F1
Why unloved Lotus 76 may be Colin Chapman's most significant car
A wide variety of Lotus cars are often proffered as the ultimate F1 game-changer – but was the Lotus 76 an unusual candidate which trumps them all?
British GP to be supported by historic F1 cars
Masters Historic Formula 1 cars form part of British Grand Prix undercard
The British Formula 1 Grand Prix will be supported by the Masters Historic Racing Championship, with ’70s and ‘80s historic F1 cars racing over the weekend of July 5-8 at Silverstone.
Entries from the European Masters Championship and the USA Masters championship will be invited, with 3-litre cars from 1966-85 – most of them rev-limited Cosworth DFV-powered cars – supporting their V6 hybrid contemporaries.
The Masters Championship will also run at the Silverstone Classic (July 20-22) and its own Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch (May 27-28).
Historic F1 cars supported the United States and Mexican Grands Prix in 2017, as well as the Canadian and Singapore GP weekends. This will be the first time that the Masters Championship will support an F1 race in the European leg of the F1 calendar.
“The fact that we have been asked to organise a support race at the British Grand Prix certainly reflects the quality of the show we put on at Montreal, Austin and Mexico City last year,” said championship founder Ron Maydon. “I’m sure that we will evoke many wonderful memories with the spectators that were also present at Silverstone and Brands in the seventies and eighties as well as fascinate the younger part of the crowd.”
Silverstone managing director, Stuart Pringle, said that the inclusion of historic F1 cars was based on feedback from fans wanting to watch classic F1 cars take to the track in anger. This inclusion will form part of Silverstone’s programme to celebrate 70 years of hosting Grand Prix racing.
“We regularly ask our fans for feedback on how we can further improve their British Grand Prix experience and requests for more track action and the opportunity to see classic Formula 1 cars are always high up on the list,” said Pringle.
“I believe that the inclusion of the two Masters Historic Formula One races to the timetable will tick both those boxes and will not only be a fantastic crowd-pleaser but also a great addition to the weekend in a year which sees Silverstone celebrate its 70th anniversary.”
You may also like
F1
Racing through the pain barrier: drivers who endured agony to reach the finish line
Finishing sixth in the Bahrain Grand Prix with broken wrists and a fractured toe, Lance Stroll is the latest racer to block out torturous pain rather than miss a race. Here are some of the most incredible stories
F1
The scramble to catch Red Bull – can any F1 team close the gap?
The hot pursuit of keeping up with Red Bull is causing serious headaches for Mercedes and Ferrari, with Aston Martin remaining realistic
F1
Unsettled Williams lacks 'vision of excellence' says new F1 boss Vowles
Williams was the second-most improved F1 team at the Bahrain GP, with Alex Albon scoring a point. But new team principal James Vowles says that it will take years to break into the midfield fight, as he overcomes the legacy left by seasons of struggle