Test of Courage as Chris Hoy Competes at Silverstone Classic
Olympic track cycling superstar Sir Chris Hoy, MBE will be looking to add to his record list of achievements when slipping behind the wheel of a 200mph sports racer at this summer’s spectacular Silverstone Classic (20th-22nd July).
Hoy – who has no fewer than 11 world championship plus six Olympic gold medals to his name – has been fuelling his competitive spirit by competing in a number of different motor racing categories since stepping off the saddle in 2013. He describes himself as a ‘keen amateur with a massive passion for motor sport’ and, most significantly, fulfilled a childhood dream when not just entering, but also finishing, the famous Le Mans 24 Hours in 2016.
Next up he will be making his Silverstone Classic debut when contesting a round of the exciting new Masters Endurance Legends series – the latest addition to the remarkable roster of crowd-pleasing retro races staged at the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival.
“I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never been to the Classic until now but, I’m very excited as everyone keeps telling me I’ll love every minute of it,” enthused a delighted Hoy when joining a long list of famous faces attending the pace-setting event’s recent Preview Day at Silverstone. “The accessibility of the pits, the cars and the drivers seems to be on a different level to most forms of racing, so fans can really get up close and enjoy the atmosphere.”
Further increasing Hoy’s eagerness, the calibre of the sportscar he will be piloting is well above his wildest fantasy. “I was genuinely expecting to find myself in something like a Mini, which would have been fun, but this is a serious bit of kit – a proper race car with a bit of downforce. It’s just going to be fantastic,” grinned the 42-year-old from Edinburgh.
The powerful machine he will be driving is a LMP2 category Courage LC75 which, like Hoy, has genuine Le Mans pedigree. It contested the French endurance classic back in 2007 with Russian F1 ace Vitaly Petrov among those in the driver line-up… and, adding to the sense of occasion, it still remains in its evocative red Le Mans livery today.
“Being such a modern classic, the Courage is right at the top of the tree in terms of a car to experience at an historic event like this,” he admitted. “It just looks amazing and, to be part of this new race series, as well as racing on the full Grand Prix circuit in front of the big crowds at the Silverstone Classic, will be incredible.”
Featuring an amazing array of epic sports-racers and GTs from the recent era between 1995-2012, Masters Endurance Legends is an awesome new addition to the extensive race card at the annual Silverstone Classic. Fans will get their first chance to see these incredible machines in action during a fast moving qualifying session on Friday. And then there a two thrilling showdowns on the weekend schedule: the first as part of the special Daytona at Dusk tribute on Saturday evening; the second on Sunday afternoon.
