VSCC Set for Over 300 Cars at Formula Vintage Opener
The Vintage Sports-Car Club are set to celebrate the launch of its new Formula Vintage Race Season with over 300-vintage and historic Racing cars scheduled to take part in the opening round at Silverstone over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd of April. Returning to a two-day format, this year’s edition of their long-established ‘Spring Start’ season opener promises to be a spectacular weekend of historic racing action, with capacity grids across the majority of the weekend’s packed 18-race programme at the home of the British Grand Prix.
AC, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Cooper, ERA, Ferrari, Frazer Nash, Invicta, Jaguar, Lister, Lotus, Maserati, MG, Morgan, Riley and Talbot are just some of the famous badges that will be on show alongside representatives from some of the world’s most celebrated historic race series, promising a truly special celebration of a golden era of motorsport.
Boasting an unprecedented 80-year history of racing, the VSCC’s new Formula Vintage brand looks to bring its unique line-up of pre-war and historic racing to a wider audience of motorsport enthusiasts, with the Club’s own prestigious Trophy races headlining at each round, starting with the ever-popular annual visit to the Northamptonshire venue.
Saturday will see the GP Itala Trophy collection take centre stage, featuring a number of the vlub’s most prominent silverware, including the collection’s namesake GP Itala Trophy Race for Pre-1931 Vintage Racing Cars, a part of the VSCC’s first meeting at Silverstone in 1949. This will again feature a special Bentley class for the Stanley Mann Cup, following a poignant inaugural running following the admired Bentley enthusiast’s passing last year. Once again, the club will have HRH Prince Michael of Kent, a close friend of Stanley, to present the trophy.
The Amschel Rothschild and Patrick Lindsay Memorial Trophies Race for Pre-1961 Racing Cars will again bring together the pinnacle of Grand Prix and voiturette racing machinery of the immediate pre- and post-war eras, whilst the Fox & Nicholl and Silverstone Trophy Races accommodate both original and more modified road-going Pre-war Sports-Cars.
As ever, pre-war fans will also enjoy the most eclectic full grids competing in the ever-popular All-Comers Pre-war Short Scratch and Handicap formats, whilst there will also be some of the Club’s other traditional events over the weekend, including a race for 1950s Sports Racing Cars, the High Speed Trial for those new to circuit racing, as well as the celebrated Mike Stripe Team Relay Race for Pre-war Sports-Cars.
To complement the weekend’s ‘vintage’ content, other historic race series will be racing, including the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association (HGPCA) Pre-1966 Grand Prix Cars, The Fifties Sports Cars (FISCAR) Tom Cole Trophy, the Historic Racing Drivers Club (HRDC) new ‘Coombs Heritage Challenge’ for Pre-1966 Jaguar Saloon Cars, the 500 Owners Association F3 (500) Racing Cars and the Morgan Challenge Series.
Aside from the exciting action on track, Formula Vintage will again offer the spectator open access to the Paddock, where you can get up-close to the cars and drivers, a mouth-watering display of cars from our Principal Associates Bonhams, onsite catering facilities, a busy trade village and much more ‘Vintage’ entertainment for the whole family, including fun fair, massage trailer, mini train rides, steam engine and tractor displays, car clubs and an Army interactive zone with real-life military vehicles.
Taking everyone back in time, Perfect Vintage will be performing songs from the 1940’s and giving everyone the opportunity to learn how to jive throughout Saturday, whilst Sunday will see the Candy Girls performing Vintage harmonies from yesteryear.
Another attraction will be a VSCC AutoSolo at Silverstone taking place in the outer paddock on Saturday. The simple ‘Driving Tests’ competition for pre-war cars will provide plenty of entertainment during the morning’s practice sessions, finishing ahead of the afternoon’s racing action.
Advance tickets are available now directly from Silverstone (children Under 16 go free).
