Celebrating half a century of grands prix at SilverstoneMassive parade led by Sir Stirling Moss OBEAnother record to be established at the Silverstone ClassicThe world’s biggest ever parade of Formula One cars will be staged at this summer’s award-winning Silverstone Classic (25-27 July).
The glittering cavalcade – to be led by motor sport legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE – is being organised to celebrate 50 grands prix at Silverstone. The Northamptonshire venue first hosted the British Grand Prix in 1948 and this year’s event will be its 50th, having shared the honour of putting on Britiain’s blue riband event with both Aintree and Brands Hatch in the early years.
With three massive grids (for FIA Masters Historic Formula One plus Historic Grand Prix Cars Association Pre ’66 and Pre ’61 Grand Prix cars) featuring more than 100 iconic F1 cars from past generations, the Silverstone Classic already showcases more grand prix history than any other event in the world. While these competitors will be at the heart of the special parade which will be on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit during the lunch break on Sunday, others with F1 cars not racing at the Classic will also be encouraged to participate in the historic occasion.
“With three exciting and evocative races on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon starring more than seven decades of the world’s greatest grand prix cars, the Silverstone Classic is always a massive attraction for all F1 fans – but this year will be even more special,” vowed Nick Wigely, Event Director. “We really wanted to mark Silverstone’s 50th Grand Prix in terrific style and this fabulous parade will do just that – even more so as Sir Stirling Moss will be adding his magic to proceedings. Obviously I’d like to thank Stirling for agreeing to head the parade and those at Masters and the HGPCA for their enthusiastic support. We now want to hear from others with F1 cars who are keen to participate not just in setting a new world record but also in being part of something really special.”
Moss, 84, is one of Britain’s best-loved motor sport personalities. He is widely regarded as ‘the greatest driver never to win the World Championship’ though he enjoyed many F1 victories for Cooper, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes and Vanwall.
“The Silverstone Classic really is a great event and it will be an absolute honour to lead this parade of Grand Prix cars,” said Sir Stirling. “This is the global home of motor racing after all – I recall meeting Her Majesty here and so many other dignitaries and guests over the years, not to mention my memories of the circuit itself and the Grands Prix I contested.
“Silverstone is a wonderful place with a rich history; in my day it really was a fast and challenging circuit with some extremely demanding corners. During my career I believe I raced 108 cars so I had a pretty good innings and seeing some of those that’ll be involved in the Silverstone Classic brings back a lot of great memories for me. I’m really looking forward to being a part of it all in July.”
The ever-growing Silverstone Classic is now seen as the foremost international festival for such on-track celebrations. In 2011 a special parade of 767 E-types marked the iconic sportscar’s 50th birthday with an official Guinness World Record. This was followed 12 months later by a world record parade of 60 fabulous Ferrari F40s to celebrate 25 years since the launch of the world’s very first 200mph production supercar. Last year the spotlight was switched to the golden anniversary of the evergreen Porsche 911 with an amazing phalanx of more than 1200 past and present 911s taking to the circuit.
F1 car owners wishing to join the record parade should contact Sarah Knowles-MacKenzie (sarah.knowles-mackenzie@goose.co.uk).
While Sunday’s F1 showcase is sure to capture many imaginations, it won’t be the action-packed Silverstone Classic’s only major parade in 2014.
This summer’s extravaganza has been chosen by the Mustang Owners Club for its official 50th anniversary celebration of the Ford Mustang, while Maserati will be honouring its centenary with another mouth-watering pageant.
Tickets are only available in advance and the Classic is sticking to its popular ‘access all areas’ policy. Offering great value, all admission tickets grant access to free parking, both race pits and paddocks, trackside grandstands, fun fair rides and air displays plus, of course, the live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evening which this year will be topped by Canned Heat and Bonnie Tyler.
Both individual day and special weekend tickets are available with significant discounts for children aged from six to 16. Those aged under six years are admitted free.
Further festival information and full details of all ticket prices is available via the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.
