Autosport’s International Racing Car show kicked off the season in style with an impressive exhibition at the NEC from 14-17 January. The best of British and European race car engineering was on sale and with extensive displays to tempts all disciplines from F1 to Classic.
Williams timeline of their Formula One heritage from the1978 FW06 right up to the 2015 car was a highlight and crowd pleaser reflecting their great British fan-base.
One of the largest displays was the Silverstone Classic and Classic and Sports car stand which featured some of the greatest Formula One, Sports and Can Am cars….including the 1972 Surtees TS9B as driven by John and Tim Schenken, an awesome Robin Herd designed 650‘HP McLaren M8C/D as well as his next project the March 717, the only car to be upgraded by the factory from the 707 and raced by Howden Ganly and Chris Amon in 1971.
Also on the stand were the ex-Ronnie Peterson Lotus 72E in it’s glorious JPS livery and a pair of Le Mans racers with the Porsche 956 and ex Bob Wollek 1994 Toyota 94 C-V.
Next door on the Classic Team Lotus stand were a gorgeous two time Monaco winning Lotus 49 as driven by Hill, Rindt, Andretti and Fittpaldi amongst others and the Lotus 91, the first ever composite F1 car to take to the track. Another first on the CTL stand was the glorious little Lotus Type 12, the first ever team Lotus single seater. Built as an F2 car , a Type 12 did race in F1 in 1958 with Cliff Allison and Graham Hill behind the wheel, this car which was the prototype and has never turned a wheel but is planned to do so this year.
Discovered on one of the small stands was a lovely 1960 Fastakart go kart. Featuring a 197cc Villiers engine these nippy machines were built by Bromyard Engineering, Whizzo William’s father’s firm and were raced by all the great drivers including Graham Hill and Jim Clark.
Also look out for the stunningly original MG 6R4 on the WRC stand and owner Michael Kitt, who owns the Austin Rover name and, the ex Jon Mowatt Swiftune 1275GT Mini on the Kent Cams stand.
