10 reasons to go to Silverstone Festival 2024

Racing greats and more

Silverstone Festival, the Northamptonshire circuit’s annual celebration of historic motorsport, returns this August bank holiday weekend, from 23-25 August 2024.

Friday’s qualifying is followed by a packed, 20-race schedule which includes Formula One single-seaters, pre-1966 Touring Cars, Le Mans racers and pre-war greats.

It’s not just about wheel-to-wheel action: classic car clubs, live music, an Iconic Auctioneers sale, a food festival and much more will provide plenty of entertainment trackside, too, making it a great day out for all the family.

Here’s a rundown of what’s in store this year.

1. Remembering Ayrton Senna

To celebrate the life of Ayrton Senna, who died at Imola 30 years ago, a selection of the Brazilian racing driver’s cars will be on display.

The line-up will include race-winning McLarens, Senna’s first F1 car, a Toleman TG183B, and an MG Metro 6R4 which he drove for a 1986 story in Cars and Car Conversions magazine.

Some of these cars will take to the track on Saturday and Sunday, too.

2. Birthday bash

Track parades will celebrate some of 2024’s motoring milestones, including 75 years of the Healey Silverstone, 60 years of the Ford Mustang, 40 years of the Toyota MR2 and the Volkswagen Golf’s 50th anniversary.

The various parades will take place at lunchtime on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

3. Live demonstrations

Head to the ‘Shift and Drift Zone’ to see and hear some fantastic cars up close.

The MG Metro 6R4 turns 40 this year, and Silverstone Festival will mark the occasion with a line-up of historic rally cars in the arena.

They will be joined by a ground-shaking display of drag-racing cars.

4. Exciting lots

Another MG Metro 6R4 will be in the Iconic Auctioneers sale – and it might be a record-breaker.

If this Group B machine tops £425,500, it will become the most expensive Metro 6R4 ever sold at auction.

Other classic cars crossing the block across the weekend include a 1987 Ford Sierra RS 500, a 1969 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato and a 1982 Rover SD1 rally car.

5. Silver Arrows celebration

The Mercedes-Benz Formula One team will mark 10 years of the Brackley-based outfit’s turbo-hybrid racing cars with a display of modern-era F1 machinery.

Five cars, including Lewis Hamilton’s title-winning W08 from 2017 and W10 from 2019, will celebrate the engineering prowess of the Silver Arrows across the last decade.

6. Dive into the past

Tickets to Silverstone Festival also include entry to Silverstone Museum.

Alongside the site’s usual exhibits, which provide a fantastic and interactive history lesson about the Northamptonshire circuit, there’s currently an Indianapolis 500 display, which will be joined by an Ayrton Senna celebration on August bank holiday weekend.

7. Wheel-to-wheel racing

On-track action is at the heart of Silverstone Festival.

The Mustang Celebration Trophy will honour 60 years of Ford’s pony car, while grids of sports-prototype racers, endurance machines, pre-1985 F1 cars and more are sure to provide lots of crowd-pleasing battles.

All tickets include grandstand access, so visitors can enjoy the best views of the world-famous circuit.

8. Car clubs galore

Silverstone’s infield will be filled with hundreds of classic cars across the weekend.

More than 100 car clubs, including the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club, Club Marcos International and the Mk1 Golf Owners’ Club, to only scratch the surface, will be at the meeting.

This means loads of fantastic cars to check out and friendly, like-minded enthusiasts to chat to.

9. Classic car tour

Heading to Silverstone Festival in a classic car? Why not join the 2024 RetroRun?

Saturday’s RetroRun starts at Stowe House in Buckinghamshire and includes a stop at the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire. On Sunday, there will be a track parade for participants.

If you want to take part, make sure to book the RetroRun package when you buy your tickets. Don’t worry if you’ve already bought a three-day pass, because you can upgrade tickets online.

10. Music and more

There’s plenty of off-track entertainment at this year’s Silverstone Festival.

Foodie Fest will shine a light on local produce, but if it’s music you’re after, check out the Main Stage for some fantastic performances.

Don’t miss Sophie Ellis-Bextor on Friday, Busted on Saturday and Olly Murs on Sunday.

How to be there

Silverstone Festival returns to the Northamptonshire circuit this August bank holiday weekend, from 23-25 August 2024.

If you’d like to be there, daily admission and weekend tickets are available on the website, here.