The Silverstone Classic 2017 was held 28-30 July at the historic 3.6-mile Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in Northamptonshire, England. The 27th annual historic race again welcomed more than 100,000 enthusiasts to witness a field of more than 1,000 race entries covering the full spectrum of motorsport greats, from evocative Pre-War Sports Cars all the way through to DFV-era Formula 1 machinery and tin-top icons from the much-loved Super Touring era.Away from the circuit, a veritable treasure trove of classic cars saw no fewer than 10,000 packed into the infield, from Ferraris to Aston Martins, Lotuses and Maseratis — and everything else in-between. The display included another massive turnout from Porsche Club GB, Jaguar’s F-type drift experience and the Gaz 21 Club, all the way from Russia.
One car that travelled to Silverstone from even further afield was the striking, shark-nosed BMW 635 CSi, which made the trip from Australia to be piloted in both JET Super Touring Car Trophy races by its original driver, ‘Gentleman Jim’ Richards — one of which saw the New Zealander indulge in an entertaining wheel-to-wheel duel with fellow tin-top hero Steve Soper.
The JPS-liveried BMW was brought over by its owner Peter Sturgeon, who was rewarded for his outstanding endeavour with the Stuart Graham ‘Scarf and Goggles’ trophy. Introduced in 2015 to mark the festival’s 25th anniversary, the award is now presented annually to what is judged to be the most admired car competing at the Classic. Sturgeon received the accolade from Graham, one of the inspirations behind the original Classic event staged at Silverstone and a TT winner on both two wheels and four.
Enthusiasts were additionally treated to the wonderful sight and sound of Nigel Mansell’s 1992 British Grand Prix-winning Williams FW14B in two commemorative high-speed demos. Another undisputed highlight was a track parade of 115 McLaren road cars — an unprecedented figure that is hoped will be certified as a Guinness World Record. Fittingly, Bruce McLaren’s daughter Amanda was present in what would have been her father’s 80th birthday year.
Racing is what the Silverstone Classic is most famous for, of course, and nobody earned spectators’ applause more than historic single-seater exponent Sam Wilson, whose three victories from four starts — and a runner-up finish — deservedly earned him the Motor Sport Magazine Driver of the Weekend Award.
The Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars (Pre-1963 GT) was arguably the highlight of Sunday morning — with a dramatic final twist in the tail for good measure. Lukas Halusa overhauled early leader James Cottingham’s Jaguar E-Type behind the wheel of his unique Ferrari 250 GT SWB ‘Breadvan’, and went on to comfortably control proceedings up to the final few laps. Despite losing a chunk of time a handful of laps from home, Halusa remained in charge and finished first-on-the-road — before being handed a retrospective 45-second penalty speeding in the pit-lane, relegating the scarlet Ferrari to fifth.
Halusa’s misfortune meant the duel for the runner-up spot between Simon Hadfield and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards was in actual fact the battle for victory. When Hadfield took over in the Aston Martin DP212, the car was languishing down the order, and notwithstanding a brace of off-track excursions, a string of fastest laps saw him charge back through the field to pip the AC Cobra within sight of the chequered flag.
Making up for his disappointment in the previous race, Blakeney-Edwards produced a tremendous performance to triumph in the following Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for Pre-1956 Sports Cars, with the Cooper T38 he shared with Frederic Wakeman leapfrogged the Jaguar D-type of the Pearson brothers during the pit-stops to take the lead. John Pearson subsequently fell back into the clutches of the hard-charging Chris Ward, who stole second place in the closing stages in his Cooper-Jaguar T33.
In the FIA Masters Historic Formula One race, Silverstone instructor Michael Lyons led home Nick Padmore and Jonathan Kennard. In Williams’ 40th anniversary year, it was somewhat fitting that both races should be won by the team’s FW07 — the car that delivered the squad its first grand prix victory here at Silverstone back in 1979.
The FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars contest was even more dramatic and ended behind a safety car after several damaged cars were abandoned around the circuit. Martin O’Connell’s fast-starting Chevron B19 burst past the front row sitters to lead the pack. Behind him, a fierce battle for second developed between Dan Gibson’s Lola T70 Mk 3B and Nick Padmore’s Chevron B19. Just as Padmore appeared to have taken the place, the cars touched with the Chevron spearing into the barriers. Gibson’s luck ran out later in the race. Dicing with O’Connell for the lead, the Lola suffered a rear puncture when forced off the circuit, paving the way for the former British F3 National Class Champion to sprint clear to victory.
The Group C contest was affected by rain, with the field starting on slick tyres but obliged to pit for wet weather rubber as the precipitation intensified. When the race was rejoined, the ex-Michael Schumacher ‘Silver Arrows’ Mercedes C11 held a commanding lead, with driver Kriton Lendoudis even able to afford a couple of off-track excursions on his way to victory. Following a pit-stop delay, the first race winner Steve Tandy charged back through to snatch the runner-up spoils.
The JET Super Touring Car Trophy appropriately brought the curtain down on Silverstone Classic 2017, with Jason Minshaw and James Dodd waging a titanic duel for glory on a drying track. Dodd’s Honda Accord ultimately got the better of the ex-Rickard Rydell Volvo S40, as former European Touring Car king Gianfranco Brancatelli winning the simultaneous Group A race in his flame-spitting, Spa 24 Hour-winning Ford Sierra RS500.
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Similar to 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, Sports Car Digest also documented the Silverstone Classic 2017 with the following images from the 27th edition of the “World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival”.
Silverstone Classic 2017 – Photo Gallery (photos: Jakob Ebrey Photography)
SCEMAMA Philippe, SPICE SE89C
SINCLAIR Tony, SPICE SE90C
CAMPAGNE Michiel, KALFF Allard, SPICE SE92
Sauber-Mercedes C11
AHLERS Keith, BELLINGER James Billy, Cooper Monaco King Cobra
Lukas Halusa, Martin Halusa, Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta ‘Breadvan’
Michael O’Brien, Merlyn Mk20A
Group C in the rain
ATKINS Nick, STIRLING Oliver, Lotus Elite
Andrew Banks, Maxim Banks, Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ
ELLIS Mark, BOS Conrad, MG MGA Twin Cam
STURMER Matthew, Macon MR8
Gareth Burnett, Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe
Marc Gordon Jaguar XK150S
Steve Tandy, SPICE SE90 GTP
Tommy Dreelan, Porsche 962
Frank Lyons, Gebhardt C91
Shaun Lynn, Jaguar XJR-12
Mike Wrigley Spice SE89C
LENDOUDIS Kriton, AGUAS Rui, Sauber-Mercedes C11
LEWIS Roland, PADMORE Nick, Nissan NPTi 90
Silverstone Classic Race Start
Silverstone Classic Race action
AC Cobra – Ollie Bryant and Graham Bryant
Silverstone Classic – Group C Race Start
Mike Wrigley Spice SE89C
Shaun Lynn, Jaguar XJR-12
Record-breaking collection of Jaguar XJ220s congregate at Silverstone Classic
Sauber Mercedes C292
Jaguar XJ220
Nick Wigley
FIA Masters Historic F1
Jaguar XJ220 Gathering
Ric Wood, Ford Capri
Mark Sumpter, Ford Lotus Cortina
Talbot 105 ‘GO 52’
Urs Mueller, Lotus 20 / 22
Richard Smeeton, Wainer 63
Silverstone Classic – Bike Legends Exhibition
Silverstone Classic – Bike Legends Exhibition
Silverstone Classic Car Club Park
Tom Andrew BMW E30 M3
BRANCATELLI Gianfranco, Ford Sierra RS500
Andy Dean Woods Audi 100
Perfetti Au-Perfetti Am Ford Lotus Cortina
Race Start, Steve Soper, Ford Lotus Cortina leads
Andy Wolfe – Tyrrell F1
John Delane, Tyrrell 001
Mike Cantillon, Williams FW07
FIA Masters Historic Formula One
FIA Masters Historic Formula One
FIA Masters Historic Formula One
Phil Mauger, Nissan Primera
Neil Glover, Arrows A5
David Shaw – March 721
Shadow DN5 – Gregor Fisken
Martin Stretton – Tyrrell F1
Jonathan Kennard – Arrows A3 F1
Mike Wrigley, Williams FW07D
Simon Diffey, Lotus 20
Crispin Besley, Cooper T56
John Delane, Lotus 18
Jaguar D-Type
John Delane, Tyrrell 001
Gregory Thornton, Lotus 77
Ford Mondeo BTCC
Jim Richards – BMW 635 CSI
Dan Wheeler – Nissan Primera
Jonathan Lewis / Matt Kelly – Mini Cooper
Jonathan Lewis / Matt Kelly – Mini Cooper
Mark Wright – Ford Sierra RS500
KISTLER Johannes, Lotus 22
F1 paddock
Katsuaki Kubota – Tyrrell 012
Dave Abbott – Arrows F1
Gullwing doors on Lola T70
Jaguar XJ220
Silverstone Classic Pits
Jonathan Kennard – Arrows A3 F1
Shadow DN5 – Gregor Fisken
Andy Wolfe – Tyrrell F1
Martin Stretton – Tyrrell F1
Dan Wheeler – Nissan
Martin Stretton – Tyrrell
Jim Richards – BMW 635 CSI
David Shaw – March 721
Andrew Banks, Maxim Banks, Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ
Martin Stretton – Tyrrell F1
Ford Capri
Tommy Dreelan – Willams F1
Shadow DN5 – Gregor Fisken
Katsuaki Kubota – Tyrrell 012
Silverstone Classic – AC Cobra
Lotus Elite
Silverstone Classic – AC Cobra
Jim Richards – BMW 635 CSI
Nick Padmore – Chevron
MGB
Lola T70 Mk 3B
O’Donnell – Volvo S40
Silverstone Classic
28-30 July 2017 – Aston Martin
Silverstone Classic
28-30 July 2017 – Steve Soper BMW M3
Silverstone Classic -BRANCATELLI Gianfranco IT Ford Sierra RS500
Silverstone Classic – Lotus Formula Junior
Silverstone Classic TVR
Group C in the rain
Group C in the rain
Group C in the rain
Group C in the rain
Group C in the rain
Group C in the rain
Silverstone Classic – Calum Lockie / Mike Wilds BMW
Lukas Halusa, Martin Halusa, Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta ‘Breadvan’
Greg Thornton, Lotus 77
Spicy
LEWIS Roland, PADMORE Nick, Nissan NPTi 90
LEWIS Roland, PADMORE Nick, Nissan NPTi 90
Leyton House Porsche 962
RAC Tourist Trophy for Pre-63 GT
HALUSA Lukas, HALUSA Martin, Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan
RAC Tourist Trophy for Pre-63 GT
FIA Masters Historic F1
John Delane, Tyrrell 001
Silverstone Classic – Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Silverstone Classic – Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Group C in the rain
Group C in the rain
Group C in the rain
Group C in the rain
NAISMITH Nick, NAISMITH Harry, Aston Martin DB4GT
FIA Masters Historic F1
FIA Masters Historic F1
Silverstone Classic – Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Silverstone Classic – Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Silverstone Classic – Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Silverstone Classic – Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Silverstone Classic – Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Silverstone Classic – Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Alta Sports
Talbot 75/105
FIA Masters Historic F1
FIA Masters Historic F1
FIA Masters Historic F1
FIA Masters Historic F1
Frazer Nash Fast Tourer
Aston Martin Ulster
Vauxhall 30/98 Brooklands Special
Kidston Trophy Pre-War Class
Bentley 3/4.5-Litre
Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Kidston Trophy Pre-War Class
Aston Martin 15/98 2-seater
Kidston Trophy Pre-War Class
Kidston Trophy Pre-War Class
Frazer Nash Super Sports
Ford Lotus Cortina, John Fitzpatrick U2TC
Mini Cooper, John Fitzpatrick U2TC
Mini Cooper, John Fitzpatrick U2TC
Hotchkiss AM80
Frazer Nash Supersports
Bugatti Type 35C
Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Gallet Trophy for Pre-66 GT
Group C in the rain
Ford Lotus Cortina, John Fitzpatrick U2TC
Mini Cooper, John Fitzpatrick U2TC
Mini Cooper, John Fitzpatrick U2TC
Greg Thronton – Lotus
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