at the 2008 Silverstone Classic!
Around 60 3-litre F1 cars plus over 40 pre 1966 GP cars prepare for epic Grand Prix gathering
This summer the 2008 Silverstone Classic is poised to host one of the largest ever gatherings of Grand Prix race cars as over 100 examples from the golden age of Formula One are set to compete at the home of the British Grand Prix.
Uniquely the 25/26/27 July event will feature rounds of the FIA Historic Formula One Championship, the Grand Prix Masters series and races for the HGPCA pre 1966 GP Cars.
To make it a must-do event for any Formula One fans, there will be no less than four races during the weekend for 3-litre Grand Prix cars. Both the Historic Formula One and Grand Prix Masters events will be double headers, making what is thought to be the first quadruple-header weekend for Formula One cars in the sport's history.
The 3-litre engine regulations for Formula One were introduced for the 1966 season, but it was the debut of the legendary Cosworth DFV engine in 1967 that revolutionised the sport and ensured that the 1970s and 1980s were hugely successful for Grand Prix racing. Fittingly, the 'double four valve' engine was produced in Northampton, just a few miles from Silverstone and the engine ultimately scored 155 Grand Prix wins over a 15-year period.
The great majority of the cars racing in the twin headline events at the Silverstone Classic will be powered by the Cosworth engine, which was only overtaken by the rise of turbocharged Formula One engines in the early 1980s.
Respected sources believe that the greatest number of Formula One cars to race in one event to date is 40 cars, although as many as 48 could be in action during a pair of races at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix event in May. But if the Silverstone Classic entry tops 50 cars, then records are set to be broken.
"There is no reason why we can't have over 30 cars on the FIA Historic Formula One grid," said series manager Stuart McCrudden. Meanwhile, Christopher Tate from the Grand Prix Masters series is also expecting a superb line-up of cars. "We had 32 entries for last year's Silverstone Classic and we certainly hope to get more than that this year."
Even allowing for the fact that a small number of cars may be entered for both series, the signs are clear that well over 50 cars is an achievable target. The Grand Prix Masters series is open to 3-litre Formula One cars built between 1968 and 1978, while the FIA Historic Formula One category is open to cars built up to 1985, thus allowing in the final generation of DFV-engined Grand Prix cars.
"We believe we're going to have one of the biggest ever gatherings of Grand Prix / Formula One cars," said Event Director Roger Etcell from Motion Works. "I'm very hopeful that we will have some V12 3-litre cars as well as all the DFV cars. The prospect of a V12 Matra and a V12 Ferrari engine or two in full flight on the Silverstone Historic Grand Prix circuit will be another highlight of what is shaping up to be a truly memorable international event."
Event Background
The annual Silverstone Classic festival will be organised and promoted by Motion Works UK Limited (MWUK) on behalf of Classic Automotive Events Limited, the company recently licensed by Silverstone to stage the event for the next five years.
The annual Silverstone Classic is a celebration of motor racing across all decades from the 1920s to the 1990s on a current FIA approved circuit and is not totally historic as it also invites more contemporary races such as Group C, Saloons and late Formula One cars to be raced and seen in their appropriate surroundings. Classic Car Owner Clubs from across the UK and overseas play an important supporting role in recent years with 4,000 cars expected this year. The event Auction remains an important landmark and features such as the Scarf & Goggles meeting area, art & photo galleries, period air displays, funfairs, themed catering, will be retained and enhanced, with new attractions being added over the next few years.
The entire event is planned to be filmed for television and the promoters have announced that the HSCC have been retained for their race organisation expertise. A new event website at www.silverstoneclassic.com is currently under development.
Tickets Prices By 31 March By 30 June On The DayFriday, 25 July £20.00 £25.00 £30.00Saturday, 26 July £25.00 £30.00 £35.00Sunday, 27 July £25.00 £30.00 £35.003-Day, 25/26/27 July £40.00 £55.00 n/aAdvance tickets can now be purchased via 0871 703 38 48
All tickets include free car parking, extensive covered and uncovered grandstand seating, paddock
