BTCC winner Frank Wrathall relishes chance to race his heroes at Classic

Fujifilm renews support for Super Touring Trophy racesOne of the countrys top young touring car racers, Frank Wrathall, is the latest star driver to join the growing list of past and present motor sport legends competing at this summers Silverstone Classic (26-28 July).The highly rated 26-year-old from Lancashire scored his first Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship win at the end of last season and is already back among this years front-runners. Wrathall was also one of the top performers at last years Silverstone Classic when producing two stunning drives to finish second in both Fujifilm Touring Car Trophy races in the Vauxhall Cavalier originally raced by Richard Kaye in the 1996 BTCC.Underlining his prodigious talent, Wrathall took full advantage of tricky damp conditions during qualifying to grab pole position ahead of rivals armed with considerably more modern machinery; then drove like a hero in the two dry races to finish runner-up overall and claim top Class B honours. And now Wrathall clearly wants some more Classic action as hes all revved up to race the beautifully restored Cavalier again in July.It was one of the best motor sport events Ive ever been to, enthused Frank. For a modern day driver like me to be able to race a Super Touring car was just amazing. It was also very special for me to be able to race on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit rather than the shorter National track we use for the BTCC. Its the best track in the country; so fast and flowingit was mega fun in one of these cars.While admitting the comparatively venerable Cavalier isnt quite as high-tech as the cars raced by some of his rivals, Wrathall is still out to enjoy the experience all over again this yearmore so as several of the stars from the Super Touring epoch such as John Cleland and Patrick Watts are also planning comebacks.We really didnt know what to expect last year as the car was only just finished in time and it hadnt been run in years. So to put it on pole position by nearly two and a half seconds was a massive achievement! he grinned. That said being a 1995 car, its not quite as competitive as those that came a few years later as development went through the roof at the end of nineties. While winning is always the aim, its not really what this event is about. As a huge touring car fan, Im relishing the chance to race against all these past heroesits what dreams are made of.Further good news is that the two Super Touring Trophy races at next months Silverstone Classic will again receive enthusiastic support from Fujifilm. Though only entering their second year on the packed 24-race schedule at the worlds biggest classic featuring a fantastic array of evocative touring cars from the seventies, eighties and nineties including BMW M3s, Cosworth Sierras, Jaguar XJSs and BTCC winning Nissan Primeras, the pair of Fujifilm Touring Car Trophy races are already firmly established as massive crowd-pleasers.  The two colourful Fujifilm Touring Car Trophy showdowns really seem to have caught the publics imagination, confirmed Event Director, Nick Wigley. Along with the Group C sportscar and DFV-powered F1 races from a similar era, they have strong appeal with those who remember these fabulous cars racing on television 20 or 30 years ago. Now they have the chance to see them actually racing at the Silverstone Classic. They bring back so many great memories.In keeping with the massive events widely acclaimed access all areas policy, all tickets include free entrance to both racing paddocks and pit complexes, trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Adult admittance is from just 35 (plus fees) and considerable savings are on offer for those festival-goers spending the full weekend at Silverstone and special packages for car clubs and their members are also available. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.    -Ends-Editors notes: The Silverstone Classic powered by the AA (26-28 July 2013) is firmly established as the worlds biggest classic motor racing festival. The spectacular three-day event is staged at the famous Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, birthplace of the FIA Formula One World Championship and home of the 2013 Formula 1 British Grand Prix. The three-day festival features the very best of historic racing covering more than eight decades of motor sport as well as live music from classic rock bands and a wealth of family entertainment including free fun fair, retail outlets, a host of interactive activities and air displays, plus huge showcases of classic cars. The Silverstone Classic is promoted and organised by Goose Communications. Goose manages worldwide events for organisations such as AstraZeneca, Bacardi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Unilever.

Related Market and Auction Articles

5,360 articles