• TV personality to compete in classic Austin-Healey 3000
• Filming for next series of Richard Hammond’s Workshop on Discovery+
• Famous faces out in force over the Bank Holiday weekend
• Wide range of tickets available – best prices for advance bookings
Richard Hammond is preparing to embark on his next big adventure. The renowned TV presenter – best known for BBC Top Gear and The Grand Tour – is set to race a 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 later this month at the prestigious Silverstone Festival, taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend, 22-24
August.
While Hammond has attended the Festival before – most recently to auction some of his personal cars and bikes to support his restoration business, The Smallest Cog – this will mark the 55-year-old’s first time competing.
On Sunday morning, he’ll line up on the grid for the esteemed Royal Automobile Club Historic Tourist Trophy. This iconic race is reserved for pre-’63 GTs, including legendary models such as the E-type Jaguar and AC Cobra.
To ease his entry into the world of historic racing, Hammond will share the driving duties with Patrick Blakeney-Edwards – one of the UK’s most seasoned historic racers and a former winner of the Historic Tourist Trophy himself.
The duo recently took the light blue British classic sports car for a shakedown at Silverstone in preparation.
“Richard did really well,” reported Blakeney-Edwards. “He clearly knows how to drive and has done a little racing before. However, we want him to enjoy himself – and to do that, he needs confidence both in himself and in the car. These miles are key to ensuring we have a fun weekend. It’s all about taking part rather than winning!”
Whether he wins or not, Hammond’s racing efforts will be featured in the upcoming season of Richard Hammond’s Workshop on Discovery+.
Adding to the excitement, fellow presenter Jeremy Clarkson will also be prominently represented at the Festival with a retail pop-up from his popular Diddly Squat Farm Shop. Both he and his partner Lisa Hogan have attended recent Festivals.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have two of the world’s best-known petrolheads so enthusiastically involved in the Silverstone Festival,” said Event Director Nick Wigley. “Both Richard and Jeremy have done so much to promote car culture, and it’s fantastic to see them sharing their passion with fans in such a hands-on way.”
Further endorsing the BBC Top Gear ties, another of the show’s presenters Chris Harris is also racing at the Festival. He is teaming up with Marino Franchitti to share a 1965 Ford Mustang in the star-studded Transatlantic Touring Car Trophy on Saturday afternoon where the opposition includes Sir Chris Hoy former F1 ace Jan Magnussen and tin top legends Matt Neal, Steve Soper and Max Chilton plus reigning BTCC champion, Jake Hill.
The Historic Tourist Trophy and Transatlantic Touring Car are just two of 20 thrilling retro races scheduled for the action-packed Silverstone Festival weekend.
Held over the end-of-summer Bank Holiday, the Festival offers a huge range of on- and off-track entertainment for all ages. Children aged 15 and under can attend for free with a paying adult. All tickets include access to an incredible line-up of family-friendly activities - including live performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Craig David presents TS5, and Ministry of Sound Classical - alongside traditional funfair rides, stunt shows, and much more.
