LE MANS LEGENDS BARTH, BELL, ICKX AND PIRRO HEADLINE THE HMI 2017 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

• Insights from Le Mans winners Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell, Emanuele Pirro and Jürgen Barth plus many more

• Two-day programme of interviews, panel sessions and presentations

• Entry ticket includes HMI Conference Programme in Supagard Theatre

• Ickx to open HMI at noon on 23 February with the Conference Programme starting at 13:30

• Date confirmed for second Historic Motorsport International in 2018

Four celebrated legends from the epic Le Mans 24 Hours are topping a star-studded line-up of speakers appearing at the first ever Historic Motorsport International Conference Programme.

Between them Jacky Ickx (below middle right), Derek Bell (below bottom left), Emanuele Pirro (below middle left) and Jürgen Barth (below bottom right) have won the coveted French endurance classic no fewer than 17 times. On 23 and 24 February they will be among those sharing their memories, experiences, know-how and wisdom with visitors to the inaugural Historic Motorsport International, London's new exhibition devoted to all aspects of historic racing and rallying. The show runs from 23-26 February at ExCeL London.

Along with a roster of renowned race car designers, team managers, event organisers and specialist engineers, the famous four will all be taking part in the two-day Conference Programme. The Programme takes place in the Supagard Theatre which is free to attend each day.

Others appearing include tin-top father and son racers, Andrew and Mike Jordan – past BTCC champion and race winner respectively – former F1 and World Sportscar designer Tony Southgate and reigning FIA Historic F1 champion Nick Padmore.

The inaugural HMI Conference Programme also includes panel session discussions on key topics for historic motorsport. Important issues coming under analysis will cover Scrutineering and Eligibility, Driving Standards and Safety, the Landscape of Historic Rallying and the Promotion of Historic Motorsport.

Among the participants will be distinguished experts including long distance rally organiser Fred Gallagher, series organisers and promoters Carol Spagg (U2TC) and Duncan Wiltshire (Motor Racing Legends) and engineers, drivers and eligibility specialists such as MSA scrutineer John Hopwood and Barry Cannell from the HGPCA.

Other Conference Programme contributors include prominent historic racer Shaun Lynn, Porsche preparation expert Richard Tuthill, John Pearson from Dunlop Motorsport and well-respected journalist Marcus Pye. It all adds up to two days of absorbing discussions and dialogue that no one with even a passing interest in historic motorsport will want to miss.

David Paterson, Marketing Director of Supagard commented: “Supagard has a strong presence in historic motorsport through our proud partnership with the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association and we are looking to build on that with the Supagard Theatre at HMI.”

Conference Programme host Henry Hope-Frost added: “I am not sure what I am most looking forward to; talking to Le Mans heroes Ickx, Bell, Barth and Pirro will be an undoubted highlight as will learning more from Tony Southgate, the man behind the Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9 and XJR-12.”

Among the many other attractions at HMI, which runs until Sunday, 26 February, are special displays celebrating 50 years of both Formula Ford and the all-conquering Ford DFV F1 engine and a thrilling presentation underlining the breadth of historic machinery that will be taking part in the Silverstone Classic festival in July.

With the 2017 HMI launch event having generated so much traction within the historic motorsport community, the organisers have already confirmed dates of a follow up show in 2018. Bas Bungish, Group Event Director for Historic Motorsport International and the London Classic Car Show, said: “HMI has been a fantastic addition to the London Classic Car Show and the two events complement each other superbly.

We're already in discussions with partners for next year's events which again will combine at ExCeL London and run from 22 to 25 February, 2018.”

This year's exhibition will be officially opened by Jacky Ickx at 12 noon on Thursday, 23 February. Tickets are now available from the show website – historicmotorsportinternational.co.uk – and start at £24 for single adult entry (£27 on the door on the day).

Historic Motorsport International will be held alongside the London Classic Car Show, now in its third year and looking to build on the record 33,000 visitors who visited the 2016 event.

Both shows are staged by Brand Events, the company behind a raft of successful motoring events including CarFest, Top Gear Live and the IGNITION Festival of Motoring.

Historic Motorsport International will open its doors at 12:00 noon on Thursday 23 February, while the London Classic Car Show will burst into life at 3pm that afternoon. Tickets give access to both shows.