Jackie Oliver and Gary Pearson victorious Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy

The 2013 Silverstone Classicthe worlds largest classic racing festivalwas once again home to the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars. On Sunday 28th July, an awe-inspiring grid of 47 pre-1963 GT cars took part in a 50-minute race which saw the team of Jackie Oliver and Gary Pearson power their yellow Ferrari 250 SWB to an impressive victory.The Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars celebrates Britains oldest motor race.  First run on the Isle of Man in 1905, it is synonymous with GT and sports cars and has witnessed some of the greatest races ever held. Over the years, the Tourist Trophy has been won by such legendary drivers as Sir Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and Derek Bell. Instigated in 2010 to commemorate the history of over a century of motor racing, the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars featured a priceless field of pre 1963 GT cars including several Aston Martins, Ferraris, Jaguars, Lotus Elites and Porsche 356s.After some contact at the first corner, where Wolfgang Friedrichs suffered panel damage to the offside rear of his stunning Aston Martin DP212 after being squeezed by Tom Alexanders Aston Martin DB4GT, the race then settled down as the drivers chased down the leading number 60 car of Gary Pearson in the yellow Ferrari 250 SWB.Alexanders car was the first retirement on lap 2, following his first corner coming together with Friedrichs. The circuit also took its toll on Michael OSheas E-type Jaguar which was forced to retire on lap 5 with a brake issue. Two laps later, Martin Hunts AC Cobra followed suit, this time with an engine problem. Of the 47 starters, 41 saw the chequered flag.Gary Pearson had a busy morning, as not only did he start the race in the winning Ferrari 250 SWB, he also then took over from Carlos Monteverde in the number 75 Aston Martin DB4. Unfortunately, when Monteverde came in for the driver change over, Pearson was still on track in the Ferrari. Despite the confusion, and two pitstops, the pair finished in a very respectable sixth place.In the closing stages, following all driver changes, Simon Hadfield having taken over from Wolfgang Friedrichs was in hot pursuit of Edinburghs Andrew Smith in the dark red Jaguar E-type, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process with a 2:30.326. On the final lap, with only a few corners to the finish line, the Aston passed the Jaguar taking a tighter inside line around Chapel Corner to claim a well-earned second place.Jackie Olivers yellow Ferrari 250 SWB was out of sight by then and took a comfortable win in front of the appreciative Silverstone fans.Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee said: Todays race for the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for historic cars was a fantastic display of the most wonderful and evocative  GT cars from the early 1960's. 1969 Le Mans winner Jackie Oliver and Gary Pearson, in Rohan Fernando's beautifully prepared 1960 Ferrari 250 SWB, were deserving winners after 18 laps around Silverstone, but they faced a challenge from the hard charging Simon Hadfield in the Aston Martin DP212, who stormed up the field to take second place from Andrew Smiths Jaguar E-type on the last lap at Chapel Corner. The Club would like to thank all the car owners and drivers for yet again making this great event such a success.RAC Tourist Trophy Results:1st        Gary Pearson / Jackie Oliver (Ferrari 250 SWB) 2nd       Wolfgang Friedrichs/Simon Hadfield (Aston Martin DP212) 3rd        James Cottingham / Andrew Smith (Jaguar E-type)

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