With more than 800 entries across 20 great retro races, the much-anticipated Silverstone Festival is by far the UK’s biggest motorsport event.  

This weekend’s packed on-track programme spans ten decades of evocative competition history ranging from the big Bentleys of the 1920s right up to the lean sports prototypes which were racing at Le Mans only a dozen or so years ago. 

Many of the glittering grids will see in excess of 50 iconic cars renewing old rivalries on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.  

Among the many highlights, the double-header Masters Racing Legends has attracted over 30 F1 cars from the DFV era with all the great period marques represented: Arrows, Brabham, Lotus, March, McLaren, Shadow, Surtees and Tyrrell. 

Then, for nostalgic tin-top fans, Sunday’s spectacular Pre ’66 Touring Car showdown will pit a posse of mighty American muscle cars against their nimbler European rivals. Three-time FIA World Touring Champion, Andy Priaulx, is among those ready to rumble. 

Turning the clock forwards, Saturday’s Historic Touring Car encounter will see no fewer than seven flame-spitting Sierra RS500s alongside a bevy of BMWs and a trio of Nissan Skylines. Steve Soper will be behind the wheel of one of the many Bavarian M3s.  

As well as live music from chart-toppers, a Diddly Squat Farm pop-up shop, funfair rides, massive classic car displays and a host of other family entertainment, this year’s Festival will also boast a couple of significant showcases.  

The great Ayrton Senna always had a great affinity with the UK… and, in particular, Silverstone. Like so many others, he cut his teeth racing on Britain’s circuits and he spent 10 years in F1 driving solely for British teams: Toleman, Lotus, McLaren and Williams.  

More pertinently, the three-time champion won more races at Silverstone than at any other venue worldwide and that’s why, in this special anniversary year, the Festival will be celebrating the Brazilian’s achievements with the biggest collection of Senna-related cars ever assembled. 

Although it is now 30 years since his death at Imola, Ayrton remains an inspiration to many of today’s top drivers – few more so than Sir Lewis Hamilton.  

Now, just weeks after his emotional ninth British Grand Prix win, Hamilton’s locally based Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team will also be putting on a special power show at Silverstone. 

Since the introduction of the latest generation of 1.6-litre, turbocharged V6 power units complete with hybrid energy recovery systems in 2014, the three-pointed star has amassed no fewer than eight Constructors’ and seven Drivers’ Championships.  

Two of Hamilton’s six title-winners will be among a collection of F1 Mercedes-AMG cars making up a one-off ‘A Decade of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Power’ exhibit at the Festival. What’s more, another of the team’s title winners – a 2021 W12 – will be on track with development driver Esteban Gutiérrez behind the wheel.