27/28/29 July 2007
Abarth, AC, Alfa Romeo, Allard, Aston Martin, Austin Healey, BMW, Brabham, BRM, Chevrolet, Chevron, Cooper, De Tomaso, Elva, ERA, Ferrari, Ford, Hesketh, Jaguar, Kawasaki, Lagonda, Lancia, Lister, Lola, Lotus, March, Maserati, McLaren, MG, Mini, Morgan, Nissan, Porsche, Spice, Stanguellini, Sunbeam, Surtees, Suzuki, Triumph, TVR, Tyrrell, Vincent…
These are just some of the evocative makes from motorsport history that form the line-up for the biggest and best ever Silverstone Classic, in association with Bonhams, which takes place on 27-29 July. More than 600 entries have been drawn from the historic car and motorcycle worlds. They will fight it out on the hallowed Historic British Grand Prix circuit in 22 races, some of which boast packed fields bursting with more than 40 machines.
Assuming consistent weather conditions, the fastest races of the weekend will be the ACO Plate Award (on Saturday July 28) and the Silverstone Classic Trophy (Sunday July 29) for Group C/GTP cars from the 1980s and early ’90s. Bringing back some of the great Silverstone 1000 Kilometres and 6 Hours races, these will be fought out by Porsche 962s, Jaguars and Spices, plus the formidable IMSA GTP Nissans.
That’s not all, for joining the field in Sunday’s Silverstone Classic Trophy, a longer race featuring driver changes, is Porsche Group C legend Derek Bell. Bell is also scheduled to appear in another of the fast races - the Daily Express Silverstone International Trophy for Invitation Formula 1 cars with Grand Prix Masters.
Another highlight of Sunday afternoon, this race - along with the James Hunt Trophy on Saturday - revives the Silverstone F1 races of the 1970s. Cars with Hunt history (Hesketh, McLaren M23 and M26) will line up against Tyrrell, Lotus, Brabham, Surtees and the V12 BRMs. These races were absolute thrillers last year, and 2007 will be no different.
Taking place on Saturday evening, the Denny Hulme Silverstone Endurance Trophy for the Hagerty World Sportscar Masters will be a 90-minute storm through dusk for a massive field of late 1960s and early ’70s sports- racers. Ford GT40s, Porsche 917s and Lola T70s will take on Italian challengers in the form of Ferrari’s sensational 312PB and 712, plus Alfa Romeo T33s. If Steve McQueen was still alive, he’d be filming this race…
From the preceding era of sportscar racing, the Innes Ireland Trophy for Gentlemen Drivers GT & Sports Endurance event is a one-hour thrash on Saturday afternoon. American muscle, in the form of Corvette Stingrays and Shelby Mustangs, will vie with Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, E-type Jaguars and the stunning Aston Martin DP214, and the field ranges right down to the humble MG Midget!
From the 1950s, the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy looks set to be a battle between Jaguar, Maserati, Ferrari and the rumbling Allard J2X, while two races for BRDC Historic Sportscars feature the Aston Martin DBR1, Lister-Jaguar and Cooper Monaco. Single-seater counterparts battle it out in the Jack Brabham Trophy, for pre-1961 cars, with later, pre-1966, models racing on Sunday morning in the John Cooper Trophy.
From the same era, Formula Junior cars always provide packed grids and close racing, and they will scrap mightily for the Colin Chapman Trophy on Sunday afternoon. Saloon car fans are catered for with the Jack Sears Trophy with Classic & Sports Car for HSCC Historic Racing Saloons on Sunday morning. Minis, BMWs and Alfas will attempt giant-killing feats against the lurid V8 Ford Mustangs, Falcons and Galaxies - just as they did in the 1960s. This is a 40-minute race, with optional driver changes.
Trying to upstage them for entertainment will be the pair of Stirling Moss Trophies for Roadsports Silverstone Invitation races, where Datsun 240Zs battle Porsche 911s, Morgan +8s and Lotus Europas.
Pre-war action centres around the curtain-closing Tom Delaney Trophy for Historic Racing Cars, with a field of racers put together by the Vintage Sports-Car Club, and Saturday’s BRDC 500 for Pre-War Sports Cars. Marque racing includes the Roy Salvadori Trophy for Aston Martins, with cars from the pre and post-war eras, and the Mark Donohue Trophy for Porsche Silverstone Invitation. Last but not least, the gutsy competitors from the Classic Motorcycle Racing Club will brave it out for the Mike Hailwood and John Surtees Trophies, bringing out a variety of two-wheelers from the 1970s.
The famous Scarf & Goggles entertainment area, the traditional hot air balloon fly-outs and a whole host of other additional entertainment including; vintage aircraft displays – in the sky and on the ground, a period fun fair where all rides are free of charge, plus a children’s crèche, should make this a fantastic weekend while Silverstone Radio keeps everyone in touch with what’s going on. Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, commented, “We have a fantastic line-up of 22 races and plenty of off-track entertainment for this year’s Silverstone Classic. Each year the Silverstone Classic gets bigger and better, and we look forward to putting on this incredible three day event which celebrates eight decades of classic motor racing.”
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 or Sunday if booked in advance (£20 on the Friday and £25 on the Saturday or 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
