Staged at the home of the British Grand Prix, the annual Silverstone Classic powered by the AA (20-22 July) is firmly established as the World’s biggest classic motor racing festival.
Last year the track action featured more than 1,000 entries covering the full spectrum of motor sport history, from F1 and Group C sportscars to 50+ grids of GT and touring cars, and more than 8,000 classic cars were displayed on the infield. The event also staged an amazing 50th birthday party for the iconic E-type Jaguar with no fewer than 767 of these legendary sportscars taking part in an eye-catching parade around the grand prix circuit to establish a Guinness World Record.
While the 2011 festival may seem hard to match, the organisers are promising an event bigger showcase in July, not least thanks to a significant new partnership with the Automobile Association ¬– the UK’s leading breakdown service. As well as providing discounts to the AA’s 15 million members and customers, the collaboration sees the birth of AA World.
Based at the heart of the Silverstone Circuit, close to the venue’s new Wing pits and paddock complex, the new AA World motoring theme park will provide show-goers of all generations with free driving experiences ranging from electric cars for toddlers and taster driving lessons for teenagers, to hot laps around the Stowe Circuit in some of today’s latest and most desirable performance cars.
Meanwhile, following in the wheel-tracks of the E-type celebrations come similar festivities to mark the 50th anniversaries of the AC Cobra, Lotus Elan, MGB and Triumph Spitfire models as well as a world-record gathering of Ferrari F40s to mark the 200-mph supercar’s 25th birthday. Silverstone will also host the country’s first Z-Fest to honour 60 years of the BMW Car Club in the UK.
It all adds up to an event for cars lovers of all ages. Tickets provide access to AA World as well as to all race paddocks, trackside grandstands, air displays, live music concerts and classic car displays. Full details – including a description of on-site camping facilities – are available via the event’s official website and via the ticket hotline at 0871 231 0849.
