Motorsport legend Derek Bell to race at Silverstone ClassicDaily Express commits to three year partnership
Motorsport legend Derek Bell today announced that he will be one of 600 competitors heading to Silverstone on 27-29 July for this year’s prestigious Silverstone Classic meeting. The five time Le Mans and triple Daytona 24 hours winner was speaking at the official launch of the 2007 Silverstone Classic, in association with Bonhams, where he confirmed that he’ll be jumping back behind the wheel for two races at the three-day event. On the Saturday Bell will be driving a Group C Porsche in the Hagerty World Sportscar Masters Race, a Le Mans-style evening dusk race which will celebrate the ‘Sportscar and Endurance Racing’ theme of this year’s event.
He also confirmed that he’d be racing John Monson’s 1972 Surtees TS 9B on the Sunday, competing in the Daily Express Silverstone International Trophy for Invitation Formula One cars with GPM. “I came to the Silverstone Classic last year and was itching to get out in a car”, commented Bell. “That’s why I jumped at the chance to come back this year and race. It’s a fantastic event with some great cars, and as a spectator you can wonder around the paddock and walk right up to them [the cars].
"There’s a great atmosphere at the Classic, both on and off the track, and I’m really looking forward to coming back at the end of July.” Bell added, “The evening race on Saturday will be very special. Adding a touch of Le-Mans will be great for both the fans and drivers. There’s just something about racing in the dusk. The colours and lights create a fantastic atmosphere, which will be a great addition to the event.”
In addition to confirming Derek Bell’s presence at this year’s event, which will feature twenty two races, spanning eight decades of machinery, race organisers were also thrilled to announce a new three-year deal with The Daily Express. Reminiscent of days gone by, the national newspaper was once again confirmed as title backer of the International Trophy race.
The Daily Express International Trophy was run annually at Silverstone from 1949 – when it was won by Alberto Ascari’s Ferrari – to 1975, when Niki Lauda triumphed. In period it was a non- championship race at the beginning of the European Formula 1 season, and produced some famous results, none more so than James Hunt’s first F1 win for the Hesketh team in 1974. Bill Bradshaw, Head of Sport at the Daily Express, said: “The Daily Express is delighted to be once again backing the Silverstone Classic, an event that echoes motor racing’s halcyon days.
The Express is intrinsically linked with some of Silverstone's most memorable races and our association reflects the public's appetite for racing within all its unfettered glory.” Commenting on ticket prices for the three day event, the Daily Express Sports Editor couldn’t help noticing the unbelievable value of the Silverstone Classic Event ticket, priced at just £35 for all three days.
Bradshaw commented, “This event is one of the highlights of the British sporting summer, and I couldn’t help comparing ticket prices with some of the other sporting events we cover in The Daily Express. “Put it this way, for £35 (the cost of a three day Event Ticket) you would get three quarters of your backside on a seat at Stamford Bridge, or approximately one buttock on a seat for the FA Cup at the new Wembley.”
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. Exclusive hospitality packages are also available on the Saturday and Sunday. 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.
