Inaugurated in July 1990 as the Christie’s BRDC Historic Festival and continuing as the Coys Festival until it became the Silverstone Classic, the main historic race meeting that has taken place at the Northampton circuit every summer for 35 years has this year reverted to the BRDC on its original July date. Henceforth to be known as the BRDC Classic, it will share many of the features of those original meetings, with a range of grids from pre-war to GT3 cars of the 2000s, with all the competitors together operating from one paddock.

Photo Courtesy BRDC

As from the start, clubs are invited to come and display their cars and up to 2000 vehicles, representing over 50 marques are expected. Parade laps, stage events featuring famous BRDC personalities, a major auction and other activities are planned.

On the racing side of things, the content will be supplied by Motor Racing Legends and include a HRDC Top Hat Pre-‘66 touring car race, with organising club HSCC contributing their Derek Bell Trophy and ‘70s Roadsports grids. There is also a ‘GP Icons’ race, the first in a new MRL series for F1 cars from 1966 to 1985 and a one-off (for this season, at least) ‘Endurance Icons’ race for Le Mans-type Sports and Prototypes up to 2012. For the first time in very many years, there will be no HGPCA, Formula Junior or Pre-‘63 GT races and, in a departure from the traditional format, no other organisers will be involved.

The BRDC said, “This special weekend stands as a testament to the shared mission between the BRDC and Silverstone: to honour the past while continuing to inspire new generations of motorsport fans. The British Racing Drivers’ Club has long been a guardian of British motorsport excellence, with membership that includes many of the sport’s most accomplished racing drivers. Their involvement ensures that The BRDC Classic will be more than a historic race meeting — it will be a curated celebration of sporting achievement, engineering brilliance, and the spirit of racing.” Contact MRL for entries.