Europe's premier winter classic motorsport show Race Retro took place at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry, England over the last weekend in February. Now in its eighth year, the show celebrated the 50th anniversary of the locally built Jaguar E-Type, Lancia remembered in Rallying, 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally and the Birmingham Superprix, the last road race held in Britain.

There were various Jaguar displays around the show, most of which included an E-Type. There was an impressive display of Lancia Rally cars in Hall 1, with a row of Lancia Stratos and replicas outside the main entrance. Other cars of note included Jody Scheckters Ferrari and Wolf Grand Prix cars on display together, a Penske Indy Car and a trio of Group C sports cars which included a Sauber Mercedes as raced by Michael Schumacher, a Nissan and a Spice. Every type of historic motorsport in Britain was on display, with organising clubs promoting race meetings and series for both competitors and spectators.

Various famous drivers made appearances over the weekend including ex-World Champion Rally driver Miki Biasion, former Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert, ex-World Champion motor cyclist Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read, rally driver Russell Brookes, Le Mans winner Richard Attwood and former Grand Prix driver ad BRM team manager Tim Parnell, plus every ones favourite driver Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams.

As well as several halls of static displays, the show also as some spectacular live action on display The live Rally stage hosts some of the fastest rally cars ever built, the Group B supercars plus other interesting vehicles. The tarmac course is laid out in the show ground and lets the drivers demonstrate the performance on a tight twisting course which allows the crowd a view of the entire circuit. Several stars from the past take part including regular favourite Russell Brookes. This year the organisers managed to get ex-World Rally Champion Miki Biasion reunited with his Lancia Delta Integrale to entertain the fans with his driving skills. The Rally Stage is for fun only, it is not timed and there are no awards, but his does not stop the drivers from driving flat out. There were also driving displays of historic Karts round part of the circuit.

 

© Simon Wright & Janet Wright.

 

 

 

 

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