Silverstone Classic to mark BTCC's 60th anniversary with parade
The 60th anniversary of the British Touring Car Championship will be marked at the Silverstone Classic in July with a cavalcade of iconic cars and former champions
The on-track parade on the event's 'Tin Top Sunday' on July 22 will be topped and tailed by the first and most recent title winners - an Austin Westminster, of the type used by Jack Sears (pictured above, lead) to win the inaugural title in 1958, and a Subaru Levorg as raced by 2017 champion Ash Sutton.
A number of BTCC champions including John Cleland and Jason Plato will also be on hand, while Cleland and several others - including Tim Harvey, Matt Neal, Colin Turkington and Andrew Jordan - are likely to be racing over the weekend.
The parade will cap a day centred on touring car racing, with four races covering cars from the early 1960s to the early 2000s.
Two grids for Pre '66 Touring Cars, the Heritage Touring Car Challenge and the Super Touring Car Challenge will represent more than 40 years of the BTCC and its forerunner, the British Saloon Car Championship.
The anniversary parade will feature 60 BTCC cars spanning the evolution of the series' machinery, from the Austin Westminster to the Levorg, and will feature iconic cars like the Lotus Cortina, Ford Mustang, Ford Escort, BMW M3, Ford Sierra Cosworth and Honda Accord.
The Alan Mann Racing Ford Escort Mk1 (above) used by Australian Frank Gardner to win the 1968 title will also be part of the procession.
"We are delighted that the Silverstone Classic is saluting the BTCC's diamond anniversary with what's clearly going to be a magnificent gathering of stars and cars from the past 60 years," said Alan Gow, Series Director of the BTCC.
Nick Wigley, CEO of Goose Live Events, organiser of the Silverstone Classic said: "We have already invited a number of noteworthy stars and cars to join us for these very special celebrations and would love to include all those who've played a role in creating what to this day is one of the best-loved and widely-watched championships in the world."
Ex-F1 drivers Blundell and Pirro star at Goodwood Members' Meeting
Ayrton Senna's epic 1993 Donington Park F1 win to be celebrated
BRM F1 recreation project takes step forward as original engine runs
BRM F1 recreation project takes step forward as original engine runs BRM F1 recreation project takes step forward as original engine runs
Ex-Warwick F2 Toleman set for racing return
Ex-Warwick F2 Toleman set for racing return Ex-Warwick F2 Toleman set for racing return
The greatest club racing characters
The greatest club racing characters The greatest club racing characters
Isle of Man TT 2023: Dunlop tops all solo classes as practice begins
Isle of Man TT 2023: Dunlop tops all solo classes as practice begins Isle of Man TT 2023: Dunlop tops all solo classes as practice begins
Gasly “disappointed and confused” by Alpine F1 Monaco GP pit call
Gasly “disappointed and confused” by Alpine F1 Monaco GP pit call Gasly “disappointed and confused” by Alpine F1 Monaco GP pit call
10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix
10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix 10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix
Engel blasts Rast after aggressive DTM Oschersleben clash
Engel blasts Rast after aggressive DTM Oschersleben clash Engel blasts Rast after aggressive DTM Oschersleben clash
A BTCC star tests the cars that transformed tin-top racing
A BTCC star tests the cars that transformed tin-top racing A BTCC star tests the cars that transformed tin-top racing
Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers
Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers
How F1's greatest sound has returned to the track
How F1's greatest sound has returned to the track How F1's greatest sound has returned to the track
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
How a little electric storm thundered to Goodwood's hillclimb record
How a little electric storm thundered to Goodwood's hillclimb record How a little electric storm thundered to Goodwood's hillclimb record
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
Remembering Goodwood’s heroes at 78th Members' Meeting
Remembering Goodwood’s heroes at 78th Members' Meeting Remembering Goodwood’s heroes at 78th Members' Meeting
The restorer keeping a land-speed record-holder's memory alive
The restorer keeping a land-speed record-holder's memory alive The restorer keeping a land-speed record-holder's memory alive
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.