Silverstone Festival Honours Touring Car Legend Andy Rouse

• Historic race pays tribute to record-breaking four-time BTCC champion
• Racing hero to present prizes on the podium
• Special award for top Sierra RS500 finisher, marking 40 years since Rouse's fourth title
• Wide range of tickets available now - best prices for early bookers

The life and career of one of Britain’s greatest touring car racers will be celebrated at this summer’s Silverstone Festival, taking place over the end-of-summer Bank Holiday weekend (22–24 August).

Tin-top legend Andy Rouse claimed the coveted British Touring Car Championship title an unsurpassed four times between 1975 and 1985 – a remarkable feat that remains unbeaten.

Even more impressively, he secured each championship in a different car. His first title came 50 years ago in a Triumph Dolomite Sprint, followed by victories in an Alfa Romeo GTV6 (1983), a Rover Vitesse (1984), and finally, 40 years ago, in a Ford Sierra XR4 in 1985. The latter two titles were won in cars prepared by his own Andy Rouse Engineering firm.

This golden era of touring car racing will be spectacularly revived at the Festival in the dramatic Adrian Flux Trophy for the MRL Historic Touring Car Challenge, organised by Motor Racing Legends. Not only will this evocative Sunday morning race be dedicated to Rouse, but the four-time champion himself will be on hand at Silverstone to present the trophies on the podium.

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of his final championship-winning season, Rouse will also present a special, one-off trophy to the first Ford Sierra RS500 to cross the finish line.

“There are so many wonderful memories of those great times and it’s always great to see so many of those cars still racing today,” said Rouse. “I’m honoured that Motor Racing Legends has invited me to this year’s Silverstone Festival and really looking forward to being back at the circuit where I enjoyed so much success all those years ago. I raced a lot of really standout cars but the RS500 will always be very special. It was a beast to drive and gave me – and I think the fans – a lot of pleasure.”

Rouse’s 60 outright BTCC race wins stood as a record for many years, only surpassed in 2011 by Jason Plato ­– at a time when the annual calendar featured 30 races instead of the 12 that Rouse faced during his era.

A true pioneer of the sport, Rouse was also a founding member of TOCA, the influential organisation behind the immensely popular Super Touring formula of the 1990s, which captivated both live and TV audiences. Fittingly, his final race win came at Silverstone in 1992 with Toyota during this celebrated era.

“We’re honoured to be dedicating an award to Andy Rouse,” says Pierre-Antoine Lecoutour, Motor Racing Legends CEO. “He’s a true hero of British motorsport. The opportunity to celebrate both the man, and the car he’s best associated with, is unmissable. The Sierra, and in particularly the RS500 Cosworth, is an icon of motor racing around the world and many of us had posters of those cars on our walls. Gathering an extra-special entry of them for Silverstone Festival is going to be a highlight of our year and a true spectacle.”

Adding further excitement to the weekend, a unique piece of Andy Rouse’s legacy will go under the hammer at the Festival. Iconic Auctioneers will offer Rouse’s final Sierra RS Cosworth for sale – presented in ‘time warp’ condition, having not raced since the 1990 season finale at Silverstone. That season saw Rouse take four wins and six additional podiums. The car (photo bottom below) is expected to fetch between £250,000 and £300,000.

The Adrian Flux Trophy for MRL Historic Touring Car Challenge is one of 20 crowd-pleasing retro races on the Silverstone Festival line-up – all staged on the iconic Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Fans can look forward to a full bill of historic F1, GT, Sports, and Touring Car championships, evoking motorsport’s most revered eras.

Beyond the racing, the Festival offers a packed programme of fun for all ages. Children aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult. All tickets include access to family-friendly entertainment, including live music from Natasha Bedingfield, Craig David presents TS5, and Ministry of Sound Classical, plus traditional funfair rides, stunt shows, and more.

It’s set to be an unforgettable weekend, with a wide range of ticket options available—including camping and hospitality packages. Book early for the best prices.

For more information on Silverstone Festival and to secure your tickets, visit the official Silverstone Festival website.