The dream of organizer Richard Morgan looks set to turn into reality, as a brand new event, GPLive prepares to arrive at the Donington Park circuit, in the UK, from May 18–20. A spectacular Grand Prix festival has been developing over many months which will allow the public the opportunity to get closer to 100 years of racing than ever before. Every living Grand Prix driver has been invited to attend this gathering to celebrate 100 years of Grand Prix racing.
The three-day event features GP cars from the beginning of the 20th century to the modern day including drivers, team managers and mechanics from many decades, and special demonstrations from many great British and American drivers. Races will be held for Brooklands-era cars, 1989 to 1994 3.5-liter machines, the 2.5-liter cars of the 1950s, as well as TGP historics, and many more. Sir Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks, Jochen Mass, Minardi’s Paul Stoddart, Lotus’s Peter Warr, Tim Parnell and designer Adrian Newey are just a few of the people who have been supporting the event. Even former South American star Clemar Bucci is among the many, who rarely venture out of their home countries, to have accepted the invitation.
The organizing team will also be presenting a celebration of the famous Moss/Brooks win at the 1957 British Grand Prix, and it will be possible to walk through the Donington paddock and talk to Ferrari mechanics working on a Ferrari F1, dressed in the team’s traditional Shell overalls. Red Bull will bring both of their 2007 F1 teams. Other current Formula One teams will be on hand with their latest equipment, and there will be a celebration of 40 years of the Cosworth DFV engine, as well as a celebrity-driver race for 2-seater Minardi F1 x 2 cars. The on-track action will be matched by the chance to meet a vast array of stars from Grand Prix history through a number of autograph and forum sessions. A GP Filmfest will be running throughout the weekend, as just one of a number of activities to appeal to families as well as the dyed-in-the-wool race fans. A list of the attending drivers will appear soon on the GPLive Web site, and that includes some very exciting names. Look in the April issue of Vintage Racecar for an exclusive competition for Vintage Racecar readers only, with an amazing prize.
Information and latest news is available from: www.GPLIVEUK.com.
By Ed McDonough
