Le Mans cars hit Chelsea

Le Mans cars hit Chelsea

Cars from Le Mans in the 1960s and famous team patrons will be two of the themes of the second Chelsea AutoLegends, which will be held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Sunday September 4.

The event’s theme is the Swinging Sixties and cars that from that era will form a central part of a display featuring 30 Le Mans racers. Ferrari will have examples of the 250LM and 275P, while several Ford GT4Os will also be on show. Team patrons of the 1950s and ’60s will be celebrated with displays of the cars run by individuals such as Rob Wallcer, John Coombs and Colonel Ronnie Hoare. Walker remains the archetype of the private entrant, winning Grands Prix over a 10-year period. The first of

these victories came when Stirling Moss won the 1958 Argentine GP racing a CooperClimax; the last when Jo Siffert won the 1968 British GP in Walker’s Lotus 49.

Sir Stirling Moss OBE will be on hand to perform the opening ceremony in his role as event patron, and he will be joined by eighttimes world motorcycle champion Phil Read.

Special displays will feature a selection of Group B rally cars from the 1980s, while tributes will be paid to the Jaguar E-type and the Mini Cooper — two icons of the ’60s which are celebrating 50th birthdays this year. The Sunday Times Supercar Paddock will be matched by a classic bike run to the show, organised by the Ace Café.