to showcase FIA GT Championship and Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy - 19/20 April 2008 -

The opening round of the FIA GT Championship heads to Silverstone on 19-20 April, when the world’s premier sports car series will make its only UK appearance of 2008. This year marks  the  FIA  GT  series’  tenth  ever  visit  to  the  circuit,  while  the  Silverstone  Supercar Showdown will also mark the first major event of Silverstone’s Diamond Anniversary year.

Sports car fans will be treated to a feast of GT action, featuring some of the most spectacular cars  from  the  greatest  sports  car  marques  of  all  time.  Four British based teams will be at Silverstone, namely Gigawave MotorSport, CR Scuderia, Trackspeed Racing and Scuderia Ecosse. CR Scuderia will run two Ferrari 430s in the GT2 class of the FIA GT series, while other  iconic  marques  lining  up  on  this  year’s  start  grid  will  include  Aston  Martin,  Corvette, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche and Saleen.

In addition to crucial championship points, drivers will also be competing for the prestigious Royal  Automobile  Club  Tourist  Trophy  at  Silverstone’s  round  of  the  championship.  The Trophy has a long and illustrious history and has been won by a host of legendary drivers over the years, including Sir Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and Derek Bell to name a few.

The FIA GT championship is renowned for attracting the big manufacturers and drivers and there are few more famous in the UK than Formula One legend Nigel Mansell who made a return to Silverstone last year for his FIA GT debut, driving the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 GT2. Race-goers can expect to see a similar calibre of drivers lining up on the world famous start grid this April.

Autograph sessions, pit-walks and an ‘open-to-all’ paddock will provide exceptional access to the teams, stars and the stunning line-up of competition supercars. Advance tickets are on sale now and available from as little as £20 for race day and £25 for the weekend (Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 April). Entry is free for children  aged 15 and under,  accompanied by an adult. There is plenty to keep families entertained away from the track, including supercar displays and a fairground where  all  rides  are  free  of  charge. 

Parking  and  grandstand seating is also included in the price of a general admission ticket. Those who enjoy driving and watching supercars will also be pleased to hear that the London to  Silverstone  Supercar  Tour  -  the  official  opening  ceremony  for  the  Silverstone  Supercar Showdown - will be taking place, for the third year running, on Friday 18 April. Entrants into the Silverstone Supercar Tour will drive from The Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall up to the famous Northamptonshire circuit, following a pre-determined route. The lead car will once again be responsible for transporting the illustrious Tourist Trophy to the circuit ahead of the famous Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy race. Places are still available on the Silverstone Supercar Tour and, as in 2007, the Tour is open to 21st Century Supercars, the field being limited to 50 entrants.

For  further  event  information  on  the  Silverstone  Supercar  Showdown,  or  to  book  tickets (adults £20 for race day / children FREE), visit silverstone.co.uk, or call 08704 588 260.

Official race day hospitality is available from £149 (excluding VAT) per person. Call 08704 588 230 for further details. For further information on the Silverstone Supercar Tour call Motion Works Limited on 01327 856 024.