Sir Stirling Moss Leads Double Celebration At The Silverstone Classic

Filed under: Classic News,Silverstone Classic |
  • Record number of Grand Prix cars take to the Silverstone Circuit to celebrate 50 years of racing at Silverstone
  • Moss re-united with stunning Maserati 250F for two amazing cavalcades
  • Classic wishes Maserati a 'happy 100' with another glittering parade 
Stirling Moss and David Brabham prepare to head out onto the circuit

Stirling Moss and David Brabham prepare to head out onto the circuit

Racing legend Stirling Moss OBE led two dazzling parades earlier today (27 July) as the 50th Grand Prix to be held at Silverstone and Maserati’s centenary  were celebrated in fine style at the Silverstone Classic. Silverstone staged its 50th Grand Prix earlier this month in a race won by Lewis Hamilton, and to mark that magical milestone the largest collection of Grand Prix cars ever assembled – 84 in total – took to the famous Northamptonshire track. Moss led the parade in a Maserati 250F, and was joined at the front by David Brabham, son of three-time World Champion Jack who was also celebrated at this year's Classic. The Australian passed away earlier this year and remains the only man to take the ultimate F1 title in a car bearing his own name, and fittingly David was driving a Brabham BT24 today.
Moss won two Grands Prix in the Maserati 250F

Moss won two Grands Prix in the Maserati 250F

A quite incredible array of Grand Prix cars followed the two racing legends. These included several pre-WW2 machines from the Brooklands era right up to Lotuses and Williams from the more modern DFV era. The parade also featured the Talbot-Lago T26C that was entered into the first Silverstone Grand Prix for Lord Selsdon and the Cooper of inaugural BTCC champion Jack Sears who was back behind the wheel in 2014 more than 50 years after he first raced the car. As the glorious Grand Prix machinery pitted Sir Stirling continued in the 250F and was joined by a huge collection of Maseratis. The Italian manufacturer is the award-winning event’s official ‘Celebration Marque’ for 2014 and celebrating its first 100 years with a special parade of its finest road and competition cars. It was a fitting reunion for Moss, now aged 84, as he won two Grand Prix in the 250F back in 1956.
Alfieri Maserati joined the parade to mark the special occasion

Alfieri Maserati joined the parade to mark the special occasion

Alfieri Maserati – son of Ernesto, one of the founding brothers – took to the track alongside Moss' 250F, and the variety of Italian exotica on-track was quite astonishing. From the latest luxury Ghibli to rarely-seen Maserati motorcycles from the 1950s, every period in the manufacturer's glittering history was represented on the iconic Silverstone Circuit. Today's two impressive parades followed more anniversary celebrations yesterday, as the Ford Mustang celebrated its 50th birthday with its own parade of 175 stunning examples of American muscle. Sir Stirling Moss said: "The Silverstone Classic is an absolutely terrific event – what's so wonderful is that people can actually see all these glorious cars and talk to the mechanics and drivers. The 250F is such a fabulous car – absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful occasion – to be driving a car like this is just magic and reminds me just how fabulous the Maserati was. I guess it shows just how good it was if you can win a race like Monaco in one. I still have pretty vivid memories of the first Grand Prix here at Silverstone which was back in 1948 when I was racing a 500cc in the support race. I also remember the 1950 race as I met the King and Queen which was a bit special. In fact I have got lots of happy memories of Silverstone, I think it was one of the circuits I didn’t crash on! It's just been an astonishing day." David Brabham said: "It's been an incredibly special day at the Silverstone Classic. It was a really fantasic feeling to be in the parade at all, but to be alongside Sir Stirling Moss was really amazing. We were chatting away before we went out, and to see so many beautiful cars behind us on track made it a brilliant day not just for me but for everyone here. I remember talking to my dad about who was the best and he had no hesitation in saying Stirling Moss – whatever he drove he was fast in. The crowds really appreciated the parade, and with Stirling up front in the Maserati 250F was very cool."
Alfieri Maserati said: "Where better than Silverstone to celebrate the Centenary of the 'Officine Alfieri Maserati'. Maseratis were built for racing and after 100 years is undergoing a great renaissance. It has been a joy to participate in the parade of over 200 Maseratis from years gone by."Tags: