A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Silverstone's bumper year of 75th anniversary celebrations culminates with the recently rebranded and more pulsating than ever Classic later this month. As historic racing goes, it doesn't get any bigger

- Damien Smith

On sheer scale, the Silverstone Festival is the UK's largest historic race meeting. Yet the event O formerly known as the Silverstone Classic is billed as so much more. Classic car clubs on the expansive infield and attractions for kids are nothing new to widen the appeal. But under its new Festival title, the event on the 25-27 August bank holiday weekend is attempting to step up a gear or two this time around as the final part of Silverstone's triumvirate of big summer 'happenings', in the wake of the British GP and its MotoGP round.

"We are very excited about the Festival because we think it presents a hugely important opportunity for our burgeoning fanbase," says Stuart Pringle, the figure charged with keeping the wheels turning at Silverstone.

"Formula 1 has brought us a lot of new customers, but they have got into motorsport because of F1 and don't understand how good the rest of motorsport is in the way long-time enthusiasts do. This is a great way to migrate them to the rest of motorsport.

"At the Festival, we are working hard to broaden the appeal. It's less of your old-fashioned classic car meeting, although it still has that core element. Historic car racing is fantastic because they go sideways, overtake each other, they sound great, the cars all look different - and it's very accessible. People can get very close."

The other big selling point is the music. Back in July at the British GP, the upscale in the music festival element each evening once the racing engines had shut down was all too obvious. Silverstone's arena, next to the Wellington Straight and Brooklands corner, has doubled in size for a capacity 48,000 crowd, and the aim is to echo a Glastonbury vibe.

"We've got better bands this year," reckons Pringle, although that's subjective. "Anecdotally, families in the local area are coming up to the Festival now because the music is really good.