Tag: Thruxton Motorsport Celebration

Thruxton Motorsport Celebration revives the past with spectacular inaugural festival

The inaugural Thruxton Motorsport Celebration – powered by Motorsport Magazine – was a resounding success as thousands of fans enjoyed two days of historic racing, high-speed demonstrations and spectacular flypasts at the famous Hampshire venue.

Thruxton Circuit played host to a stunning display of classic cars as the UK’s fastest racetrack built on the success of last year’s hugely-popular 50th anniversary meeting, and supporters weren’t disappointed as the 15-race schedule served up a fantastic weekend of wheel-to-wheel racing.

Fans also had the opportunity to get up close and personal with priceless legendary machines in a family-friendly paddock on the iconic airfield and were treated to a number of thrilling demonstrations – both on-track and in the air.

Thruxton was bathed in glorious sunshine for much of the weekend, while a brief summer shower on Sunday did little to dampen the spirits of the motorsport enthusiasts looking to enjoy a bevy of retro races.

Motor Racing Legends’ colourful Historic Touring Car Challenge with Tony Dron Trophy grid was a firm favourite while their U2TC for pre-66 under two-litre Touring Cars also provided plenty of spills and sideways moments.

Meanwhile, their RAC Woodcote Trophy/Stirling Moss Trophy pitched the beautiful Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 and the spell-binding Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica against each other for the first time since the 1952 British Empire Trophy race on the Isle of Man, triggering memories of a by-gone era.

Elsewhere, the Sports 2000 Championship field provided the fastest cars on show this weekend with a pair of white-knuckle races culminating in Paul Streat lifting the Ian Taylor Trophy for topping the Pinto class in his Lola T87/90.

The FJHRA/HSCC ‘Silverline’ Formula Junior Championship put on four hotly-contested events – two for front-engined and two for rear-engined cars – before the Historic Racing Drivers Club completed the package with three evocative rounds – the ‘Coys 100 Trophy’ for Touring Cars 1958-66 (including an appearance from musician Chris Rea in a Morris Minor), the ‘Alfa Challenge’ for Alfa Romeo Sports, GT and Touring Cars and the ‘Allstars’ for pre-66 Sports, GT and Touring Cars.

In-between all the racing, Thruxton provided the perfect platform to showcase the skills of British Superbike Championship star Tommy Bridewell and 2015 Moto3 Champion Danny Kent as the pair scorched around the high-speed superbowl on their gravity-defying machines.

There were also runs from the iconic Lola T70 Mk38 and the thunderous V8 Lola T332 as well as a Chevrolet-powered Cooper Monaco T61, a Formula Atlantic Chevron B49 and the Reynard 89D which had been piloted by ex-Jordan F1 driver Marco Apicella during the 1989 Formula 3000 season.

For aviation fanatics, the state-of-the-art Thruxton Centre was an ideal vantage point to see the spectacular flypasts put on by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – with a pair of legendary Spitfires catching the eye on Saturday and a majestic Dakota C-47 sweeping over the circuit on Sunday.

Throughout the festival the bustling trade village gave families a chance to refuel at food vendors and shop for merchandise, while several car clubs including the Porsche Club GB, the GT40 Enthusiasts Club and the Mazda MX-5 Owners Club pitched up with impressive collections on the famous banking.

Thruxton Circuit Director Bill Coombs said: “It’s been a fabulous weekend and we’re delighted with the meeting as a whole. I think it’s lovely to see all these demonstrations, and it’s brilliant to have such a variety of classic supercars and the superbikes here as well.

“For me, this meeting is the highlight of the year. The Bennetts British Superbike and Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship events are stand-out dates in our calendar, but with so many classic cars on show from different decades this event holds such personal interest!

“The cars are just wonderful to watch, and they generally have more power than grip so they slide around a lot and are great fun. It’s been a wonderful meeting, with a real family atmosphere, and we hope it’s been a brilliant weekend out for everybody.

“And we’ve got a lot of big meetings to come with British Truck Racing, the second visit of the BTCC and the BSB. We’ve still got plenty of action at Thruxton for fans to enjoy!”

Tickets for the British Trucks Race Meeting on June 29-30 start at just ÂŁ12 while advance tickets for both the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship are available from just ÂŁ13 for Saturday entry and ÂŁ29 for Sunday.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk 

Thruxton ready to race down memory lane

The wait is almost over. Twelve months on from the circuit’s hugely successful 50th birthday party, the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration – powered by Motor Sport Magazine – will rev into life this weekend (1/2 June), bringing with it an air of nostalgia and ‘days gone by’ to the popular Hampshire venue.

Appropriately enough for a festival honouring the very best in motoring, motorsport and one of the golden eras of aviation, the rapidly approaching Thruxton Motorsport Celebration will take place at Britain’s fastest racetrack, which previously served as an RAF airfield.

A mouth-watering array of sensational sportscars, flame-spitting saloons and evocative single-seaters will thrill the crowds, with no fewer than 15 races on the bill as the past comes back to life for the weekend.

Boasting all-round family appeal, the event truly does have something for everyone, with a tremendous variety of high-octane activities across the two days. Both modern and historic cars will take to the circuit for races and high-speed demonstration runs, offering spectators the opportunity to reminisce about bygone eras and marvel at cutting-edge motorsport technology.

One of the most compelling stories will be told in the RAC Woodcote Trophy/Stirling Moss Trophy races, in which two old rivals will go head-to-head for the first time in almost seven decades. Piloted respectively by Roy Salvadori and James Scott-Douglas, the Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica and Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 finished fourth and sixth in the 1952 British Empire Trophy race on the Isle of Man’s Douglas street circuit. Sixty-seven years later, the cars will be reunited in the hands of father-and-son duo, Steve and Josh Ward.

Flashbacks to yesteryear will continue with a ‘Battle of Britain’ flypast scheduled for both days, which will undoubtedly grab the attention of aviation fans. This magical moment will feature one of just six Hawker Hurricanes left in the country as well as the legendary Douglas C-47 Dakota military transport aircraft.

Back down on terra firma, local motorcycling hero Tommy Bridewell (Devizes) will wow spectators aboard his 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship challenger – the potent Oxford Racing Ducati. Accompanying the Wiltshireman on-track will be a host of iconic racing cars, including some of Lola’s most successful designs such as the rip-roaring V8 T332 and the T70.

A variety of car clubs will make the journey from across the UK, from the MX-5 Owners Club – celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019 – to the Porsche Club GB and the GT40 Enthusiasts Club, all of whom will be exhibiting stunning examples of truly classic cars. Thruxton’s impressive collection of resident supercars will similarly take pride of place.

Add into the mix coach rides around the circuit, sideways skid pan experiences, axe-throwing for the ultimate thrill-seeking experience and live music on Saturday evening from classic rock tribute band ‘The Cellarats’, and all the ingredients are firmly in place for another retro-themed blockbuster.

“The Thruxton Motorsport Celebration really does offer fun for the whole family,” enthused Thruxton Director, Bill Coombs. “There will be so much to do across the two days and something for everyone. For me, particular highlights will be the Frazer Nash / Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar face-off, and seeing Tommy Bridewell on his 2019 BSB bike – a nice little teaser for fans ahead of the summer race meeting in a couple of months’ time.

“The Battle of Britain flypasts will similarly be great to watch and will I’m sure bring back some memories, while the sheer number of classic cars going on display will unquestionably be a sight to behold. Both on and off-track, the weekend promises to be a flat-out thrill ride from start to finish.”

Tickets for the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration are still available to purchase on the gate, priced at just ÂŁ15 for Saturday entry and ÂŁ25 for Sunday. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge. For further information, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/celebration or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit: www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

Thruxton Circuit gearing up for a fabulous fortnight

After the success of Thruxton’s 50th Anniversary Celebration last summer, the retro-themed extravaganza will return to the popular Hampshire circuit on 1/2 June as part of a ‘fabulous fortnight’ of high-octane action.

There will be something for everyone at the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration, powered by Motor Sport Magazine – the family-friendly festival’s new media partner. A huge variety of motorsport disciplines – spanning historics and the modern era – will take to the track for evocative races and high-speed demos throughout the weekend, featuring iconic four-wheeled and two-wheeled machinery.

Local Bennetts British Superbike Championship star Tommy Bridewell (Devizes) – currently tied for the top of the BSB title standings – will make an appearance on his Oxford Racing Ducati in what is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleasing run. Not only that, but one of the most successful Formula 5000 cars ever produced – the thunderous V8 Lola T332 – will rewind the clock as it returns to the circuit along with a Lola T70, arguably the British manufacturer’s most recognisable car. A 1989 Formula 3000 Reynard will add to the ‘memory lane’ appeal.

A number of car clubs from across the UK are also set to attend, from the Porsche Club GB to the MX-5 Owners Club – celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019 – the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, Lotus Seven Club, Overton Classic Revival and GT40 Enthusiasts Club.

Off-track, there will be no shortage of activities for spectators to enjoy. ‘Battle of Britain’ flypasts on both days will pique the interest of aviation fanatics, featuring one of six Hawker Hurricanes remaining in the UK and the legendary Douglas C-47 Dakota transport aircraft. Not forgetting, of course, Thruxton’s impressive supercar display, circuit coach rides, sideways skid pan experiences and – for the more adventurous – axe-throwing, all topped off by local classic rock tribute band ‘The Cellarats’ performing live on the Saturday evening.

The Thruxton Motorsport Celebration will conclude Thruxton’s ‘fabulous fortnight’, which will kick off this coming weekend (18/19 May) when the high-profile Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship speeds into the country’s fastest circuit for the first of two visits on its 2019 calendar (returning again for ‘seconds’ on 17/18 August).

Judging by the action so far this season, racegoers will be in for a real treat – Britain’s biggest motor racing series never fails to produce first-class doorhandle-to-doorhandle action, and with five winners from the opening six races of the year, unpredictability is very much the name of the game.

Children aged 12 and under get in free of charge when accompanied by an adult, making this a great day out for the whole family. Not only will there be three drama-fuelled BTCC races to enjoy, but also a full schedule of support series showcasing the Formula 1, touring car and GT stars of the future – remember, you saw them here first!

“We have a very exciting couple of weeks coming up at Thruxton,” enthused Bill Coombs, Thruxton Director. “We are thrilled to have been able to turn the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration – initially planned as a one-off to mark our half-century – into an annual event after it was so well-received last year, and an amazing selection of cars, races, demos and off-track activities will make it a great weekend out for the whole family. The Battle of Britain flypast will be a particular highlight.

“Prior to that, of course, we have the first of two BTCC visits to look forward to. We are proud to have been a regular fixture on the series’ calendar since its inception more than 60 years ago, and to have secured a double helping of touring car action in 2019 means double the fun for everybody coming along. As a circuit, Thruxton always produces spectacular action – and as a championship, the BTCC never fails to entertain.”

Advance tickets for the two Thruxton BTCC race meetings are available from just ÂŁ13 for Saturday entry and ÂŁ29 for Sunday. All those purchasing an advance race day, weekend or family ticket will be entered into a draw for a chance to wave the chequered flag at the end of the first race. Tickets for the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration start at only ÂŁ12 for Saturday entry and ÂŁ20 for Sunday.

For further information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc(BTCC) /  thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/celebration (Motorsport Celebration) or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit: www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

Sportscars, saloons and single-seaters top the bill at Thruxton Motorsport Celebration

A mouth-watering array of sensational sportscars, flame-spitting saloons and evocative single-seaters will thrill the crowds at this year’s Thruxton Motorsport Celebration (1/2 June), with no fewer than 15 races on the bill as the past comes back to life at the fastest circuit in the country.

Following the resounding success of last summer’s 50th Anniversary Celebration weekend, the decision was taken to make the popular, family-friendly event an annual affair. In addition to the myriad of yet-to-be-announced off-track attractions and high-speed demos, nine series have been confirmed to take to the circuit at the retro-themed Hampshire festival.

The action will rev into life with the Historic Touring Car Challenge (HTCC) with Tony Dron Trophy, for models that competed in the British and European Touring Car Championships between 1966 and 1990 – including larger-engined turbocharged cars like the legendary Ford Sierra RS500. The Tony Dron Trophy – named in honour of the 1970s touring car and Le Mans ace – is a standalone series for Group 1 Touring Cars from 1970 to 1982.

Going even further back through the gears, the U2TC for pre-66 under two-litre Touring Cars and HRDC ‘Coys Trophy’ for Touring Cars 1958-1966 feature cars that first raced in their prime more than half-a-century ago.

In the same vein, the HRDC ‘Allstars’ for pre-66 Sports, GT and Touring Cars – which evokes the spirit of the Club Members Meetings of the 1950s and ‘60s – recreates the ‘Allcomers’ Club races with the greatest variety of pre-’66 historic competition cars to be found on a single grid, from super-quick Ashley GTs to powerful TVRs and Cobras, not to mention the rare Daimler Dart and Austin Healey Jamaican.

The HRDC ‘Alfa Challenge’ for Alfa Romeo Sports, GT and Touring Cars is sure to appeal to all ‘Alfisti’, with fans of the much-loved Italian marque set to be spoiled by a grid-full of seldom-seen models from the early 1950s through to the late 1970s – Giuliettas in both Spyder and Berlina form, Giulia Supers and GTs and the later Alfetta GTVs and Berlinas amongst others.

The RAC Woodcote Trophy/Stirling Moss Trophy is widely acknowledged as the pre-eminent series for late-1950s sportscar racing, with all cars running in genuine period specification to ensure an authentic experience true to the era, while the Sports 2000 Championship reunites a field of two-seat, mid-engined, open-cockpit, full-bodied sports prototypes.

The FJHRA/HSCC ‘Silverline’ FJ Championship, meanwhile, boasts two grids at the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration – one for front and one for rear-engined machinery. Launched in 1958, Formula Junior was intended to provide an entry-level open-wheel formula in which drivers could use inexpensive mechanical components from everyday cars.

“Although initially conceived as a one-off to mark half-a-century of motorsport at Thruxton, last year’s event was so phenomenally well-received that we couldn’t not continue it,” explained Thruxton Operations Manager, Pat Blakeney. “We’re delighted to unveil such a glorious grid for this summer’s festival, with a tremendous variety of iconic sportscars, saloons and single-seaters spanning several of the sport’s most memorable decades.

“In addition to what is sure to be some fantastic racing on-track, off-track there will be just as much to keep spectators entertained, which we are looking forward to revealing over the coming weeks. It promises to be another action-packed, fun-fuelled weekend celebrating everything to be enjoyed about this spectacular sport.”

Advance tickets for the Thruxton Motorsport Celebration on 1/2 June are available from just £12 for Saturday entry and £20 for Sunday – or £28 for both days. Sunday grandstand seats are an additional £5. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge.

For further information or to buy tickets, see thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/celebration or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit: www.thruxtonracing.co.uk