It’s the beginning of August and time to prepare for the biggest public meeting of the UK Historic Motorsport Season. The Silverstone Festival takes place on Friday to Sunday 23rd to 25th August 2024. Since its inception as the Coys Silverstone Classic in 1990, the event has inevitably grown and in doing so, diversified the racing categories on display.
Over the past two decades, UK historic motorsport has grown into a massive business; gone are the days when the driver and his mate turned up in a saloon car with the racing car; be it an AC Cobra, MGB or Cooper Climax, on a trailer. We are now in the age of race transporters and teams of professional engineers just to put a Ford Mustang on track! Fuel is now dispensed from specialist suppliers such as Anglo American (SUNOCO), VP Racing Fuels, Gulf and others. So expect to see these big trailers sitting behind the pit garages a la Formula 1.
The FIA mandates the tyres to be used by any category that complies with Appendix K, so events are now attended by Goodyear (nee Dunlop) who dispense tyres from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon. It is worth noting that the old Avon tyres are now manufactured by Nova so slicks will generally be from that company, although Goodyear slicks are mandated for the Adrian Flux MRL Historic Touring Car classes Group 2 and Group A.
Car clubs are invited to attend and members can obtain preferential rates. The Jaguar Enthusiast’s Club and the Jaguar Driver’s Club generally occupy the stretch of banking from the inside of Copse to the entrance to Maggotts. Other Clubs, such as the MG Owners Club and the MG Car Club are usually found by the Wellington Straight and, the Morgan Owners Club is often located near to the back of the BRDC suite.
One of the largest club contingents is the Porsche Club GB who, last year, were located inside of Stowe Corner. But there are lots of smaller clubs, such as the Healey Owners Club, where anyone interested can drop in and discover enthusiasts with a wealth of knowledge about their chosen vehicles. These club areas can be a motoring historian’s nirvana.
So, what can we expect to see on track? Friday is qualifying day and the cars will be out on track setting grid positions for the races on Saturday and Sunday. If, as with the HGPCA races, there is a race on Saturday and Sunday, the grid for the Sunday race will be based on the result of the Saturday race. The Silverstone Festival website lists the programme as follows:
Morning Sessions run from the National “Old” pits and include:
Adrian Flux Trophy for MRL Historic Touring Car Challenge
Royal Automobile Club Historic Tourist Trophy
Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy
BRDC 500 for MRL Pre-War Sports Cars
Afternoon sessions will run from the Hamilton Straight “Wing”.
Masters Racing Legends (Formula One ’66-’85)
Pure Michigan Mustang Celebration Trophy
International Trophy for Classic GT Cars (Pre ’66)
All races will start and finish on the Hamilton Straight so the new Abbey corner is where to be to hear the full noise of all the cars.
The Saturday and Sunday race programme is planned as follows:
Saturday Morning:
Historic Formula Junior; F2 Classic InterSeries;Adrian Flux Trophy for MRL Historic Touring Car Challenge;F3 Classic InterSeries ;and the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy.
Saturday afternoon:
Masters Racing Legends (Formula One ’66-’85); HGPCA Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars; Masters GT Trophy; Masters Endurance Legends; and, Masters Sports Car Legends.
Sunday morning:
Historic Formula Junior; F3 Classic InterSeries; BRDC 500 for MRL Pre-War Sports Cars ; F2 Classic InterSeries and the Royal Automobile Club Historic Tourist Trophy
Sunday afternoon:
Masters Racing Legends (Formula One ’66-’85) ; Masters Endurance Legends ; HGPCA Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars ; Pure Michigan Mustang Celebration Trophy; and the International Trophy for Classic GT Cars (Pre ’66)
“The Classic” is now “The Festival” and more family oriented so throughout the weekend look out for the various tasting events, such as the Diddly SquatFarm Shop experience, or the food masterclasses in the Tasting Tent (there’s one about cheese which sounds tasty). Then there’s the fun fair, where only the brave go after lunch!
There will no doubt be a shopping mall where you can buy that wooden horse sculpture you always promised yourself; or craft gin; a classic car; local wines; books; model cars etc.
Getting around the event is made somewhat easier by the classic buses that run throughout the day. These will take you from the centre of the circuit to either Luffield or The Wing.
It’s a long day so if you don’t have a picnic there are always plenty of food outlets ranging from the usual bacon butty to asian street food. Also there is no shortage of bars scattered around the various spactator areas.
The more I write, the more I find myself wondering how anyone can get around to all of the attractions and races, so plan your day. To finish off each day there will be a number of live acts on the stage where you can party till you drop! The full weekend schedule is here.
Peter Mallett Racing 
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