Little Classics Feature: 26 July 2015
Silverstone Classic Draws Huge Crowds for 25th Celebration
On its 25th anniversary Silverstone Classic was already on track for record crowds by Saturday, drawn by a host of classic cars and iconic racing machines on track and in the surrounding grounds. From legendary Formula One machines, famous touring cars and even Group C winners, yet again, the event has delivered something for everyone.
Having grown hugely over its quarter century, what it may have lost in its intimacy of early years, it has more than made up for by the magnetic pull of this world-leading event - drawing famous cars, racers and even bands – with Status Quo providing the headline entertainment.
To celebrate the Silver Anniversary of the classic motorsport event, there was even an amazing parade of 200 silver cars from Land Rovers to Aston Martins (above).
Saturday was the day for the tourists with dawn-to-dusk sunshine, whereas the Friday and Sunday provided real British weather challenges for both practice and competition (above).
The Saturday saw spectacles such as the Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 Sports Cars. Gregor Fisken fought his way through from fifth on the grid in his stunning scarlet red Ferrari 246S (above). After overhauling runaway early leader Gary Pearson’s Lister Jaguar Knobbly during the pit-stop phase, he eased away to secure a commanding victory in a car that was raced back in 1961 by Formula One legends Phil Hill and Wolfgang von Trips.
In the Warwick Banks Trophy for Under 2 Litre Touring Cars British Touring Car Championship duo Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal (above) avenged their cruel 2014 disappointment in the Ford Lotus Cortina by scything through the field from 14th on the grid behind the wheel of their Team Dynamics-prepared Ford Lotus Cortina.
The Kidston Trophy for Pre-War Sports Cars saw a slow getaway from Frederic Wakeman in the front row-starting Frazer Nash Super Sports (above). However, when the 40 minutes of racing drew to a close both he and team-mate Pat Blakeney-Edwards eventually claimed a hard-fought victory.
Other action on track come from the FIA Masters Historic Formula One, Super Touring Car Trophy, Maserati Trophy for HGPCA Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars, Jet Battle of Britain Trophy, FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars, International Trophy for Classic GT Cars (Pre ’66), Group C, with even a further nine races on the Sunday.
