Freddie Hunt, son of F1 champion James, set for historic racing debut
Freddie Hunt, son of 1976 Formula 1 world champion James, will make his debut in historic racing at The Classic, Silverstone (30 Jul - 1 Aug).
Hunt followed a single-seater career in his early racing years but has now accepted an invitation to share the mighty Group A Nissan Skyline touring car of Ric Wood in the Historic Touring Car Challenge at the biggest historic racing festival of the season.
After a recent test at Oulton Park Wood, who has now built four examples of the four-wheel-drive touring car of the late 1980s, confirmed that Hunt would share the car, nicknamed ‘Godzilla’, in the 45-minute, two-driver race.
Hunt said: “The car is awesome and I’m really looking forward to the race. I’ve never driven a Group A car before.
"I’ve got my sights set on racing an LMP car at the Le Mans 24 hour, so a fast car on a big grid with driver change is great experience. Massive thanks to Ric for giving me the opportunity to race ‘Godzilla’.”
“It’s great to have Freddie on board for such an iconic race meeting in ‘Godzilla’,” said Wood.
“Naturally we’ll be going for the best result possible on the day, but it will be fantastic to see the name Hunt racing on the F1 track at Silverstone, especially in one of my cars!”
Over the last couple of seasons, Wood has proved the Skyline to be a race winner in the Historic Touring Car Challenge where it goes up against Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworths and BMW M3s.
The Skylines are renowned for spitting out huge flames from the exhaust on gear changes.
Record grids for The Classic, Silverstone
The biggest grids ever seen UK historic racing are set to be a feature of The Classic, Silverstone.
In 2019, a special dispensation allowed a 60-car grid of Minis to race at the event, but that number will be bettered by at least two grids this time around after a revision to the Silverstone track licence increased the grid capacity for the Grand Prix circuit from 58 to 61 cars for certain sports and saloon categories.
Never in UK historic racing has a grid of more than 60 cars been unleashed, but two of the grids at The Classic are planning to field a capacity 61 cars.
Taking advantage of the grid increase are the International Trophy for Classic GT Cars (Masters Pre ’66) and the combined Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy and Stirling Moss Trophy from Motor Racing Legends.
The Woodcote and Moss Trophy race has been granted the prime Saturday evening slot for this year and will run for 50 minutes as the sun sets on Saturday, finishing at 2100hrs.
This year’s Classic is the 30th anniversary edition of the event that can trace its history back to 1990. Birthday celebrations were delayed a year when the 2020 edition was lost to COVID.
It will be the first time that the Stirling Moss Trophy has been contested at Silverstone since Sir Stirling’s death in spring 2020. The winner will be presented with the trophy that Moss was awarded for winning the 1955 British Grand Prix, his maiden GP victory.
“We are very grateful that Motorsport UK has allowed us to invite a record number of entrants – more so after the frustrations of last year, which have resulted in lots of pent-up demand and excitement. We don’t want to disappoint anyone wanting to join us at The Classic,” said Duncan Wiltshire of Motor Racing Legends.
Article lead image produced by Marvin Hall.
How modern challenges are confronting historic racing
Damon Hill to demonstrate F1 title-winning Williams FW18 at Silverstone
Ellis named as replacement for injured Auer in Bathurst 12 Hour
DTM race-winner Philip Ellis will make his Bathurst 12 Hour debut this week as a stand-in for the injured Lucas Auer.
Winning MSR Acura "super lucky" with Daytona 24 gearbox scare
The Meyer Shank Racing Acura team was "super lucky" to win the Daytona 24 Hours despite its malfunctioning gearbox for most of the race, according to team boss Michael Shank.
Bourdais “surprised” Cadillac was beaten on pace in Daytona 24 Hours
Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac driver Sebastien Bourdais said he was surprised that the victorious Acura ARX-06 outperformed his new V-LMDh in the Daytona 24 Hours IMSA SportsCar Championship season opener.
Daytona 24: MSR Acura opens GTP era with win, Proton snatches LMP2 by 0.016s
Meyer Shank Racing scored its second consecutive victory in the Daytona 24 Hours in the first race for the IMSA SportsCar Championship's new GTP regulations, leading an Acura 1-2 finish.
How F1's greatest sound has returned to the track
The first of three new BRM V16s is bringing the greatest-sounding engine to a new audience – and back to the race track - at the Goodwood Revival this weekend. Here is the story of the ambitious 1950 Formula 1 project's resurrection for historic competition
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
Rising sportscar star Adam Smalley had to pinch himself when offered the chance to drive the car that won the world’s most famous enduro in 1987
How a little electric storm thundered to Goodwood's hillclimb record
Nick Heidfeld's official Goodwood Festival of Speed record in McLaren's MP4/13 Formula 1 car - and the unofficial hillclimb record set by the Volkswagen ID.R - were both brushed aside by the McMurtry Speirling driven by Max Chilton on Sunday. Here's a look at the fan car that blew away the competition
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
Colin Chapman’s marque was the most successful across Goodwood’s 71 contemporary era Members’ Meetings, from 1949 to 1966. Many of the future Formula 1 pacesetter's finest creations will be in action during this weekend's 2022 event, attempting to re-live an era when period Lotus was gaining unstoppable momentum
Remembering Goodwood’s heroes at 78th Members' Meeting
A year and a half after it was originally scheduled, this weekend’s 78th Goodwood Members’ Meeting honours key figures from the circuit’s history, including the likes of Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney and Gerry Marshall
The restorer keeping a land-speed record-holder's memory alive
From a famous land-speed special to an Indianapolis 500 frontrunner, restorer and racer Geraint Owen has a fascination for making old machines work
The restored BSCC battler back in its family's hands after 50 years
The Imps of George Bevan became famous in British Saloon Car Championship competition during the early 1970s. Thanks to the efforts of a small band of enthusiasts, including Bevan's grandson Jonathan, one of the ex-Bill McGovern title winners has recently returned to the race track
Why Goodwood Revival’s revival will be an unmissable event
After a year's enforced absence due to the pandemic, the Goodwood Revival Meeting returns this weekend for the 23rd in a series that transports fans to a bygone era of motorsport. Here's 10 reasons why you should check it out
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.