Silverstone, 30th July – 01st August, 2021

The 2021 Silverstone Classic was a story of sunshine and showers over the whole course of the weekend, with the weather alternating between occasional bright sunshine to almost monsoon-like rainstorms. That said, it didn’t deter the hordes of spectators, car club members or competitors from enjoying an action packed weekend both on and off the track. This, the 30th anniversary gathering drew record crowds, both in terms of spectators and entries, with massive grids for most of the 21 races that were run over the weekend, with the Transatlantic Trophy for Pre-66 Touring Cars having a total of 61 entries, just edging out the Historic Formula Junior field by one car.

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The span of machinery on the track ranged from Bentleys and Bugattis from the ‘20s and ‘30s in the MRL Pre-War BRDC 500 race, to the new millennium with a trio of the spectacular Peugeot 908s and a Porsche RS Spyder in the Masters Endurance Legends race, plus plenty of variety along the way. The track action was fast and furious with plenty of close racing through the crowded fields, and also some hard fought race wins after race-long duels. One of these featured the Ferrari 250 GT SWB “Breadvan” driven by Lukas Halusa, who just held off the Jaguar E-Type driven by James Cottingham and Harvey Stanley, to win the Royal Automobile Club Historic Tourist Trophy for Pre-’63 GT cars. In the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote and Stirling Moss Trophies race, less than a second covered the top three finishers, with victory going to the HWM Jaguar of Martin Stretton and Gregor Fisken. In the pair of races for the Murray Walker Memorial Trophy for Masters Historic Formula One, Michael Lyons took the wins both times in an Ensign N180B.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of his F1 World Drivers’ Championship title, Damon Hill was reunited with his title winning Williams FW18, doing some parade laps on the Sunday. Another on-track anniversary celebration was the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type, with a race dedicated to the model attracting 43 entries. Display anniversary celebrations included one delayed from the cancelled 2020 meeting, the Golden Anniversary of the Triumph Stag, with over 375 examples in attendance. There was also the 40th anniversary of the DeLorean DM-12 with twenty examples on display, together with the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the Lamborghini Countach at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show.

Both the infield and outfield were seas of one make or model car club displays, providing a wide variety of choice for visitors to enjoy. The Telegraph newspaper sponsored a display titled “The UK’s Rarest Cars”, which featured models that were once common sights on the road in their day, but are now rarely seen even at classic events, let alone on the road. They included a Ford Cortina “Woody” estate car, a Skoda Octavia, a Citroen Ami 6, a Fiat 127 Sport and a Volvo 164. Add in a funfair, children’s play area, expansive vendor area, Silverstone Auctions auction, a live music stage on the Friday and Saturday evenings featuring party band Scouting for Girls on the opening night with reggae band ASWAD and Acid Jazz band The Brand New Heavies on the Saturday, and it can be seen that there was plenty going on apart from the racing.

Race Podiums

Race 1 - Historic Formula Junior (Race 1).
1st - #81, Richard Bradley, Brabham BT2
2nd – #66, Cameron Jackson, Brabham BT2
3rd – #88, Alex Ames, Brabham BT6

Race 2 – MRL Pre-War “BRDC 500”.
1st - #11, Wakeman/Blakeney-Edwards, Frazer Nash TT Replica
2nd – #20, Michael Birch, Talbot AV105 Brooklands
3rd - #22, Clive Morley, Bentley 3/4½

Race 3 – Historic Formula 2 (Race 1).
1st - #78, Mathew Rigley, March 782
2nd – #77, Andrew Smith, March 742
3rd - #19, Miles Griffiths, Ralt RT1

Race 4 – RAC Historic Tourist Trophy (MRL Pre ’63 GT Cars).
1st - #16, Lukas Halusa, Ferrari 250 GT SWB “Breadvan”
2nd – #66, Cottingham/Stanley, Jaguar E-Type
3rd - #60, Fisken/Ward, Jaguar E-Type

Race 5 – Murray Walker Memorial Trophy for Masters Historic F1 (Race 1).
1st - #8, Michael Lyons, Ensign N180B
2nd – #7, Mike Cantillon, Williams FW07C
3rd - #99, Jamie Constable, Tyrrell 011

Race 6 - Thundersports.
1st - #85, Tony Sinclair, Lola T292
2nd – #3, Callum Lockie, March 717
3rd - #88, Kevin Cooke, March 75S

Race 7 – Classic Mini Challenge (Race 1).
1st - #80, Bill Sollis, Morris Mini Cooper S
2nd – #155, Nathan Headcote, Morris Mini Cooper S
3rd - #104, Chris Middlehurst, Morris Mini Cooper S

Race 8 – HGPCA Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars (Race 1).
1st - #18, Sam Wilson, Lotus 18
2nd – #10, Will Nuthall, Cooper T53
3rd - #12, Rudiger Friedrichs, Cooper T53

Race 9 – Transatlantic Trophy for Pre ’66 Touring Cars.
1st - #9, Craig Davies, Ford Mustang
2nd – #170, Jewell/Klukas, Ford Lotus Cortina
3rd - #6, Mann/Soper, Ford Mustang

Race 10 – Masters Endurance Legends (race 1).
1st - #116, Rob Wheldon, Lola B12/60
2nd – #7, Francois Perrodo, Peugeot 908
3rd - #99, Jamie Constable, Pescarolo LMP1

Race 11 – Yokohama Trophy for Masters Historic Sports Cars.
1st - #23, Brundle/Pearson, Lola T70 Mk3B
2nd – #14, Oliver Bryant, Lola T70 Mk3B
3rd - #81, Beighton/Hadfield, Lola T70 Mk3B

Race 12 – RAC Woodcote & Stirling Moss Trophies.
1st - #2, Martin O’Connell, Lotus 11
2nd – #124, Roger Wills, Lotus 15
3rd - #82, Ward/Smith, Lister Knobbly

Race 13 - Historic Formula Junior (Race 2).
1st - #66, Cameron Jackson, Brabham BT2
2nd – #81, Richard Bradley, Brabham BT2
3rd - #221, Pierre Livingstone, Lotus 22

Race 14 – Adrian Flux Trophy for MRL Historic Touring Car Challenge.
1st - #60, Wright/Coyne, Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500
2nd – #16, Steve Dance, Ford Capri
3rd - #1, Soper/Davies, Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500

Race 15 – Historic Formula 2 (Race 2).
1st - #77, Andrew Smith, March 742
2nd - #78, Mathew Rigley, March 782
3rd - #19, Miles Griffiths, Ralt RT1

Race 16 – 60th Anniversary E-Type Challenge.
1st - #33, Jon Minshaw
2nd – #221, Ben Mitchell
3rd - #78. Danny Winstanley

Race 17 - Murray Walker Memorial Trophy for Masters Historic F1 (Race 2).
1st - #8, Michael Lyons, Ensign N180B
2nd – #7, Mike Cantillon, Williams FW07C
3rd - #77, Steve Hartley, McLaren MP4/1

Race 18 – HGPCA Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars (Race 2).
1st - #30, Andrew Haddon, Scarab Offenhauser
2nd – #12, Rudiger Friedrichs, Cooper T53
3rd - #53, Justin Maeers, Cooper T53

Race 19 – International Trophy for Classic GT Cars (Pre ’66).
1st - #192, Thomas/Lockie, Shelby Daytona Coupe Replica
2nd – #15, Oliver Bryant, AC Cobra
3rd - #27, Alderslade/Jordan, AC Cobra Daytona Coupe Replica

Race 20 – Masters Endurance Legends (race 2).
1st - #7, Francois Perrodo, Peugeot 908
2nd – #9, Shaun Lynn, Peugeot 908
3rd - #99, Jamie Constable, Pescarolo LMP1

Race 21 - Classic Mini Challenge (Race 2).
1st - #155, Nathan Headcote, Morris Mini Cooper S
2nd - #20, Endaf Owens, Austin Mini Cooper S
3rd - #80, Bill Sollis, Morris Mini Cooper S

Keith Bluemel
08/2021