Historic prototypes for Silverstone Classic
THE NEW MASTERS ENDURANCE LEGENDS SERIES will support the Silverstone Classic with a twilight race in 2018, while Autosport understands that the series could also visit Brands Hatch.
For the Silverstone Classic, due to be held across July 20-22, sports-prototypes and GT cars from as recently as 1995-2011 featured in the series will take the prime race slot previously allocated to Group C cars of the 1980s. Only 13 cars turned out for the Group C event last time, and the Le Mans Classic, which takes place two weeks earlier, made an increased entry in 2018 unlikely.
“It’s a really exciting new addition, providing a new dimension and new era, thus further broadening what we celebrate at the Classic,” said event promoter Nick Wigley.
“The LMP cars look absolutely phenomenal and are very different to everything else we have on track.”
The Masters Endurance Legends series had a successful pilot race supporting the Spa 6 Hours in September, attracting a varied 21-car entry.
“The Silverstone Classic is a fantastic event, full of beautiful cars and so well organised, so to have a slot there and in the twilight is just perfect,” said series director Nicolas Minassian, a runner-up at Le Mans himself in 2008. “It will reflect endurance racing at its best. This is a great first date for us at
Masters Endurance Legends.”
The Silverstone race is the first 2018 date of an expected five-event calendar, the other specifics of which are yet to be confirmed. It’s likely two will be 30-minute races, while the others are expected to run to 45.
While the Silverstone Classic is the first to be confirmed, the series is also expected to visit the
Grand Prix Masters meeting at Brands Hatch, and a return to Spa is also likely to form part of the billing.