The world’s largest parade of Formula One cars will be staged at the 2014 Silverstone Classic, scheduled for 25-27 July at the Silverstone Circuit in England.
The cavalcade – to be led by motorsport great 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 grids (for FIA Masters Historic Formula One plus Historic Grand Prix Cars Association Pre-1966 and Pre-1961 Grand Prix cars) featuring more than 100 F1 cars from past generations, the 2014 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 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 Moss. “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. I’m really looking forward to being a part of it all in July.”
The 2011 Silverstone Classic saw a special parade of 767 Jaguar E-Types mark the sports car’s 50th birthday with an official Guinness World Record. This was followed 12 months later by a world record parade of 60 Ferrari F40 models to celebrate 25 years since the launch of the first 200mph production supercar. Last year the spotlight was switched to the golden anniversary of the Porsche 911 with a gathering of more than 1200 past and present 911s taking to the circuit.
(Formula 1 car owners wishing to join the record parade should contact Sarah Knowles-MacKenzie).
In addition to the F1 parade, this summer’s Silverstone Classic 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. 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 discounts for children aged from six to 16. Those aged under six years are admitted free.
For additional information, visit SilverstoneClassic.com.
[Source: Silverstone Classic]
Oh I only wish I could be there for such a F1 event but it’s a bit too far from Australia for the weekend