Silverstone’s 70th anniversary
The history of grand prix racing at Silverstone will be prominent in the two biggest events at the circuit this summer as the British Grand Prix and the Silverstone Classic both pay homage to 70 years of Formula 1 racing at the former wartime airfield.
At the British GP (July 6-8) three parades will feature F1 cars and drivers from some of the circuit’s most unforgettable moments. The first Grand Prix was held on a makeshift track in October 1948 and in May 1950 Silverstone hosted the inaugural race for the new world championship.
Stuart Pringle, MD at Silverstone, said: “We ran a similar parade and display in 2014 and it was extremely well received. The search is now on for suitable cars and drivers willing to join us in July.”
In addition, historic F1 cars of the 1970s and early ’80s will return to the grand prix support race programme with a grid of around 30 mainly Cosworth Dfv-engined cars, for a pair of races organised by Masters Historic Racing. “It’s a childhood dream to race these cars at Silverstone on Grand Prix day,” said Arrows A5 racer Neil Glover. “I grew up watching these cars.”
Masters founder Ron Maydon said: “The fact that we have been asked to organise a support race at the British Grand Prix certainly reflects the quality of the show we put on in Montreal, Austin and Mexico City last year.”
Just two weeks later, many of the cars will be back for a round of the FIA Masters Historic F1 Championship at the Silverstone Classic (July 20-22).
Meanwhile former grand prix stars were in the headlines when the 76th Goodwood Members’ Meeting kicked off the historic racing season in
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ORGANISE A SUPPORT RACE AT THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX CERTAINLY REFLECTS THE QUALITY OF THE SHOW WE PUT ON IN MONTREAL, AUSTIN AND MEXICO CITY LAST YEAR
mid-march. Regardless of the desperately cold weather, David Coulthard, Mark Blundell and Emanuele Pirro warmed the crowed with some spirited driving.
Coulthard raced a Mercedes 300SL ‘gullwing’ for the IWC team and finished ninth in the Salvadori Cup despite being pitted against far quicker 1950s sports-racers. “It’s my favourite car of all time. I missed out on buying one in 1995,” said Coulthard, who added that the snowy conditions were not a problem. “I grew up in Scotland and did a lot of karting in the snow. In fact, my first ever car test was with David Leslie in the snow at Knockhill, though I did end up off the track!”
Blundell was part of a winning team in the Gerry Marshall Trophy race for Group 1 Touring Cars, sharing the Ford Escort Mk2 of Kerry Michael. Pirro, always a hero at Goodwood, jumped at the chance to race the unique Ferrari ‘Breadvan’ in the two-driver Moss Trophy for early 1960s sports cars.