1960. Two other wonderful powerhouses also from the Sixties will complete the outstanding line-up: a fabulous Lola T70 Spyder and a mighty 6.6-litre Corvette Stingray.
“What better way to kick off what’s going to be an amazing 25th anniversary year for the Silverstone Classic than with this magnificent show stopping display?” said Event Director, Nick Wigley. “We have already confirmed that Status Quo will be topping the live music line-up on Saturday evening and we have lots more exciting announcements to make in the coming months. Over the past 25 years the Silverstone Classic has flourished into the World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival and even by its own pace-setting standards, 2015 is going to be very, very special.”
Of course there’s so much more to the Silverstone Classic than record grids starring in excess of 1000 racing entries. Nowhere will visitors get to see so many dazzling cars representing the history of famous and legendary marques, all lovingly maintained and displayed by their owners. The sheer scale of these displays – some 10,000 cars in 2014 – is a landmark feature of the Silverstone Classic and a real celebration of motoring, auto design and memorabilia.
Highlighting this – and indeed the kind of stunning cars found every month on its pages – Classic & Sports Car has put together an equally impressive collection of ‘wow’ factor road cars for those at the NEC to savour. This mouth-watering gathering includes an Audi Sport Quattro SWB, Ferrari F40, Jaguar XJR15, Lancia Stratos Stradale and Porsche 959.
“We are delighted to be part of such a major milestone celebration for the Silverstone Classic,” said James Elliott, Classic & Sports Car Group Editor. “Back when it all started, Classic & Sports Car was the official media partner to the very first International Historic Festival staged at Silverstone in July 1990, and we are delighted to still be involved in a similar role today. In so many ways that groundbreaking first meeting dedicated entirely to providing enthusiasts with a feast of historic racing laid the foundations for the huge number of similarly focused events that are now held right around the world. It’s also intriguing to think that an increasing number of incredible cars now racing and parading around Silverstone are actually younger than the event itself. That’s clearly another significant factor in the growth both of historic motor sport and of the ever-expanding classic car scene.”
Early Bird tickets for next summer’s special Silver Jubilee Silverstone Classic are now available offering significant savings of up to 15 per cent. Adult prices start at just £34 and stick to the Classic’s widely praised ‘access all areas’ policy, thus providing admission to both race paddocks, trackside grandstands and the live music concerts.
Saturday tickets – including a full race programme and Status Quo – also offer exceptional value. They are currently on sale for £55 rising to £62 if purchased after the Early Bird offer expires at the end of March. Additional discounts are available to members of registered car clubs displaying their classics on the infield and, fittingly, owners of silver cars can join the special ‘Silver Sunday’ track parade and associated festive activities for only an extra £25.
Full details of all tickets (which must be purchased in advance) – as well as hospitality packages and weekend festival camping – can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.
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