Silverstone Celebrates Another Classic
31
July 2007
A record crowd of 41,000 gathered at Silverstone this
weekend (27-29 July) to witness a feast of world class motorsport at
this year’s Silverstone Classic, in association with Bonhams.
The
crowd figure was 3,000 up on the three-day attendance in 2006, and
means that next year’s event will be eagerly anticipated. The
2008 Silverstone Classic, announced for 25-26-27 July, will celebrate
60 years of Silverstone, to mark the diamond anniversary of the circuit’s
first ever meeting, the 1948 British Grand Prix.
“We are delighted
with the way the Silverstone Classic is developing and have had a fantastic
weekend crowd of 41,000”, said Richard Phillips, Managing Director
of Silverstone Circuits Limited.
Phillips continued, “The Silverstone
Classic continues to go from strength to strength and would not be
such a success without the support of the competitors, the enthusiasm
of the car clubs, and the dedication from all the marshals and volunteers
who put in such long hours over all three days of the event. We are
also delighted to announce that the 2008 Silverstone Classic will take
place on 25-27 July and will celebrate 60 years of Silverstone.”
The
weekend’s racing was topped by a superb double win for Peter
Dunn and his 1976 March 761. On Sunday, Dunn beat 26 rivals to win
the Daily Express Silverstone International Trophy for Invitation Formula
One Cars with Grand Prix Masters, having already claimed the silverware
from Saturday’s James Hunt Trophy – presented to him by
James Hunt’s son, Freddie, who had earlier driven his father’s
Hesketh 308C on a demonstration lap around the famous Historic Grand
Prix circuit.
The honours in the hotly contested Group C/GTP races were
shared. Gary Pearson won on Saturday with his Jaguar XJR-11, while
Andy Purdie triumphed on Sunday at the wheel of his Porsche 962C.
It
was a disappointing weekend for Le Mans legend Derek Bell. The five
time Le Mans and triple Daytona 24 hours winner was lying third in
Sunday’s Group C/GTP race, but retired his Porsche 962C to the
pits with mechanical problems, thought to have resulted from a first-corner
collision when car owner Mark Sumpter was at the wheel. Bell did not
start either of the Formula One races because his Surtees TS9B’s
engine failed during qualifying.
Fellow Le Mans winner Andy Wallace
was also a non-finisher in the same Group C/GTP race. Driving the 1990
24 Hours-winning Jaguar XJR-12, he succumbed to low oil pressure.
But
at least one Le Mans hero had a good result - the Aston Martin DBR1
that won in 1959, in the hands of Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby,
scooped the Roy Salvadori Trophy - an emotional moment for current
driver Nick Leventis.
The Astons that fought it out for the Salvadori
Trophy took another honour, when they were declared Best Race Paddock
of the weekend. The BMW Car Club won the title of Best Car Club Display,
while Alan Cooper, from Peebles in Scotland, won the Marshals Draw
supported by Small Luxury Hotels of the World. He has won two nights
at the Small Luxury Hotel of his choice.
Away from the track the famous
Scarf & Goggles entertainment area, a period fun fair and a whole
host of other entertainment - including a screening of the classic
Steve McQueen film, Le Mans –catered for young and old, ensuring
the three-day event was enjoyed by the record crowd.
See 2007 calendar of events at Silverstone
Circuit
Related Story 26.07.2007 - Silverstone Classic Gearing Up for the Weekend
