Classic for bumper celebrity clash

A celebrity race with up to 50 Austin A30s and A35s will be a new feature of the Silverstone Classic on July 21-23.

Cars from the HRDC Academy series will take part in a two-driver race, with the celebrities in action on Saturday and the car owners racing on Sunday.

The celebrity drivers will be split into teams based on their profession and each team will have a racing driver captain. To date, the captains include 2016 BTCC champion Gordon Shedden, Le Mans winner Jackie Oliver and former BTCC champions Andrew Jordan and Robb Gravett. Early confirmed celebrities include Heston Blumenthal, Theo Paphitis and Neil Primrose.

Event boss Nick Wigley said: “We’ve included celebrity races in the past but never before on this epic scale.”