This weekend 28th – 30th July sees the HGPCA at Silverstone Classic.
The 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone witnessed the first Driver World Championship and the first time that the iconic Alfa Romeo 158 ‘Alfettas’ had been seen in England. They took the first three places in the hands of Giuseppe Farina, Luigi Fagioli and Reg Parnell, with the race average speed of 90.96 mph over a race distance of 205 miles.
Between 1955 and 1962 the Grand Prix alternated between Aintree and Silverstone and then between Silverstone and Brands Hatch until 1986 since when it has remained at Silverstone despite a worrying period recently when Donington signed a deal which they couldn’t fulfill.
The likelihood is that every HGPCA car raced at Silverstone in this period and, although the circuit itself has changed many times, the cars have not.
The HGPCA has been a part of the Silverstone event every year since its inauguration at the Christies Historic Festival in 1990. The Silverstone Classic that is has become is now the World’s biggest motor racing festival and hosts 1,000 cars racing and ten times more in the club displays as well as the live concerts, shopping village, air displays and a fun fair.
As well as the HGPCA grid, other grids racing at the Silverstone Classic include: Masters Historic F1, Formula Junior, Historic Formula Ford, Classic GT, Pre 63 GT, Group C, Masters Historic Sports cars, Stirling Moss Trophy, Woodcote Trophy, U2TC and Super Touring cars.
The agenda for the weekend for the combined HGPCA grid:
Friday : Qualifying : 18 minute practice session
Saturday : 20 minute race
Sunday : 20 minute race
Prize-giving : 30 minutes after Sunday race
Key Facts about Silverstone
Circuit length: 5.891 km (3.661 miles) or 5.901km (3.667 miles)
Current configuration lap record: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 2010 – 1:30.874
