Chateau Impney hits 50

Chateau Impney will on July 7/8 mark the 50th anniversary of the venue’s final event during its original period of operation. This year’s hillclimb will be the third since its revival in 2015.

The organisers promise some returning machinery, including ERA 4RD and the 1930 GN Caesar Special. The ex-Graham Hill and Jo Bonnier BRM P48 chassis 484, sister car to once record-holding chassis P487, will also tackle the picturesque hill. In addition, a works Maserati 4CS that contested the 1934 Mille Miglia and the 1936 Monaco Grand Prix will headline the Maserati Celebration. 

More than 200 drivers are expected to take part and there will also be a concours d’élégance, vintage funfair and a classic auction. “The setting looked perfect,” Simon Arron wrote of Chateau Impney in 2015. “Sometimes, things feel right before a wheel has so much as turned.” No pressure, then. 

Donington Historic Festival Donington Park, April 28-30

On Saturday front-engined Formula Juniors kick off proceedings for what should be a frenetic 20 minutes. Pre-73 sports cars close the day with an into-dusk 90-minute enduro. Everything else is covered, including pre-war racers, Super Tourers and Historic F2 cars among much else.

Masters Historic Festival Brands Hatch, May 27-28

Historic Formula 1 is often the biggest draw, as JPS Lotuses and the like return to the wonderful Grand Prix circuit, but there’s much more to Masters than simply that. Lola T70s, roofed or otherwise, reunite with Ford GT40s and Chevrons while Ford Mustangs and Minis do battle in the Pre-66 Touring Car event.