2013 SILVERSTONE CLASSIC – MORE RECORDS BROKEN!

A record total of 1113 entries showcasing incredible single-seater, sportscar and touring car machines, spanning nearly 90 years of glorious motor sport history, followed up Saturday's wonderful action with another packed bill of races on Sunday, watched by a record crowd of close to 90,000 fans over the weekend.

Continuing the record-breaking theme, French sportscar specialist Nic Minassian smashed the Classic lap record in the astonishing Jaguar XJR14 on his way to a commanding Group C victory. After the opening Group C race was cancelled on Saturday due to adverse weather conditions, fans lined the circuit to watch Sunday's spectacular of the famous 1980s Le Mans cars in period livery. Pushing to the limit throughout the race, Minassian romped home, setting his record lap time of 1:36.712s on the way – which was more than a second quicker than the previous best set by Bob Berridge in the Mercedes C11 back in 2011. The time equates to an average speed of more than 122mph (197 kph) around the full 3.64-mile Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.

“To be given a car like this to drive, and at an event like this, is just pure joy,” a grinning Minassian said after exiting the race-winning Jaguar.

Michael Lyons did the double in the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship races, as he backed up Saturday's win with another on Sunday. The race got off to a dramatic start when a trio of cars were sprawled across the track following contact off the line. After a short spell behind the safety car Lyons blasted away from his rivals and the RAM Williams FW07 sailed to victory in a race representing the Classic's most recent era of F1.

Not to be upstaged by more modern machinery, the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars and the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for pre-56 Sports Cars produced fiercely fought contests.

The quite stunning Ferrari 250 SWB of Gary Pearson and Jackie Oliver claimed the famous Tourist Trophy, withstanding a late charge from the pole-sitting Aston Martin DP212 of Wolfgang Friedrichs and Simon Hadfield.

An epic battle between a Jaguar D-type and C-type ensued in the aforementioned Woodcote Trophy. The D-type of Gary and John Pearson held on to take the win – incredibly by just 0.429s after an hour of racing.

Frank Wrathall did the double in the Super Touring Car Trophy as the flame-spitting beasts followed up yesterday's thrills and spills with another eye-catching contest. Modern day BTCC racer Wrathall claimed his wins in a 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier from the famous and hugely popular era of tin-top racing.

Fittingly with the 50 year anniversary of Jim Clark's maiden British Grand Prix win and Formula One World Championship being so hugely celebrated at this year's Classic, his original 1963 Lotus 25 was taken to another class victory by Andy Middlehurst. The race – named the Jim Clark Trophy for HGPCA pre-66 GP cars – was again won overall by Jason Minishaw in a Brabham BT4.

Further stunning action from sensational cars included races from Formula Ford, Formula Juniors, Pre-61 GP cars, Trans-Atlantic Touring Cars and the Classic concluding contest featuring F2 vs F5000 machines.

So the sun has set on another record-breaking entertainment extravaganza, with 24 superb races, rocking and rolling concerts and heaps of family fun capping an excellent Silverstone Classic.

Silverstone Classic Event Director Nick Wrigley said:
“It has gone fantastically well, it has just been phenomenal from my point of view. The Classic is getting bigger every year, we’ve hit some record numbers in 2013. We’ve had 1113 entries which is more than ever before, 1208 Porsche 911s on the circuit which is more cars than ever before, and there’s been a fantastic increase in ticket sales. I’ve just been up on the BMW eye to close out the day, and it’s incredible to see how this event has developed over the last four years.”

Provisional Race Results for Sunday

Balvenie Trophy for Historic Formula Ford
1) Callum Macleod (Merlyn Mk20): 9 Laps
2) Callum Grant (Merlyn Mk20a): +6.028
3) Sam Mitchell (Merlyn Mk20): +6.384

Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for Pre '56 Sports Cars
1) John Pearson/Gary Pearson (Jaguar D-type): 23 Laps
2) John Young/Chris Ward (Jaguar C-type): +0.429
3) Andrew Smith/John Young (Cooper Jaguar T33): +9.055

Peter Arundell Trophy for Historic Formula Junior
1) Sam Wilson (Lotus 20/22): 9 Laps
2) Andrew Hibberd (Lotus 22): +2.590
3) Jonathan Milicevic (Cooper T59): +2.873

Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars
1) Jackie Oliver/Gary Pearson (Ferrari 250 SWB): 18 Laps
2) Wolfgang Friedrichs/Simon Hadfield (Aston Martin DP212): +13.544
3) James Cottingham/Andrew Smith (Jaguar E-type): +15.158

Group C Endurance
1) Nicolas Minassian (Jaguar XJR14): 21 Laps
2) Gareth Evans (Mercedes C11): +1:48.191
3) Steve Tandy (Nissan R90CK): +1 Lap

Frolian Gonzalez Trophy for HGPCA Pre ’61 Grand Prix Cars
1) Julian Bronson (Scarab Offenhauser): 9 Laps
2) Tony Wood (Maserati TecMec): +1.487
3) Rod Jolley (Lister Jaguar Monzanapolis): +29.670

Super Touring Car Trophy
1) Frank Wrathall (Vauxhall Cavalier): 8 Laps
2) Stewart Whyte (Honda Accord): +6.214
3) Craig Davies (Ford RS500): +33.963

FIA Masters Historic Formula One
1) Michael Lyons (RAM Williams FW07): 10 Laps
2) Joaquin Folch (Brabham BT49C): +25.462
3) Steve Hartley (Arrows A4): +31.737

Trans-Atlantic Touring Car Trophy
1) Leo Voyazides (Ford Falcon): 8 Laps
2) Henry Mann (Ford Mustang): +16.324
3) Roger Wills (Mercury Comet Cyclone): +19.915

Jim Clark Trophy for HGPCA Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars
1) Jason Minshaw (Brabham BT4): 9 Laps
2) Miles Griffiths (Cooper T51): +17.810
3) Jonathon Hughes (Cooper T53): +21.196

The Peter Gethin Trophy for Formula 5000 and Formula 2 Cars
1) Michael Lyons (Lola T400): 11 Laps
2) Lee Dwyer (March 782): +35.888
3) Mark Dwyer (March 742): +1:18.683