TIN - TOP TRIUMPH
‘Having a little bit of run-off gives you that bit more confidence to push harder’ SIR CHRIS HOY
This year’s Silverstone Classic attracted more than 100,000 visitors, who were wowed by over 1000 race cars spanning eight decades. Track highlights included the various production cars that came together to mark 60 years of the British Touring Car Championship.
The JET Super Touring Car Trophy saw Swedish ace, Rickard Rydell, back behind the wheel of his Volvo S40, 20 years on from when he claimed the BTCC title, though he had to settle for second place behind James Dodd’s Honda Accord. There was also a third place finish for ’89 and ’95 BTCC Champ, John Cleland, in a Vauxhall Vectra.
Father and son Nick and Harry Whale claimed victory in the Historic Touring Car Challenge in an E30 BMW M3, while the Ford Falcon Sprint of Mark Gardiner and Andy Wolfe came out on top in the Transatlantic Trophy for Pre-’66 Touring Cars.
This year’s Silverstone Classic was the first for celebrity driver and multiple olympian track cyclist, Sir Chris Hoy. He said: ‘It’s huge. I’ve been to other classic car events – Goodwood and Oulton Park – but this is incredible.
‘It’s great to see the circuit being used to the full. Having a little bit of run-off gives you that bit more confidence to push harder, especially as some of the other circuits aren’t exactly forgiving.’
Although the Master Endurance Legends race was won by Steve Tandy in the Lola B12/60, Chris, codriving with Mark Furness, managed a class win and finished sixth overall.
Gerry Stockwell from the TVR Car Club said: ‘This is the seventh year I’ve been at the Silverstone Classic. It’s grown and grown – the club members and I now turn-up on the Thursday morning the day before just so we stand a chance of getting a decent pitch on the campsite!’