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21 Nov 2024

Group C cars return as Silverstone Festival headliners

Legendary Le Mans icons return for spectacular Saturday sundowner

By popular demand, Masters Historic Racing will bring back spectacular Group C sportscars racing into the sunset at next summer’s Silverstone Festival (22-24 August).
 
It will be a very welcome return for these widely revered 200+ mph endurance prototypes from the 1980s which were a much-loved treasure on the event’s packed track programme until 2017 when, sadly, grid numbers started to decline.
 
Partially filling the void, a stunning collection of iconic Group C cars was assembled at Silverstone in 2022 to mark the 40 years since the category first raced at the circuit. It was an impressive gathering – fronted by five-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Derek Bell MBE – that drew huge crowds, widespread praise and fuelled demand to see these icons back racing again… a wish that will come true next summer!
 
Turning dreams into reality, Masters Historic Racing has introduced the wonderful new Masters Le Mans 80+ series to give these Group C titans a hotly anticipated revival. Just three European rounds (plus two in the Middle East) will be staged, all at circuits where the cars can unleash their full power: Paul Ricard in France; Nürburgring in Germany and, of course, Silverstone.
 
“Group C has always been a massive crowd-pleaser at the Festival and, as soon as Masters announced this super-exciting new grid, we knew we had to squeeze it onto the bill,” said a clearly very happy Event Director, Nick Wigley.
 
“Aside from possibly Le Mans, there can be no better place to watch Group C cars in flat-out action than on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit where they excelled in period. With this race adding to our special celebrations to honour 75 years of Formula 1, next year’s Festival is just looking better and better. It’s not to be missed!”


 
Ensuring a bumper grid, Masters Le Mans 80+ will spotlight Group C plus IMSA GTP cars as raced so successfully in the US, racing into the sunset on Saturday evening at the 2025 Festival.
    
“For the 2025 season, we’re excited to bring the new Masters Le Mans 80s+ grid to five events, with the Silverstone Festival standing out as a particularly thrilling showcase for these legendary Group C and IMSA GTP cars which competed at Le Mans from 1982 to 1993,” confirmed Frederic Fatien, CEO at Masters. “The energy and passion from the avid fans at Silverstone is always incredible, and we look forward to seeing a strong grid take to the track next August for what promises to be another memorable celebration of endurance racing history.”
 
Fuelling the fever and stirring special memories, the celebrated racers remain in their evocative period liveries so fans can savour Silk Cut Jaguars, Rothmans Porsches and Silver Arrows Mercedes’ renewing their old rivalries as dusk falls.
 
The unmissable 40-minute Saturday evening showdown is the latest addition to a packed race-card featuring the very best grids historic motor sport has to offer.
 
Super Early Bird prices are available until the end of the year with Porsche Club members able to purchase car club display packages and enjoy significant savings on entry tickets as well as display parking for their Porsche.
 
Car Club display packages include a generous “two-for-one” saving on general admission tickets along with an infield parking pass. In a change from previous years, the two-tier pricing structure for classic and modern cars has been simplified so that one code works for all cars irrespective of the age of the car.
 
Tickets must be purchased in advance directly from Silverstone using the link below. Please enter the relevant club code at the start of your booking and note that all ticket orders are handled by Silverstone.
 
Booking Codes
 
Book Here
 

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