The 512M was driven by Paul Knapfield and Jamie Campbell Walker finishing 8th out of 32 cars.
Photos and story by Jonathan Sharp
Amongst the myriad of press releases I received from the Media department of the Annual Silverstone Classic race meeting, was one which told me that spending only one day would not be sufficient to see and enjoy everything that the event had to offer. Unfortunately, one day was all that I had available, but as the final race finished at 9pm maybe I could just fit it all in. The morning was therefore spent nosing around the two different paddock areas.
One located at the recently constructed wing complex, known as the International Paddock, which really does not suit old racing cars due to its scale. The other being the original pit complex which is much more in keeping with old race cars and now known as the National Paddock. As the entries for the eighteen races plus the three demonstration sessions for 90s GT cars numbered around 1100 cars, there was a lot to take in. From the viewpoint of an Italian car fan, the entry list was not overloaded with Italian machinery, but the diversity of entries could not be faulted.
Both paddocks were open to all with hardly any barriers between cars and the fans, which is to be applauded. Four races had been run during the morning, and I had just finished nosing around the National Paddock when the afternoon’s racing commenced. The next five hours were spent enjoying races for Formula 1 cars of the 1970s and 80s, Touring cars from the 1990s, pre 1966 GT cars, pre 1966 Grand Prix cars and 1960s saloons with a grid of approximately 60 cars including a ton of Ford Mustangs to celebrate that car’s 50th birthday. A race was held for pre 1961 front-engined Grand Prix cars and a one for sports cars which included (amongst a hoard of Lola T70s and McLaren M1s) a rather nice Ferrari 512M and a competition Daytona. This then allowed me time to quickly whiz around the various car club displays which had liberally covered the vast infield area. Then it was back to trackside for the final race of the day – a race into the sunset for group C cars of the type which would have raced at Le Mans during the 1980s and 1990s. This was a race made up of Mercedes C11s, Porsche 962s and the like – headlights ablaze and brake discs glowing red hot; a great way to spend a very full but enjoyable day at the races.
We have shown this car before but you have to agree that it is one of the nicest looking F1 cars ever; Manfredo Rossi Di Montelera's 1974 Brabham BT42.
In the colors associated with Denny Hulme; the 1971 McLaren M19A of Stuart Hall.
As raced by John Watson, the Surtees TS16.
From 1975 The UOP Shadow DN5 of Greg Audi. The sky high air intake boxes looked oh-so-cool.
In amongst the large entry of cars in the pre 1961 Grand Prix Cars race was this rather fine 1953 Cooper Bristol MK2 of Chris Phillips .
Another car we have shown before but worth another look, the six wheeled March 2-4-0 circa 1976 driven over the weekend by James Hanson.
You cannot have a race for F1 cars from the 1970s and 80s without featuring at least one Williams. Car 66 is the 1982 FW08.
Nor for that matter a John Player Lotus, in the case the Lotus 77 from the 1976 season now race by Max Smith Hillard.
…and in this case from the 1974 season the Lotus 76/1 of Andrew Baeumont.
Sir Jack Brabhams Repco Brabham shares garage space with a Camel Lotus Grand Prix car. The race for pre 1966 Grand Prix cars was named in honour of Black Jack.
Another great name, colored with the markings of Peter Revson; the 1976 Yardley McLaren M23 of Gregor Fisken.
Another proper-looking race car, David Abbotts Arrows A4 from 1982.
With Silverstone's vast paddocks it is a good idea to have a form of motorized transport to get around. A small motor bike seems popular. As Alex Bell's race car is an ISO Grifo A3C, then what could be more appropriate than an ISO 125cc motorbike.
And back in the paddock, we found this stirring recreation of the Lamborghini Jota.
The remarkably rapid 911 RSR of Mark Bates.
The winner of the FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars Race, the 1968 Lola T70 MK3B of Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield.
I make no excuses for it, but I am rather partial to the GT40, This example being the 1965 example raced in the FIA Masters Sports cars race by Philip Walker and Mike Jordan.
Another famous Tobacco racing livery, the Silkcut Jaguar XJR8 of Christophe D'Ansembourg and Herve Regout racing into the sunset during the final race for Group C cars on the Saturday evening.
Continuing with the Silk Cut livery, The 1991 XJR14 as raced in period by Martin Brundle and Derek Warwick, now raced by Gareth Evans.
Georg Kjallgren’s C2 class Courage C26S from 1989.
Shaun Lynn's ex Jachen Mass Michael Schumacher C11 from the 1990 season.
As was fitting for the Group C race the cars raced into dusk on the Saturday night, headlights ablaze and in some cases brake discs glowing.
1984 Lancia LC2 of Rupert Clevely.
The Daytona was driven by Tim Summers and finished 28th.
Dear Mr. Sharp: I have seen multiple pictures of Manfredo Rossi’s Brabham and it has always been called a BT42, when to my recollection the BT 42 was the earlier model that in 1972 Carlos Reutemann raced under the Carnes Argentinas, YPF and Atomovil Club Argentino sponsorship. It was a transitional between the Lobster Claw, with the radiators at both ends of the front wing and the BT 44, the model shown in the picture, that raced all white in 1974 and with the Martini Livery in 1975. In 1974 Reutemann was walking away with his home Grand Prix in Buenos Aires when it run out of gas with the checkered flag in sight.
Dear Carlos
Whilst the event programme listed the car as a BT42 I have to agree with you.