SUCCESSFUL SILVERSTONE CLASSIC FOR WOODHAM MORTIMER AS COSTIN LISTER TAKES HARD FOUGHT SECOND PLACE IN THE STIRLING MOSS TROPHY

SUCCESSFUL SILVERSTONE CLASSIC FOR WOODHAM MORTIMER AS COSTIN LISTER TAKES HARD FOUGHT SECOND PLACE IN THE STIRLING MOSS TROPHY

• Woodham Mortimer race team-prepared Costin Lister pushes hard for victory and secures 2^nd spot on the podium in epic rain-drenched Stirling Moss Trophy
• Successful finishes for both Frazer Nash Le Mans Rep and Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 in the RAC Woodcote Trophy

Woodham Mortimer returned to podium winning ways at last weekend’s glorious Silverstone Classic – the world’s biggest historic racing festival. The world-renowned race preparation team that has enjoyed so much success in recent years, prepared and ran three cars at the Classic, including a potent Lister Costin which contested the Stirling Moss Trophy, an historic ex-Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 and an equally historic ex-Roy Salvadori Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica, both contesting the RAC Woodcote Trophy. For 2019, both races were combined on a single, maximum capacity grid.

At the end of a week that had seen Britain sweltering in record-breaking heat, race day witnessed a change in fortunes, as the rain came in overnight on Friday and was well established by Saturday morning. Having qualified early on Friday in warm and dry conditions, the Lister Costin of David Hart secured 6^th overall in the huge 58 car grid, while the Frazer Nash of Steve Ward and the Jaguar of Josh Ward and Chris Ward both qualified well within their classes. The thoroughly drenched conditions on race day were always going to create difficult racing conditions for cars and drivers, and that was to prove to be the case. In conditions that reward driver skill as much as a car’s performance, it is a testament to David Hart that he pushed the eventual race winner hard all the way to the chequered flag, securing second place overall and only missing the top step of the podium by three seconds! David Hart also set the second-fastest time of the race, with a 2 min 42.71-sec lap.

Both the XK120 and the Frazer Nash performed faultlessly in the race, finishing 32^nd and 51^st respectively.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO and Chairman of Woodham Mortimer, says: “The whole team performed fantastically well at the Silverstone Classic. We are a team that enjoys success, and to have a car finish second in such a large and competitive grid, is a fantastic result. All the cars performed faultlessly and we are looking forward to more competition in the coming months.”

Woodham Mortimer is a full-service restoration, race preparation and sales business, based in extensive facilities in Maldon, Essex.  With over 40 skilled craftsmen working in-house, the company delivers some of the highest quality restoration work seen anywhere in the world, with dedicated workshops for bodywork, paintwork, trimming, machining, engine building, final assembly and race preparation. Cars restored by Woodham Mortimer’s workforce have won honours at many of the world’s most prestigious concours events, while the race team has prepared and run some of the most successful historic racing cars to compete for international events of every type. 

For further information, please visit www.woodham-mortimer.com.

Source: Woodham Mortimer

EVERYONE’S A WINNER AT THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

EVERYONE’S A WINNER AT THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

Sir Jackie Stewart presenting trophy's at the Classic

Boasting an unrivalled programme of 21 epic retro races, there was no shortage of winners at last weekend’s record-breaking Silverstone Classic – some were even presented with their coveted trophies by racing legends including three-time World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart, touring car ace Gordon Spice and rally star Paddy Hopkirk.

They were not the only winners, though, with a host of other trophies being awarded to worthy recipients throughout the action-packed weekend, topped by the two Scarf & Goggles Awards. These honour the founding achievements of Stuart Graham and Mervyn Garton – two of the driving forces behind the groundbreaking festival’s creation back in 1990.

As a director of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, Graham masterminded the on-track racing while Garton was charged with providing visitors with off-track entertainment – two of the Classic’s pillars to this day.

This year the Stuart Graham Scarf & Goggles Award for the Most Admired Racing Car was won by the stunning flat-12 cylinder 1965 Ferrari 1512 as raced by Joe Colasacco in the pair of evocative races for the Gallet Trophy for Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars (HGPCA). Graham presented the trophy to Larry Auriana, the Italian/American owner of the beautifully restored and cherished scarlet F1 icon.

The equally-prized Mervyn Garton Scarf & Goggles Award for the Best Off-Track Visitor Attraction at this year’s Classic was presented to the Sporting Bears Club by Mervyn’s widow Janet. By offering visitors Dream Rides in a selection of great cars, Sporting Bears not only fulfilled many lifelong ambitions but also raised more than £4,000 for children's charities.

The Adrian Flux Trophy for the Best Car Club Display went to the ever-enthusiastic and friendly UK S2000 Owners Club which marked the Honda soft-top’s 20th anniversary with an impressive and immaculately turned-out display of two-seater sportscars.

Equally deserving were the two Yokohama Trophy winners. The Club Car of the Show award being presented to the unique Routledge Special RA4 – an Alvis-based creation raced by its creator Norman Routledge at Silverstone 65 years ago, while the Supercar Legends Car of the Show was won by a crowd-pleasing De Tomaso Pantera GT5 – a real eye-catcher in the Supercar Legends Display, presented by Yokohama.

Finally – and, perhaps, best capturing the incredible passion and excitement of the racing at the Classic – is the accolade introduced last year in memory of much-missed commentator Henry Hope-Frost who lost his life in a road accident.

Henry’s knowledge and euphoria behind the microphone inspired many visitors to the Classic, and the #FEVER Award honours his contagious enthusiasm for motorsport. It was presented to Miles Griffiths for his victory in Saturday’s sensational HSCC Historic Formula 2 showdown. The thrilling three-car battle for top honours in challenging slippery conditions epitomised what Henry relished about the Silverstone Classic.

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.

A RETURN TO RACING: DM HISTORICS FIA LOTUS CORTINA COMPETES AT SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

A RETURN TO RACING: DM HISTORICS FIA LOTUS CORTINA COMPETES AT SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

This weekend, DM Historics will compete at the world-famous Silverstone Classic in a stunning 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina - a UK-first for the company’s race team and 1960’s racer. Supported by the workshop’s very own motorsport segment, the Cortina is set to be raced for the first time in almost two decades by DM Historics founders – father-son due to Dominic and Marcus Holland.

After extensive preparation work by the in-house team at DM Historics, the Ford Lotus Cortina has been made track-ready as the latest race competitor from the industry-leading classic car business.

Originally exported to Australia in 1966, where it was exclusively driven on-road, this factory-specification Ford Lotus Cortina was converted to full FIA-spec in 1995. Featuring a complete competition interior with roll-cage, Cobra Evolution racing seat, four-point racing harness and period-correct Moto-Lita steering wheel, this race conversion was no quick-fix. The car was transported around the world, visiting Japan, Miami, Sweden and finally Holland where it was entered into the world-renowned Tulpenrallye, one of the most historic Dutch classic car rallies that is strictly limited to pre-1971 classics. The car was consistently raced throughout the 1990s as an ‘A-frame’ racecar, and after a brief period off-track, it was purchased by new, race-crazed owners.

From 2005 to 2009, this 1965 FIA Ford Lotus Cortina racecar competed at the Spa 6-hour, Knockhill and Grand Prix De L’Age d’Or in Dijon. Now, it looks ahead to world-class events like the Silverstone Classic, putting the car through its paces once again. The DM Historics team have run the racecar in an extensive array of motorsport events, however, this will be the vehicle’s first stint in the highly-coveted Silverstone Classic – a wonderfully significant moment in the life of this glorious little racer.

Founder Marcus Holland commented: “The team at DM Historics are incredibly excited to be entering this wonderful vintage racecar into the world-renowned Silverstone Classic. Having been in the industry for many years, we understand just how difficult it is to get FIA approval to race at Silverstone – so to have our own car on-track is a dream come true. We hope to get in some great laps and put on a performance for the event. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there, and putting our race support team to the test.”

The DM Historics workshop has seen a number of FIA racecars through its doors, including a stunning 1959 Lotus Elite S1 Type 14 which was fully race-prepared by the in-house team. It is now packed with a plethora of other stunning classic automobiles. An exquisite 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 sits alongside a stunning 1953 ex-Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 and 1974 Fiat X1/9 Group 4 rally car.

DM Historics is an industry-leading restoration specialist, classic motorsport support service and classic car dealership, based in the Kent countryside. With an experienced in-house workshop team, DM Historics offer a complete concours-standard service from race-preparation and support, to sales and ground-up restoration. With recent concours showings from Salon Privé, Concours of Elegance and Pebble Beach, DM Historics are proud to offer an industry-leading classic race-support service to match.

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.

TOP TEN NOT-TO-BE-MISSED STAR CARS AT THE CLASSIC

TOP TEN NOT-TO-BE-MISSED STAR CARS AT THE CLASSIC

With 1,000 exquisite race entries and more than 10,000 cherished treasures on display at the spectacular Silverstone Classic (26-28 July), the cars are always the stars at the biggest classic motor racing festival on the planet.

For three memorable days, both racing paddocks will be packed with many of the world’s finest and most revered competition cars, not only spanning a full century of epic motorsport history but also showcasing the sport’s complete spectrum from iconic single-seaters and magical GTs through to much-loved touring cars and dramatic sports prototypes. 

Adding to the incredible show, much of the 760-acre Silverstone estate laying between the pair of paddocks is brimming with dazzling displays of privately-owned classic cars. A record number of car clubs have registered for 2019, with Saturday’s glittering display areas totally sold-out.

Flaunting a wealth of wonderfully evocative automotive history, the Classic offers both casual visitors and serious enthusiasts an unrivalled spectacle of motoring through the ages – a true assault on the senses!

With so much eye-catching machinery on show both on and off the famous Grand Prix circuit, it is almost impossible to select just ten standout star cars that really shouldn’t be missed. Nevertheless, here are the exceptional heart-stoppers that everyone attending will want to see.

They are not necessarily the fastest nor the most expensive paragons on show but, like so many of the esteemed cars at the Classic, they all have great stories to tell.

1963 Ford Galaxie

With so many stars and cars competing at the Classic, the sight of a former World Rally Champion racing a sixties American muscle machine may not appear worthy of special note – but this is a dream come true for 1984 WRC title-winner Stig Blomqvist. As a teenager in Sweden, Stig’s motorsports passions were fuelled when attending a round of the European Touring Car Championship at his local Karlskoga circuit and seeing a mighty 7-litre Ford Galaxie thundering around the track. Now, 45 years later, he’s going to be racing that very same car at the Classic in the Transatlantic Trophy for Pre ’66 Touring Cars.

1964 Mini Cooper S

To mark the game-changing Mini’s 60th birthday in appropriate style, special dispensation has been granted to stage two incredible races with record grids packed full of 60 pre-’66 Cooper Ss. Watching them swarming around the Silverstone GP circuit has to be worth the price of a ticket on its own! Adding to the Diamond Jubilee party, rally legend Paddy Hopkirk will lead a huge track parade on Friday driving the same red Mini #37 (reg 333 EJB) in which he famously won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally – he’ll also bring his trophy with him, making the celebrations all the more special and when not taking part in the Parade, the car will be on display with the British Motor Museum on the Village Green.

1965 Ferrari 1512

With its mesmerisingly small, 1.5-litre, flat-12, high-revving zinger of an engine, the Swiss-watch Ferrari 1512 is one of the most gorgeous and sweetest-sounding of all F1 cars. Ferrari built just three and they were raced by the likes of John Surtees, Lorenzo Bandini and Pedro Rodriguez in the mid-sixties. One of these remarkable jewels is today owned by Larry Auriana, and he is bringing it across the Atlantic to race at the Classic for the very first time to race for the Gallet Trophy for Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars (HGPCA). See, listen and marvel!

1969 Matra MS80-02

Fifty years after winning his first British Grand Prix at Silverstone en route to the first of his three F1 World Championship crowns, racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart will be back behind the wheel of his title-winning Matra MS80-02 for some evocative demonstration laps on both Saturday and Sunday at the Classic. The Flying Scot will also be raising awareness and funds for dementia research, a charity cause very close to his own heart.

1969 Ford Capri

It is 50 years since the Mustang-inspired Ford Capri was first launched at the Brussels Motor Show in 1969, and the fastback was not just – as marketed by Ford – ‘The Car You Always Promised Yourself’ but also a mighty fine racing car. Proving the point, tin-top ace Gordon Spice took the top class honours in the BTCC for five seasons in succession between 1976 and 1980, and one of his multiple race winning red Capris is competing at the Classic. Spice will also be present at the home of British motorsport to award a one-off trophy to the top Capri racer in the Historic Touring Car Challenge race and will also lead out a special Capri anniversary parade behind the wheel of the very same Capri with which he enjoyed such success. 

1979 Williams FW07

The once-great Williams F1 team may no longer be quite the force it once was but this July marks the 40th anniversary of its maiden victory: Swiss speedster Clay Regazzoni made the breakthrough when winning the 1979 British Grand Prix. Examples of the innovative FW07 – as campaigned so successfully by Regazzoni, Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann in period – are still racing, and winning, at the Classic today. They star in the weekend’s two blue riband races contesting the Sir Jackie Stewart Trophy for FIA Masters Historic Formula One races, featuring F1 icons from the sport’s halcyon DFV era still competing in their much-loved original liveries.

1985 MG Metro 6R4

Everybody reveres the extreme Group B era of rallying which dates back to the early 1980s, and the glorious-sounding, V6-propelled MG Metro 6R4 was one of the radical machines created specifically to exploit those audacious technical regulations. The mid-engined brutes were built by the Williams F1 team and, incredibly, a totally mint example with just seven miles on the odometer will be coming under the Silverstone Auctions hammer during a massive road and race car sale over the weekend of the Classic.

1989 Middlebridge Scimitar

HRH The Princess Royal’s lifelong love for Scimitar sports cars will be on show at the Classic as part of a record-breaking display celebrating the 30th birthday of the reborn Middlebridge Scimitar. Princess Anne received her first Scimitar as a 20th birthday present from Her Majesty The Queen and was one of the first to take delivery of an upgraded version after Middlebridge acquired production rights from Reliant. That dark blue 1989 model is still in her ownership today and will be part of a record anniversary display and track parade at the Classic.

2003 Bentley Speed 8

One of the big celebrations at the 2019 Classic will be honouring Bentley’s centenary. The 100-year milestone will be marked with special displays, a track parade and a captivating twilight race on Saturday featuring a number of early cars as piloted by the famous ‘Bentley Boys’ at the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in the 1920s. Even more excitingly, the weekend’s two stellar showdowns in the races for the Aston Martin Trophy for Masters Endurance Legends will, for the first time ever, feature a stunning Bentley Speed 8 prototype as raced to Le Mans victory in 2003.

2019 Brabham BT62

One of the greatest names in motorsport history returns with the launch of the Brabham BT62 – a brutally quick 700bhp, V8-powered track day star that has been created in honour of triple F1 world champion Sir Jack Brabham by an Anglo-Australian company spearheaded by his son David. Just 70 of these £1.2m+ hypercars are being spawned and one will feature among the Astons, Ferraris and Lamborghinis in the Supercar Legends presented by Yokohama display located in the International Paddock at the Classic.

This unofficial Top Ten of unmissable icons is just the tip of the automotive iceberg at the Classic – an event that witnesses more motorsport history in action than any other.

As well as special anniversary celebrations for Abarths, Bentleys, Capris and Minis, this summer’s unrivalled race roster includes super-evocative showdowns for classic era Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 single-seaters all together on the same race-card for the very first time. There’s also a sparkling Twilight Tribute to Le Mans as the sun goes down on Saturday evening.

Providing great value, all tickets – which must be purchased in advance – also give access to a wealth of great family entertainment including period funfair rides, driving experiences, interactive games, massive car club displays plus live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evening which this summer pay homage to the seminal Woodstock festival of 1969. Along with access to both racing paddocks and open trackside grandstands, all of those fun-fuelled attractions are included absolutely free in the ticket price!

Adult tickets start from just £45 and a wide range of child, young adult and family tickets are also available along with camping. Full details of all ticket prices are detailed on the silverstoneclassic.com website. 

[ENDS]

Editor’s notes: The Silverstone Classic is firmly established as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival. The epic event attracts more than 1,000 race entries and draws crowds of more than 100,000. The spectacular classic car celebration is staged at the famous Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, the birthplace of the FIA Formula One World Championship and home to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix. The three-day festival features the very best of historic motor racing, as well as live music and a wealth of family entertainment. This includes a free funfair, Shopping Village, a host of interactive experiences, a classic car auction, plus huge showcases of classic cars often celebrating important milestones in automotive history; over 130 car clubs will be displaying more than 10,000 classic cars over the weekend of the Classic. Donations in support of Alzheimer’s Research UK can be made at: http://support.alzheimersresearchuk.org/event/silverstone-classic

MOTOR RACING LEGENDS SET TO DAZZLE AT SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

MOTOR RACING LEGENDS SET TO DAZZLE AT SILVERSTONE CLASSIC

Motor Racing Legends is gearing up for an impressive show at the forthcoming Silverstone Classic event (July 26-28) where multiple celebrations have resulted in a fabulous entry line-up across four packed grids. Amongst the feature races of the 3-day event we are responsible for the following grids: The combined grid of the Stirling Moss Trophy and Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy (for pre 61 sports racers and pre 56 sports cars) enjoys a fantastic entry list, one of the most valuable grids of the weekend. In last year’s Stirling Moss Trophy, we witnessed a superb battle between the Lotus 15 of Roger Wills and Chris Ward’s Lister Knobbly. It was Ward who took the honours in the end. In this year’s race, the Lister vs Lotus battle continues: four Lotus 15s join the grid, including the striking orange and white car of Philip Walker and Miles Griffiths. US driver Michael Gans - who finished fourth overall last year, Bernardo Hartogs sharing with Will Nuthall and another regular podium visitor, Olly Bryant, drives solo. In the Lister corner, are Knobbly entries from Gary Pearson, Tony Wood driving with Will Nuthall, and Peter Ratcliff driving with Luke Stevens. Costin-bodied Lister entries are Dutchman David Hart driving solo, and Richard Kent sharing with Joe Osbourne. This Stirling Moss race-leading pack are joined by the Cooper Jaguar T38 of Fred Wakeman and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards who have recently installed a 3.8-litre engine propelling the Cooper into the Stirling Moss Trophy front-runners. In last year’s Woodcote Trophy battle, it was the Jaguar D-type of Gary Pearson who took the flag with the Cooper T38 (then in its 3.4-litre engine guise) of Fred Wakeman and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards hot on his heels and the deep red Maserati 250S of Martin Stretton and Richard Wilson finishing in third. In this year’s line-up, we look forward to a feast of ’50s Jaguars. Three D-types will head up the grid, with the Pearson brothers (Gary and John) highly likely to be the pacesetters. Ben Eastick drives with Karl Jones, and Richard Guy drives solo. Four C-types join the fun including James Hanson and Paul Pochciol who enjoyed podium success at Thruxton in June. Rudi Friedrichs drives solo, Fred Wakeman and Patrick Blakeney Edwards need careful pit stop co-ordination to campaign Fred’s C-type and Nigel Webb and John Young are also in with a good chance. Chris Ward co-drives the rather more serene Jaguar-powered Ecurie Ecosse XK120 with Josh Ward. Marc Gordon completes the Jaguar model line-up in his XK140. Reviving the great battles of the early 60s, with an impressive selection of GT cars is the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars (Pre 63’ GT series).  Earlier this year at the Donington Historic Festival the honours were taken by the Jaguar E-type of Jon and Jack Minshaw who converted their pole position into a confident win ahead of the Aston Martin DB4GT of Wolfgang Friedrichs driving with Simon Hadfield and the Jaguar E-type of Chris Milner and Nigel Greensall.   Last year’s Silverstone Historic Tourist Trophy race was won by the paint-free AC Cobra of Martin Hunt and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards, with two Jaguar E-types fighting for a second: James Cottingham and Harvey Stanley finished just 2 seconds ahead of Gregor Fisken driving with Sam Hancock.   This weekend, Martin Hunt returns driving the Cobra solo, one snake against 14 big cats in the form of the Jaguar E-types. Jon and Jack Minshaw will be looking to add their name to the list of TT winners after their Donington result. James Cottingham and Harvey Stanley return, alongside Gregor Fisken driving this weekend with Patrick Blakeney-Edwards. More E-type solo drivers include John Young, John Clark and Tony Wood – all very capable drivers. The Jaguars are joined by two Aston Martin DB4s; the GT of Wolfgang Friedrichs, and DB4 of Alan Middleton plus a blue Tojerio GT EE driven by Till Bechtolscheimer.   Behind the front running pack in Class C for cars up to 3000cc, you’ll find seven Austin-Healey 3000s, amongst them Alex Bell driving with Julian Thomas; Mike Thorne driving with John Todd and Mark Holme driving with Nigel Greensall. In the same class, Chris Woodgate contests the Aston Martin DB MkIII, and the Halusa brothers bring out the family Ferrari 250GT Breadvan. Another feature race of the event is the Historic Touring Car Challenge celebrating the anniversary of the Ford Capri, with a special one-off award named after, and presented by, racing legend Gordon Spice. As expected, a number of Ford Capris will be out contesting this special award. Ric Wood and Adam Morgan will surely be the pacesetters, but 50 minutes is a long time to wrestle with 3.0 litres of heavy metal. Steve Dance recently led the race for some time at Thruxton in his 3.4 litre Capri until the diff gave up in the final laps. Miles Griffiths and Gordon Shedden also join this battle in an original Ford Capri RS2600 converted to 1973 racing specification. Last year’s HTCC race was won by the father and son team of Nick and Harry Whale who finished on the top step of the podium after a hard-fought battle again fellow BMW M3 competitors Mark Smith driving with his son Arran. Both BMW M3s are back this year, ready for a new battle, this year Mark Smith is driving two M3s – one with son Arran and the second with Colin Turkington. But this year they are joined by no less than eight Ford Sierra Cosworths RS500s now racing for overall position having previously been invitation entries. Calum Lockie and Julian Thomas took the honours to this race at May’s Donington Historic Festival in difficult conditions. Other RS500 runners include Craig Davies driving solo, Michael Lyons in New Zealander Peter Sturgeon’s car and Carey McMahon all the way from Australia in the striking original Benson & Hedges liveried car. The Tony Dron Trophy, named after the ’70s Touring Car ace, runs within this grid, for which there is a separate podium after the race. Amongst these runners you will find another battle going on, and more importantly six more 3.0 Ford Capris all running to period specification including original Group 1 brakes, so you will see significant time differences to the more modern era cars. Here you’ll find Mike Whitaker’s red Ford Capri  - the actual Gordon Spice car from 1979 BTCC, and Andy Christopher and Costas Michael running an exact recreation of this car.  Other cars to look out for this weekend amongst the sea of fast Fords and big brightly coloured Rovers, is the bright blue and white MG Metro Turbo driven by former BTCC star Patrick Watts this time co-driving with ‘mini’ superstar Nick Swift. All the action will start on Friday 26nd July with qualifying sessions for all races. The race centre for Motor Racing Legends and our competitors will be based in the National Pits and our Weekend Timetable is as follows: Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy Qualifying – Friday 09.32 - 09.59; Race – Saturday 09.40 - 10.30 (50 minutes) Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars (Pre ‘63GT) Qualifying – Friday 10.54 – 11.21; Race – Saturday 12.15 – 13.05 (50 minutes) Bentley Centenary Race with the Kidston Trophy for Pre-War Sports Cars Qualifying  - Friday 12.48 – 13.15 using National Pits; Race – Saturday 18.00 – 18.40 (40 minutes) using International Pits Historic Touring Car Challenge & Tony Dron Trophy Qualifying – Friday 12.07 – 12.34; Race – Sunday 11.20 – 12.10 (50 minutes) Full entry lists are now updated on our website  Click here

SPEED 8 DEBUT ICES BENTLEY BIRTHDAY CAKE AT THE CLASSIC

SPEED 8 DEBUT ICES BENTLEY BIRTHDAY CAKE AT THE CLASSIC

Bentley Speed 8 to race at the 2019 Silverstone Classic

For the first time in history, one of Bentley’s stunning 24 Hours of Le Mans winning Speed 8 prototypes will race on home UK soil when it debuts on track at this month’s magical Silverstone Classic (26-28 July).

It is now more than 16 years since Bentley made a dramatic return to the scene of its ethos-defining early victories and scored an evocative sixth success at Le Mans in 2003 to add to its five original wins racked up between 1924 and 1930.

In the latest chapter in its history, Bentley was taken over by the Volkswagen Group in 1998 and the new German guardians were understandably keen to re-establish the brand’s sporting credentials.

To recreate those glory days, the new owners invested in a prototype motor sport programme and in 2003 briefly switched its Le Mans attack from Audi to Bentley.

British racing green livered Speed 8 coupés were designed and produced at the team’s UK base in Crewe – albeit with some technical support plus 600bhp twin-turbo V8 engines from serial LM24 winners Audi – and the programme culminated in Bentley’s first Le Mans win in 73 years. With mission accomplished, the fastest cars ever to wear the hallowed Flying B badge were immediately mothballed and VW’s endurance racing efforts switched back to more mainstream Audi ‘Silver Arrows’.

One of those stunning 215mph speedsters from 2003, though, is now in the private hands of experienced sportscar racing enthusiast Shaun Lynn and he will be contesting both showdowns for the Aston Martin Trophy for Masters Endurance Legends at the 2019 Classic – incredibly it will be the first time one of these magnificent Speed 8s has ever raced in the UK.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Shaun is joining us at the Classic to race his Speed 8,” enthused a delighted Ron Maydon, President of Masters Historic Racing. “This will be another iconic addition to our already impressive grid and is sure to be a massive crowd-pleaser. The Speed 8’s debut in a Masters’ race is all the more pertinent, of course, as Bentley is celebrating its centenary at the Classic and its Le Mans victories are very much a highlight of the brand’s incredible heritage.”

Bentley turned 100 earlier this month (W.O. Bentley was founded his eponymous company on 10 July 1919) and that milestone will be honoured with special displays, parades and races at the Classic.

Indeed Saturday’s packed programme concludes late in the evening with an evocative ‘Twilight Tribute to Le Mans’. Three spectacular sportscar races set at dusk will cover almost a century of round-the-clock racing and feature 150 great cars ranging from the Bentleys of 1920s right up to the superfast sports prototypes such as the Speed 8, Lola Aston Martin and a pair of striking Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs – another Le Mans winner. It’s not to be missed!   

“We must thank Shaun massively for bringing the Speed 8 to Silverstone – it’s an incredible car and will be the icing on Bentley’s centenary birthday cake as we celebrate the company’s milestone 100th anniversary at the Classic,” said Nick Wigley, CEO of the Silverstone Classic. “Our special Saturday evening Twilight Tribute to Le Mans is now complete: it will kick off with a wonderful array of vintage Bentleys competing in the Pre-War Sportscar race and conclude at dusk with the Speed 8 racing into the sunset. Just perfect!”

This summer’s unrivalled roster of retro races also includes special anniversary celebrations for Capris, Minis and Abarths plus evocative showdowns for classic era Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 single-seaters, all together on the same Classic race-card for the very first time.

Providing great value, all tickets – which must be purchased in advance – also give access to a wealth of great family entertainment including period funfair rides, driving experiences, interactive games, massive car club displays plus live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evening which this summer pay homage to the seminal Woodstock festival of 1969. Along with access to both racing paddocks and open trackside grandstands, all of those fun-fuelled attractions are included absolutely free in the ticket price!

Adult tickets cost from just £45 and a wide range of child, young adult and family tickets are also available along with camping and hospitality options. Full details of all ticket prices are detailed on the silverstoneclassic.com website.