AT SILVERSTONE CLASSIC - 27/28/29 July 2007
Motorsport legend Sir Stirling Moss is to be honoured at this year’s Silverstone Classic meeting on July 27-29 by the awarding of two Stirling Moss Trophies.
Both trophies will be fought out by cars from the Historic Sports Car Club’s Road Sports championships - the earlier 1960s cars from the Historic Road Sports series and the later machinery from the ’70s Road Sports contest. It will be the first time these cars, which come from the low-budget end of the HSCC’s varied roster of championships, have competed at the Silverstone Classic, in association with Bonhams. While they will certainly not provide the fastest action of the weekend, they will have one of the biggest, most varied grids. And, even though these are non-championship races, there will be plenty of sideways, tyre-squealing action!
HSCC Executive Director Grahame White said: “I put it to Silverstone that a full and varied grid of Road Sports cars would be very good for the Silverstone Classic, as there are always lots of classic car clubs at the event. We will have an absolutely full to bursting grid of cars that people don’t usually see racing. The grid capacity is 48 cars - and we’ve already got more entries than that!” 2007 marks 50 years since Stirling Moss drove the first ever British car to Grand Prix victory in 1957 and, while Sir Stirling is best known for his successes in Formula 1 and the World Sportscar Championship, he shot to fame by winning the 1950 Tourist Trophy in a Jaguar XK120. An XK120 is already entered in the invitation class for earlier cars, but the outright victory is likely to be fought out by Datsun 240Zs, TVR 3000s, Morgan +8s and Lotus Elans. Also in there pitching should be examples of Lotus 7, Europa and Elite, Porsche 911, TVR Tuscan, Ford Mustang, Lancia Aurelia and Fulvia, Ginetta, Fiat 124, Triumph TR5, TR6 and Spitfire and Alfa Romeo GTV.
“The reaction from competitors has been fantastic,” continued White. “They feel this is their chance to play on a big stage, and they will provide cracking racing. Stirling is the HSCC’s Patron-in-Chief, and I thought how appropriate it would be if we could use his name for the races. He said he would be delighted and honoured.”
The first Stirling Moss Trophy is provisionally scheduled for 10.50am on Saturday July 28, with the second race at 10.00am on Sunday July 29. Event organisers are hoping that Sir Stirling, one of the greatest and most successful British F1 drivers of all time, will once again race at this year’s event. The British legend turned back the clock at last year’s Silverstone Classic, racing in the Woodcote Trophy for pre 1956 Post-war Sports cars, and spent considerable time signing autographs for both fans and competitors alike. The introduction of the 90 minute Hagerty World Sportscar Masters Dusk Race on the Saturday evening is also proving to be a real hit with race-goers.
The Le Mans-style race, along with themed off-track entertainment, is another new addition for 2007 and is generating considerable interest. Tickets for the 2007 Silverstone Classic, in association with Bonhams, have been priced at an attractive £15 for the Friday and £20 for the Saturday and Sunday if booked in advance (£20 on the Friday and £25 on the Saturday and Sunday if purchased on the day), while a special Event Ticket represents fantastic value at £35 for all three days. Children aged 15 years and under, accompanied by an adult, go free, while parking, roving grandstand seating, paddock access and centre transfer are all also included in these special prices.
To purchase tickets, or for further information on the 2007 Silverstone Classic, in association with Bonhams, visit silverstone.co.uk/classic, or call 08704 588 260.
