TITANS OF TECHNOLOGY JOIN RECORD-BREAKING BEAULIEU SUPERCAR WEEKEND

TITANS OF TECHNOLOGY JOIN RECORD-BREAKING BEAULIEU SUPERCAR WEEKEND

Bugatti Chiron in Prestige and Hypercar display

Performance cars from the cutting-edge of motoring technology made a record-breaking Beaulieu Supercar Weekend which attracted an intoxicating mix of nearly 1,000 plug-in, hybrid and petrol supercars.

An all-time high of 963 supercars and 16,800 show-goers – 1,900 more than last year – enjoyed the A-Plan Insurance-sponsored event in the grounds of the National Motor Museum.

Brand new feature EV Evolution brought together lightning-fast electric cars, from the BMW i8 and latest Tesla models to the Audi e-Tron, Jaguar I-Pace and hybrid Lexus UX 250h. The special feature marked the start of the modern electric car movement with the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf, while diminutive Sinclair C5 three-wheelers were the veterans of the line-up and also firm favourites.

Demonstration runs on both days of the event kept the action moving, as incredible machines were put through their paces. Scores of supercar fans lined the demonstration straight and watched the giant screen as the raw power of the Koenigsegg Agera R hypercar was unleashed. Also, put to the test were more nimble, lightweight cars such as the Caterham Seven and Lotus Exige S, powerful stallions such as the Maserati MC Stradale and latest Aston Martin DBS, as well as a classic Ferrari Dino GT and range of Ferraris.

Show-goers were able to win a seat in the runs, with the Sporting Bears Motor Club raising nearly £3,000 for Hampshire child bereavement charity Simon Says by raffling rides in its members’ supercars.

Some of the greatest highlights of supercar history joined the Prestige and Hypercardisplay on the lawns of Palace House. Examples of the landmark Jaguar XJ220 and iconic Ferrari F40s were parked alongside a Bugatti Chiron, Lamborghini Miura S, Toyota 2000GT, Noble M600, McLaren Senna, Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, McLaren P1 and more dream machines.

A big hit with Beaulieu visitors were the Supercar sound-offs, as cars with awesome engines, including a Shelby Daytona Cobra replica, Ultima GTR, Audi R8, Ford Mustang and Nissan GT-R, competed for the loudest cheer from the crowd for the best-sounding exhaust note.

The SUV Secret Garden was filled with high-performance luxury off-roaders. Stylish Lamborghini Urus, Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Range Rover SVR took their places alongside the rugged Toyota Hilux Invincible 50, BMW X7, Lexus RXL, Toyota C-HR Hybrid, Volvo XC90 D5 and Mercedes GLC 250.

Other show highlights included a live demonstration by PopBangColour artist Ian Cook, who used remote control cars to drive paint across his canvas for a supercar portrait.

In the events fields, McLaren Owners UK turned heads with an impressive display of over 60 cars, while other club displays celebrated the Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Marcos, TVR, Morgan, Maserati and Ferrari. Retro Rallycross showcased historic rallycross racers, while the lightweight but powerful Ariel Atom 4 and Ariel Ace contrasted with Jaguar’s extreme new XE SV Project 8.

Beaulieu Supercar Weekend is part of a calendar of Beaulieu motoring events which continues with VW T Chill on August 9th - 11th, Simply Mercedes on August 18th and International Autojumble on September 7th - 8th. For tickets and details see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

Beaulieu Supercar sponsors A-Plan Insurance is one of the UK’s largest independent high-street insurance brokers and was established in 1963. The company provides a complete range of competitive insurance products to consumers and small businesses through its network of 90+ branches across the UK. A-Plan prides itself on the highly personal and tailored service it offers to its clients and on its expertise across a wide range of specialist vehicles from hot rods and American imports to the most prestigious supercars. Not only are they experts in this type of specialist insurance but also huge enthusiasts. For more details see www.aplan.co.uk.

RECORD-BREAKING CLASSIC WOWS HUGE CROWDS

RECORD-BREAKING CLASSIC WOWS HUGE CROWDS

50th anniversary of Woodstock at the 2019 Silverstone Classic

The curtain has come down on another record-breaking Silverstone Classic that wowed the crowds from Friday morning through to Sunday evening.

This 2019 edition of the hugely popular blockbuster event attracted record grids, record car club attendees, record spectator numbers giving a total attendance of 109,000 over the weekend – a significant increase on previous years.

A total of 21 spine-tingling retro races, countless off-track entertainment, packed car club displays and iconic anniversary parades elevated the world’s biggest classic car motor racing event to even greater heights.

Following the opening 12 races on Super Saturday – as well as a second night of ‘rocking’ at the Classic’s renowned live music festival, which this year celebrated the 50th anniversary of Woodstock – there was yet another packed day of entertainment waiting on Sunday.

The final day’s on-track headlines arguably belonged to Steve Hartley in the ex-John Watson McLaren MP4/1 – the car in which ‘Wattie’ famously raced from 17th on the grid to the top step of the podium in the inaugural Detroit Grand Prix back in 1982.

It was a beautiful scene of yesteryear as Hartley’s red and white McLaren went toe-to-toe with the Williams FW07C of Mike Cantillon, the former eventually won the closely fought Sir Jackie Stewart Trophy for FIA Masters Historic Formula One contest by just 0.382s.

Another famous Formula 1 rivalry was renewed in the Gallet Trophy for Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars as old adversaries Lotus and Brabham turned back the clock. Sam Wilson in the Lotus 18 beat Jon Fairley’s Brabham BT11/19 to take overall honours.

Further exciting duels followed in the International Trophy for Classic GT Cars (Pre ’66) as a couple of Cobras eventually got the better of two Jaguar E-types. It was Julian Thomas and Calum Lockie who won the showdown in their Shelby Daytona Cobra from the AC Cobra Daytona Coupe of David and Oliver Hart.

Tin top cars and stars were also out in force during the Historic Touring Car Challenge, which Ford machinery – the most successful marque in BTCC history – fittingly dominated.

Michael Lyons cruised to victory in his Spa 24-Hours winning Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500, whilst Craig Davies stole second on the final corner in an identical machine. That meant Steve Dance had to settle for the final step on the rostrum overall, but he was further rewarded with the Gordon Spice Trophy as the highest placed Ford Capri finisher. The Capri celebrations continued with a special 50th-anniversary parade during the lunch break.

Current BTCC stars Colin Turkington and Adam Morgan also contested the race, but both faced heartache as mechanical woes forced their retirement.

The jam-packed HSCC Historic Formula 2 field again produced a hugely exciting race as Martin O’Connell bounced back from a last-lap spin in yesterday’s lead tussle to win the morning’s wet/dry challenge in style. 

Jonathan Kennard proved to be one of the drivers of the weekend as he took his and Mike Cantillon’s Pescarolo LMP1 to two victories in the Yokohama Trophy for FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars. Kennard and Cantillon went wheel-to-wheel with Le Mans podium finisher Emmanuel Collard to win Saturday evening’s race, but the duo completely dominated Sunday’s affair.

22-year-old Dane Christian Olsen made it a double in the HSCC Classic Formula 3, whilst Georg Hallau won today’s HSCC Thundersports Endurance encounter.

The Mini Celebration Trophy Presented by Adrian Flux provided a fitting end to a weekend which had begun with Paddy Hopkirk leading the 60thanniversary parade of Minis, driving his 1964 Monte Carlo Rally winning Cooper S.

It was current BTCC star Adam Morgan who had the final say by claiming victory in his Morris Mini Cooper S.

While the amazing variety of racing remains the heartbeat of the event, as ever a host of on- and off-track entertainment further fuelled the massive three-day festival…

As on Saturday, three-time World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart demonstrated his incredible title-winning Matra MS80-02, 50 years after winning his first British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1969 en route to the first of his three world championship titles.

Fronted by two-wheeled champions Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer, the World GP Bike Legends also rolled back the years with high-speed track demonstrations.

Record numbers of car clubs also attended this year’s event, providing visitors with more than 10,000 privately-owned classic cars to admire. 

The two-day Silverstone Auctions sale saw huge numbers of competition and classic road cars coming under the hammer, while Car Clinics – hosted by TV’s Mike Brewer – supplied a unique insight into classic car ownership.

There was further family entertainment from the tyre-burning Streetcar Shootout, which shared the Shift & Drift Zone with Slowly Sideways Rally Demonstrations and Terry Grant Stunt Shows.

Younger visitors were also able to enjoy all the fun of the fair with a host of rides and activities, which populated the festival’s popular Village Green.

“The Classic lived up to it's Rocking and Racing’ billing – the cars were the stars and all the families had brilliant fun,” said Nick Wigley, Silverstone Classic CEO.

“The race programme was the most varied yet and the Mini races, in particular, will live long in the memory. In truth, the entire race programme has been extraordinary both in terms of great cars and exceptional driving skills. 

“As ever, the racing is just part of the huge extravaganza that is today’s Silverstone Classic. This year’s event attracted an unprecedented crowd and we would like to thank everybody for coming, as well as all of the drivers, marshals, exhibitors, entertainers, performers and everyone else who made the event such a huge success.”

For those that were unable to attend – or for those in attendance who would like to relive the whole experience – you can catch all the action on ITV4 and YouTube. 

ITV4 will broadcast highlights immediately after live coverage of the BTCC from Thruxton on 18 August, and will be presented by Louise Goodman and Tiff Needell, whilst all 21-races will be available on YouTube during the coming days.

The date of the 2020 Silverstone Classic will be announced shortly.

CURTAIN RAISES ON ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

CURTAIN RAISES ON ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

The curtain has raised on the 2019 edition of the Silverstone Classic as large numbers of the 1000+ entries took to the iconic ‘Home of British Motor Racing’ for a unique dress rehearsal ahead of this weekend’s big show-stopping spectacular.

With an incredible ten decades of retro machinery on show, both on- and off-track, the Silverstone Classic is regarded as the zenith of historic motor racing meetings in the world, regardless of genre. 

From FIA Masters Historic Formula One machinery and Masters Endurance Legends from recent decades right back to the early pioneers from the dawn of Le Mans back in the 1920s, the Silverstone Classic features oversubscribed grids harking back to yesteryear across three days of thrilling track action.

Qualifying gets underway for all classes tomorrow [Friday] ahead of a packed programme of 21 races to be run across Saturday and Sunday. 

In preparation of the weekend’s racing action, many of this year’s competitors had the final chance to put finishing touches to their machines today [Thursday] during final test sessions around the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. 

With special anniversary celebrations ahead, huge numbers of Minis and Bentleys were already out in force. To mark the pint-sized icon’s 60th birthday, no fewer than 60 sporty Cooper S models from pre-’66 will contest a pair of incredible races for the Mini Celebration Trophy presented by Adrian Flux over the weekend. 

Founded in 1919, Bentley has just reached three figures – a remarkable milestone that will be honoured by Saturday evening’s Bentley Centenary Trophy for Pre-War Sportscars. Recreating the famous marque’s formative early years, more than 20 Bentleys from the 1920s and 1930s will be racing against an evocative field jam-packed with Aston Martins, Fraser Nashes, Invictas, Lagondas, and Talbots from the first half of the last century. 

Another head-turner proudly sporting the Flying B badge is the Bentley Speed 8. The dark green prototype gave the company its first Le Mans victory for 73 years when winning in 2003. Incredibly the Speed 8 never before raced on home soil – an omission that will be corrected at this weekend’s Classic. 

While the cars are always the stars, a number of top drivers were also revving up for the weekend in the summer sunshine at Silverstone. 

Three-time British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington is racing a BMW M3 as campaigned by tin-top legend Steve Soper back in 1991 and is a huge fan of the Classic.

“The Classic is one of my favourite weekends of the year – it’s such a super festival to enjoy as a spectator. As a driver, it delivers on all fronts with the massive crowds,” said the reigning BTCC champ. “Having just driven the M3, it’s mint! You are driving around feeling like a hero; it’s so nicely balanced and flies out of the corners – I can’t stop grinning!”

While most eyes were focused on the track, final preparations have also been completed on the huge in-field areas in readiness for the arrival of more than 10,000 stunning classic cars and 100,000 visitors over the three-day festival. 

Display areas have been assigned for the record number of car clubs attending, the huge assortment of family entertainment attractions and entertainment primed for action, large numbers of significant lots and the central music stage set-up for live performances on both Friday and Saturday evenings. This year top tribute bands will pay homage to the legendary Woodstock Festival which took place almost exactly 50 years ago in the summer of 1969. 

“We are all ready for what promises to be the biggest and best Silverstone Classic to date,” enthused Nick Wigley, Silverstone Classic CEO. “The racing is the heartbeat of such an incredible family festival jam-packed with entertainment for all ages so it’s no surprise that we have sold a record number of full weekend tickets – one day really is never enough!”

All tickets include admission to the concerts as well as both racing paddocks, open trackside grandstands and the vast majority of the family entertainment on offer for all ages. Tickets, though, must be purchased in advance and only remain on sale until midnight tonight. Gates open on Friday at 7.30am

Full details – plus all the latest event news, and results information – can be found on the official silverstoneclassic.com website and via the event’s social media platforms.

HUGE COLLECTION OF VOLVO CARS TO GATHER FOR WORLD RECORD-BREAKING PARADE

HUGE COLLECTION OF VOLVO CARS TO GATHER FOR WORLD RECORD-BREAKING PARADE

VOLVO 122 AMAZON

Lines of traffic are an all-too-familiar feature of modern motoring life, but on Sunday 31 March there will be a record-breaking queue with a difference, made up entirely of Volvo cars. Car clubs, owners and enthusiasts from across the UK are joining forces to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest parade of Volvos at Volvo600, a special event that will also raise funds for charity.

Volvo600 will take place at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, near Leicester. The venue has room to accommodate many thousands of vehicles, but only 600 are needed for the organisers to meet their target and break the current record, set in Poland in 2010.

An exceptional array of Volvo models is expected, from post-war classics such as the Amazon series and the P1800 coupes, through the iconic estate cars and saloons of the 1980s and '90s to examples from today's award-winning line-up. Tuned and customised cars will be taking their place alongside prized classics and family favourites.

The record attempt is free to enter and to watch, with cars lining up between noon and 2pm ready for the moving parade to be monitored by Guinness World Record officials. Donations and proceeds from merchandise sales will support Breast Cancer Care UK.

Full details of the event programme and how to take part can be found on the Volvo600 website at www.volvo600.co.uk. Information and the latest news can also be followed on social media using #volvo600