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Silverstone Classic 2016 – Picture Gallery

Leyton House Porsche 962
Leyton House Porsche 962

Report and photos by Matt White

Held 29-31 July 2016 at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in Northamptonshire, England, the Silverstone Classic is one of the most highly regarded classic motorsport events in Europe, even billing itself as the “World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival”. I had not visited Silverstone for a race day since the 1986 British Grand Prix, when I was a lad, and Nigel Mansell clinched a last gasp victory from the clutches of Nelson Piquet.

It was with eager anticipation that I made the journey down, to cover the event. I hadn’t shot at Silverstone before, so I was looking forward to being able to put my spin on the track. With a veritable feast of classic machinery on display, I was sure that I would come home with some great memories.

The highlight of the Silverstone Classic 2016 — although there are many — would be having the opportunity to shoot the Group C race into a blazing sunset on Saturday evening. These phenomenal cars were the stuff of dreams when I was growing up, and I had the chance to watch them race in my youth. To relive that dream armed with a camera, was a fantastic experience, and one I shall not forget. The mix of sunset colours, glowing brake discs and the spit of exhaust flames was a heady mix.

Another particular highlight was to see the ex-Mika Hakkinen McLaren on track, being driven incredibly well, allowing the crowd to experience the game-changing sound of the Mercedes V10 engine at full chat, reverberating around the stands.

On track racing was incredibly good, despite the huge amounts of money invested in preserving the staggering range of classic sports cars, the drivers were, to a man, driving hell for leather around the demanding Northamptonshire circuit. Notable races were the Supertourers, where Colin Noble Jr was put under immense pressure in his Vauxhall Vectra from a superbly driven Honda Accord, but managed to hold out for the race win on both occasions.

The duel between the Matra MS670 V12 and the McLaren M8F in the Can-Am Inter Series Cup was legendary. The scream of the Matra V12 was pitted against the raw power of the 8.8-litre McLaren. I can’t find the words to describe the cacophony that these two created, but if you ever get the chance to witness these cars jousting it out on track — take it without a second thought.

The event attracted a good size crowd, and was incredibly well run and organised. It was a pleasure to be able to attend.

In addition to our main report and photos, photographer Matt White also documented the Silverstone Classic 2016 with the following spectacular images from the 26th annual historic motor racing event at the historic 3.6-mile Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. We split up pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Matt, visit MattyWhiteMedia.com.

2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery

 

Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-14
Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-14
Sideways Jaguar D-Type
Sideways Jaguar D-Type
John Player Special Lotus 91/5 behind the Tyrrell 010
John Player Special Lotus 91/5 behind the Tyrrell 010
Budweiser March 84G
Budweiser March 84G
Ford GT40 at rest
Ford GT40 at rest
Leyton House Porsche 962
Leyton House Porsche 962
Aston Martin Project DP214
Aston Martin Project DP214
Driver of the MG A looks for the quickly approaching AC Cobra
Driver of the MG B looks for the quickly approaching AC Cobra

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Two

 

Bizzarrini 5300 GT driven well by Kiwi Roger Wills
Bizzarrini 5300 GT driven well by Kiwi Roger Wills
V12-powered Matra MS650 of Rob Hall
V12-powered Matra MS650
Historic Grand Prix at 2016 Silverstone Classic
Historic Grand Prix at 2016 Silverstone Classic
Porsche 911 GT1
Porsche 911 GT1
Williams FW07C
Williams FW07C
2002 Jordan EJ12 Formula 1
2002 Jordan EJ12 Formula 1
Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-14
Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-14
Trio of dicing Fords
Trio of dicing Fords

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Three

 

Crossed-up Ford Falcon
Crossed-up Ford Falcon
Courage C26S
Courage C26S
Nick Padmore in the Williams FW07C
Nick Padmore in the Williams FW07C
Rover SD1
Rover SD1
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Renault Laguna Super Touring Car
Renault Laguna Super Touring Car
Rover SD1
Rover SD1
March 85G
March 85G

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Four

 

AC Cobra Le Mans Coupe
AC Cobra Le Mans Coupe
Aston Martin DP214 with pair of Austin-Healeys
Aston Martin DP214 with pair of Austin-Healeys
Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-14
Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-14
Leyton House Porsche 962
Leyton House Porsche 962
Ford Lotus Cortina and BMW 1800 Ti
Ford Lotus Cortina and BMW 1800 Ti
Ensign N180
Ensign N180
Austin-Healey 3000
Austin-Healey 3000
Toleman TG181C
Toleman TG181C

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Five

 

Bone crushing McLaren M8F of Andrew Newall
Bone crushing McLaren M8F of Andrew Newall
Nissan RC90K
Nissan RC90K
Porsche 962
Porsche 962
RAC Woodcote Trophy for pre-1956 Sports Cars
RAC Woodcote Trophy for pre-1956 Sports Cars
Benetton Tyrrell 012
Benetton Tyrrell 012
Unipart Ensign N180
Unipart Ensign N180
Ex-Mika Hakkinen McLaren delighted crowds with its shrieking V10
Ex-Mika Hakkinen McLaren delighted crowds with its shrieking V10
BMW CSL
BMW CSL

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Six

 

Drifting Ford Lotus Cortina
Drifting Ford Lotus Cortina
McLaren M1B
McLaren M1B
Nissan R93
Nissan R93
Aston Martin DB4GT
Aston Martin DB4GT
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta 'Breadvan'
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta ‘Breadvan’
Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS
Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS
Aston Martin DB2/4
Aston Martin DB2/4
Ollie Hancock leads in the Copersucar Fittipaldi F5A
Ollie Hancock leads in the Copersucar Fittipaldi F5A

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Seven

 

Brabham BT49C
Brabham BT49C
Benetton Tyrrell 012
Benetton Tyrrell 012
Penske PC3
Penske PC3
Surtees TS20
Surtees TS20
Porsche 911 GT2
Porsche 911 GT2
ACEMCO Saleen S7R
ACEMCO Saleen S7R
ACEMCO Saleen S7R
ACEMCO Saleen S7R
Toj SC303
Toj SC303

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Eight

 

Ford GT40
Ford GT40
Lola T70 Mk3
Lola T70 Mk3
Lola T70 Mk3B
Lola T70 Mk3B
Matra MS650
Matra MS650
Ford GT40 chases Porsche 911 Carrera
Ford GT40 chases Porsche 911 Carrera
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type
Ald C289
Ald C289

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Nine

 

March 84G
March 84G
Lola T92
Lola T92
Spice SE88C
Spice SE88C
March 85G
March 85G
Leyton House Porsche 962
Leyton House Porsche 962
BMW 1800 TI
BMW 1800 TI
Ford Capri and Rover RD1
Ford Capri and Rover RD1
Ford Capri and Rover RD1
Ford Capri and Rover RD1

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Featured Picture Gallery Page Ten

 

Nick Padmore in the Williams FW07C
Nick Padmore in the Williams FW07C
Wide meat on the 3.0-litre Formula 1 machines
Wide meat on the 3.0-litre Formula 1 machines
Porsche 962
Porsche 962
Ald C289
Ald C289
Nissan RC90K
Nissan RC90K
Matra MS670
Matra MS670
Ford GT40
Ford GT40
Lola T70 Mk3B
Lola T70 Mk3B

 

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2016 Silverstone Classic – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=935 images=15]

 

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[Source: Matt White]