The worlds biggest classic motor racing festival, the Silverstone Classic powered by the AA with its Rocking and Racing theme, is tonight in full swing after no fewer than 13 races packed with excitement and drama today on the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.Two incredibly close opening races set the tone for the rest of the day as capacity grids of saloon, GT, single-seater and sportscars worth millions of pounds wowed huge numbers of visitors to the event. The action closed spectacularly with iconic Le Mans 24 Hours cars, headlights ablaze, taking the chequered flag in a twilight finishJon Milicevic was the first winner of the day in Historic Formula Juniors but only after race-long rival David Methley spun in the closing stages. Michael Lyons won the first of two Peter Gethin Trophy races for thundering Formula 5000 and howling Formula 2 cars from the Seventies in a desperately close finish. Simon Hadfield led much of the race but, after a wheel-to-wheel dice, was passed by Lyons and spun. Martin Stretton then joined in to finish just yards behind Lyons at the line.Lyons had later been on course for another victory, in the recreated Daily Express International Trophy race for Formula 1 cars, only for his Hesketh to cruelly stop while leading comfortably with just a few miles to go. This gifted victory to Bill Coombss Tyrrell.Driving solo, Shaun McInerney won the 50-minute Alan Mann Trophy for under 2-litre Sixties touring cars as just two seconds covered the top three finishers.Alex Buncombe was twice a winnerfirst sharing with Chris Ward in the Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-61 sportscars and then on his own in a race for Jaguar E-types. So too was the Minshaw family with brothers Jason and Jon in races for rear-engined Formula 1 Grand Prix machines and then sportscars pre-dating 1966 respectively. Another pair of brothers, Gary and John Pearson, also stood on the top step of the podium when, together, they triumphed in the RAC Woodcote Tourist Trophy encounter for pre-63 GT cars.Philip Walker headed a Lotus 1-2-3 after nine laps of pre-1961 front-engined GP car action, while Rick Pearson got the measure of current British Touring Car ace Frank Wrathall to win a one-off race for touring cars spanning three decades (1970-2000).Meanwhile soap actor Kelvin Fletcher (Emmerdale) was untouchable as he led all the way from pole position to win the Classics annual Celebrity Challenge race for famous faces in identical race-tuned Morgan sportscars. Musicians AC/DCs Brian Johnson and Jamiroquais Jay Kay were next up as funds for three charitiesBirmingham Childrens Hospital, the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and the RPJ Chrons Foundationwere raised.Completing the days on-track action just as Eighties chart-topper Adam Antone of a number of big name music acts to be performing at the Classicwas taking to the stage on the Silverstone infield was a stunning into-the-dark sprint event for Group C sportscars, won in style by Gareth Evans.Another 11 races follow tomorrow (Sunday) before 2012s Classic draws to a close.Podium results, Silverstone Classic, Saturday 21 JulyHistoric Formula Juniors (9 laps)1. Jon Milicevic, Cooper T59, 21m18.420s2. Sam Wilson, Cooper T59, +6.856s3. David Methley, Brabham BT6, +12.308sFastest lap: Wilson, 2m20.297s (93.63mph)Peter Gethin Trophy for F2 & F5000 (11 laps)1. Michael Lyons, Lola T400, 21m39.553s2. Martin Stretton, March 742, +0.144s3. Simon Hadfield, Trojan T101, +24.735sFastest lap: Stretton, 1m56.266s (112.98mph)Alan Mann Trophy for Under 2-litre Touring Cars (18 laps)1. Shaun McInnerney, Ford Lotus Cortina, 50m30.874s2. Leo Voyazides/Simon Hadfield, Ford Lotus Cortina, +1.401s3. Andrew Banks/Max Banks, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, +2.005sFastest lap: Hadfield, 2m32.591s (86.08mph)Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre-61 Sportscars (21 laps)1. Alex Buncombe/Chris Ward, Lister Jaguar Costin, 51m32.021s2. Graeme Dodd/James Dodd, Cooper Monaco T49, +12.039s3. Ewan McIntyre/Jamie McIntyre, Lotus 15, +12.530sFastest lap: Buncombe, 2m22.974s (91.88mph)Daily Express International Trophy for Grand Prix Masters (8 laps)1. Bill Coombs, Tyrrell 009, 15m32.745s2. Steve Hartley, Arrows A4, +5.388s3. Michael Fitzgerald, Williams FW08, +14.038sFastest lap: Michael Lyons, Hesketh 308E, 1m53.696s (115.54mph)HGPCA pre-66 Rear Engine Grand Prix Cars (9 laps)1. Jason Minshaw, Brabham BT4, 21m02.114s2. John Harper, Brabham BT4, +15.609s3. Rod Jolley, Cooper T45/51, +18.451sFastest lap: Minshaw, 2m18.908s (94.56mph)Masters Gentleman Drivers pre-66 GT (20 laps)1. Jon Minshaw/Martin Stretton, Jaguar E-type, 50m38.979s2. Leo Voyazides/Simon Hadfield, AC Cobra, +7.908s3. Pearson, Jaguar E-type, +17.679sFastest lap: Mike Whitaker Snr, TVR Griffith, 2m25.270s (90.42mph)Jaguar E-type Challenge (9 laps)1. Alex Buncombe, 21m58.232s2. Jason Minshaw, +4.702s3. Jon Minshaw, +7.977sFastest lap: Buncombe, 2m22.733s (89.89mph)HGPCA pre-61 Front Engine Grand Prix Cars (9 laps)1. Philip Walker, Lotus 16 368, 21m51.384s2. Roger Wills, Lotus 16 363, +3.035s3. Eddie McGuire, Lotus 16 362, +44.521sFastest lap: Walker, 2m23.910s (91.28mph)Fujifilm Touring Car Trophy 1970-2000 (9 laps)1. Rick Pearson, Nissan Primera, 20m17.982s2. Frank Wrathall, Vauxhall Cavalier, +13.122s3. Richard Hawken, Nissan Primera, +25.685sFastest lap: Pearson, 2m13.402s (98.47mph)Silverstone Classic Celebrity Challenge (8 laps)1. Kelvin Fletcher, Morgan Lightweight, 21m05.479s2. Brian Johnson, Morgan Lightweight, +7.513s3. Jay Kay, Morgan Lightweight, +9.246sFastest lap: Fletcher, 2m34.990sRoyal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for pre-56 Sportscars (12 laps)1. Gary Pearson/John Pearson, Jaguar D-type, 31m44.086s2. John Young/Andrew Smith, Cooper Jaguar T33, +10.449s3. Nigel Webb/Anthony Reid, Jaguar C-type, +16.659sFastest lap: Gary Pearson, 2m32.293s (86.25mph)

Group C Endurance Race Cars (15 laps)1. Gareth Evans, Mercedes C9, 31m02.729s2. Roger Wills, Lancia LC2, +4.906s3. Chris DAnsembourg, Porsche 962, +38.662sFastest lap: Evans, 1m54.393s (114.83mph)