Silverstone looks set for another action-packed year in 2008, during which the famous Northamptonshire circuit will celebrate 60 years since its first British Grand Prix in 1948.
In addition to this special diamond anniversary, the circuit has announced a world class line-up of events, including a host of domestic and international championships.
Notable dates for 2008 include Silverstone’s flagship event - the FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX - taking place on 4-6 July and the return of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship in August.
19/20 April SILVERSTONE SUPERCAR SHOWDOWN FEATURING FIA GT CHAMPIONSHIP (Advance tickets from £20 - race day) Silverstone will host the opening round of the FIA GT Championship - the world’s premier sports car series - presenting some of the biggest names and marques in motor sport. 2007 saw Formula One legend Nigel Mansell making his FIA GT debut at Silverstone, and a similar pedigree of drivers will be battling it out for the prestigious Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy at Silverstone in April. Families can also enjoy a fairground at the event where all rides will be FREE.
25/26/27 June FORMULA 1™ TESTING (Advance tickets from £12 – one day admission) The last official FORMULA 1™ test before the 2008 Santander British Grand Prix offers increased access and an ideal opportunity to taste the drama and excitement that Formula One has to offer. With tickets available from just £12, there has never been a more affordable way to experience Formula One.
4/5/6 July 2008 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Individual day tickets from £49)* The British Grand Prix, on 4-6 July, is one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar and nothing compares to the ‘live’ adrenaline-filled Silverstone experience. Hopes and expectations of British fans have never been higher as British F1 sensation Lewis Hamilton returns to Silverstone to take on the famous Grand Prix circuit. To date 50 percent of the 85,000 race day capacity has sold out so fans are advised to book early to secure their place.
25/26/27 July THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC (Advance tickets – call 0871 703 3848) Celebrating eight decades of classic motor racing, this year’s Silverstone Classic will feature 21 historic races and off track entertainment the whole family can enjoy. The timetable is set to include two FIA sanctioned series; the FIA Lurani Trophy for Formula Junior Cars and the FIA Historic Formula One Championship which, together with separate Grand Prix Masters races, marks the return of Formula One cars to Silverstone just three weeks after the British Grand Prix.
16/17 August BRITISH F3 / GT CHAMPIONSHIP (Advance tickets from £16 – race day) Silverstone is proud, once again, to host a round of the British F3 / GT Championship. The ever-popular Avon Tyres British GT Championship will be showcasing sports cars from Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Lotus with Silverstone being just one of two circuits on the 2008 British GT calendar that will host a two hour race. Meanwhile, British F3 will provide the very best of national single-seater action and has long been the proving ground of F1 stars, including current British drivers David Coulthard and Jenson Button.
30/31 August HIQ MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP (Advance tickets from £23 - race day) The HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship makes a welcome return to Silverstone - the UK’s premier motorsport venue – in August. Fans can look forward to non-stop wheel-to-wheel action from drivers such as Jason Plato, Matt Neal, Tom Chilton and reigning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi in the penultimate round of the highly-charged domestic series.
13/14 September LE MANS ENDURANCE SERIES (Advance weekend tickets from £20) The stars and cars from the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans - the world's most famous endurance race – will compete in a 1000km six hour race on the full Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone, as part of the Le Mans Endurance Series.
19/20/21 September BRITCAR 24HR RACE (Advance weekend tickets from £30) Firmly established as Britain’s premier endurance race, the annual Britcar 24 Hours at Silverstone delivers all the thrills and spills of racing twice around the clock. As in 2007, fans will be overwhelmed by this colourful and adrenaline- fuelled 24 hour endurance epic.
27/28 September BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP (Advance tickets from £23 - race day) The nation’s premier motorcycle racing series – the Bennetts British Superbike Championship – will be Silverstone’s biggest bike event of the year. Leon Haslam will be leading the pack of title contenders in 2008 as he heads up the HM Plant Honda challenge and expectations will be high at Silverstone as the riders and teams battle it out in the penultimate round of the two-wheeled series. Support races include the competitive British Supersport Championship, National Superstock and British 125GP, ensuring a weekend of top-class racing.
