Record grid to celebrate Le Mans centenary

This summer’s Silverstone Festival (25-27 August) will join the centenary celebrations for the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a record numbers of entries for its pair of mighty Masters Endurance Legends races.

Catering for both prototype and GT sportscars from 1995 to 2016, these grids are the fastest and among the most modern on the Festival bill. Adding to the excitement, this year’s line-up will be the biggest yet with no fewer than 37 stunning cars already confirmed for the two spectacular Silverstone showdowns over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Ensuring both quality and quantity, the current entry list is topped by a trio of amazing Peugeot 908s – the dazzling diesel-engined sports prototype which won Le Mans for the French manufacturer in 2009. Ensuring the pacey Peugeots have strong opposition, the principal P1 class also stars a pair of speedy Pescarolos, two impressive Dallaras plus the striking blue and orange liveried Lola Aston Martin DBR1 – all potential winners.

The packed P2 category is equally stellar with Acuras, Ligiers and Orecas while the GT classes are laden with more familiar Ferraris and Porsches.

While the record-breaking Master Endurance Legends celebrates the more recent eras of Le Mans’ remarkable 100 year history, other Festival grids hail previous epochs.

Saturday evening’s sunset showdown – the Yokohama Trophy for Masters Sports Cars Legends – is for Le Mans-style sportscars from 1962 to 1974 putting the spotlight on Lola T70s, Chevron B19s and much-loved Ford GT40s.

Earlier in the day, the International Trophy for Classic GT Cars (Pre ’66) is another full-capacity crowd-pleaser with fearsome AC Cobras, Aston Martins, Austin Healey 3000s, Jaguar E-types, Ferraris, Lotus Elans, MGs, Morgans, Porsche 911s and muscular TVR Griffiths – many of which raced in the Gallic classic.

Sunday morning’s programme features the MRL Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy which puts the spotlight on sports cars built before 1961 and includes iconic Jaguar C-types and D-types as well as illustrious Lister Knobblies, Lotus 15s and Cooper Monacos.

This summer’s Silverstone Festival is celebrating Silverstone’s own 75th anniversary, so the packed on-track programme features special showdowns and parades showcasing the famous venue’s remarkable history. Honouring the significant milestone, the weekend hosts 20 epic retro races reviving all the great eras of Formula 1 and touring cars, as well as sportscars and GTs. The action-packed race schedule is available here.

With access to both paddocks open to all ticket holders, visitors can see all these wondrous racers up close as well as roaring around the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. A wide-range of tickets for the Festival are available here.