The Silverstone Classic is an annual highlight in any classic racing fan’s calendar, and this year promises to offer the largest grid of historic racing cars ever. Organizers have already announced the exciting addition of their first-ever single-seater category featuring retro F1, F2 and F3 grids and now they’ve confirmed that the Historic Sports Car Club’s newly re-titled Thundersports category will be a further addition to the ever-impressive list of entries. This new addition will comprise of a 30-strong field of cars of the type used in the World Endurance Championship, FIA GT Championship and FIA 2-Litre Sports Car Championship, along with Can-Am sports-racing cars from the 1970s.
“We are thrilled to be adding two more great races to what’s already a stand-out on-track program at the Classic—perhaps our best ever,” stated Nick Wigley, CEO of the Silverstone Classic. “The inclusion of these Thundersports cars will add yet another dimension to an incredible feast of motorsport history, which ranges from the wonderful Bentleys that raced so heroically at Le Mans in the 1920s right up to the recent eras of startling prototype sportscars. With so many truly wonderful cars from yesteryear all racing on track, this is going to be a very special Classic for all involved.”
The Thundersports season started at Silverstone in mid-May, comprising of such iconic racecars like the DFV-powered Lola T282 of Leo Voyazides, the Chevron B26 of John Burton and the thundering 8-liter Can-Am McLaren M8F of Dean Forward. Many 2-liter sports-racers and a bumper field of Sports 2000s packed out the impressive grid. The race format will comprise of a single driver 25-minute Thundersports Sprint race on Saturday followed by a longer 40-minute Thundersports Endurance race on Sunday with a mandatory pit-stop and optional driver change. This will be the fourth season of the HSCC-organised series of races for these spectacular sports and GT cars but will be the first time it appears at the Silverstone Classic.
Andy Dee-Crowne, CEO of the HSCC, is similarly enthusiastic about the upcoming event: “We are very excited at the opportunity to take Thundersports to the Silverstone Classic alongside our existing races there for Historic Formula 2 and Classic Formula 3. Increasing demand from competitors has made this race possible and we’re planning to deliver a full, varied and spectacular field. I’m sure our regular contenders will be joined by some welcome newcomers to Thundersports.”
Admission to the Silverstone Classic, which runs between 26-28 July, starts at £45 for adults and weekend camping and hospitality upgrades are available too. All tickets must be bought in advance and include entrance to both racing paddocks, all open trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Images courtesy of Silverstone Classic
