Cholmondeley Pageant of Power 2013 – Report and Photos

The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power 2013 was held 14-16 June on the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire, England. A field of nearly 140 automobiles and motorcycles raced on the Cholmondeley circuit over the three-day event, divided into 13 race classes.

The 2013 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power celebrated birthdays for two iconic brands. Aston Martin marked its centenary year with a display of more than 50 classic and modern models – including their Centenary Edition Vanquish, a DB2/4, DB4 GT and an Ulster LM16.A special race class featured 14 cars from the British manufacturer – from 1934 to 2013 – competing against each other for first place. The fastest Aston Martin of the weekend was the new Vanquish, which topped the leader board with a lap of 72.51 seconds.

Joining the British marque was Lamborghini, celebrating its 50th birthday in 2013 with a display of vehicles illustrating the evolution of the Italian supercar manufacturer. Lamborghini showcased some of its most famous and rarest models, including a 25th Anniversary Lamborghini Countach and the all-new 700hp Aventador LP700-4 Roadster – the car’s first public appearance in the UK.

This year’s event was more interactive than ever, and hosted a sequence of challenges, such as supercars vs. rally cars. ‘Noise’ was a notable theme, with attendees encouraged to vote for their favourites in orchestrated ‘noise-off’ battles between evocative machinery – classic and modern, from thunderous aero-engined cars to wailing Formula One racers.

The Radical RXC set a new lap record at the 2013 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. Driven by professional race driver Robbie Kerr, the British-built Radical completed a lap of the 1.2-mile circuit in just 55.29 seconds, smashing the previous track record by 6.6 seconds. In second place, and hot on the heels of the Radical, was the Caterham SP/300.R, finishing with a time of just 56.53 seconds. The Radical RXC was entered into the hotly-contested ‘Racing Saloons & Track Day Cars’ class, which enjoyed the fastest lap times during the Pageant due to the track-focused nature of the cars competing.

The fastest speed seen through the Pageant of Power’s speed trap was 129mph, recorded by the Radical as it sped towards its record-breaking time. In setting the new fastest lap, Kerr made good use of his extensive race experience; he is one-time winner of the British Formula 3 Championship and a podium-finisher at the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours.

James Hall, Event Director for the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, commented, “Given last year was such a close-run contest, we expected fierce competition in 2013. Radical’s Robbie Kerr had a fight on his hands contesting the title against the array of impressive machinery, each with exactly the same aim, but it was great to see someone set a new lap record. The drivers were on a mission to take on the new title, and certainly put on an exhilarating show in doing so.”

Cholmondeley Pageant of Power 2013 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

Cholmondeley Pageant of Power 2013 – Overall Race Results

1. Robbie Kerr, Radical RXC – 55.29 seconds
2. Scott Mansell, Caterham SP/300.R – 56.53 seconds
3. Gary Thomas, Force PC – 58.59 seconds
4. Christian Iddon, Husaberg FS 650 Factory – 59.40 seconds
5. Jordan Witt, Chevron GT3 – 60.71 seconds
6. Niki Faulkner, Ariel Atom 3.5 – 61.18 seconds
7. Oliver Webb, BAC Mono – 62.15 seconds
8. Tim Marshall-Rowe, Lamborghini LP570 Superleggera – 62.64 seconds
9. Richard Blakeman, KTM 450 – 62.89 seconds
10. Chris Hodgson, KTM – 62.95 seconds