Not only the number of motor-racing celebrities present at Silverstone was tremendous, but also the turnout of
Grand Prix-cars, sports prototypes and sportscars. Have you ever seen 14 (fourteen) 250 GTOs in one spot?
Three races had been reserved exclusively for Ferrari: Except of course the Shell Historical Challenge, there
was a race for 250 GTs and the very popular English Goodyear Maranello Ferrari Challenge; the latter is
eligible for nearly everything ever built with the prancing horse on its badge, whether it's a heavily modified
Dino 308 GT4 or a modern F355 Challenge. Very prominent in the series is a 250 GT SWB Berlinetta - the
tuned 250 GTE-engine installed is rumored to put out nearly 400 hp...
Too many Ferrari?
The GT-race traditionally is one of the highlights of the International Historic Festival. It is questionable if the
overwhelming presence of Ferrari pleased all of the spectators because the duels between Ferrari, Aston
Martin and Jaguar were missing this year. However, Ferraristi surely had to be pleased by the GT-race's
entries: ten 250 GTO, plus 250 GT LWBs and SWBs, 250 GT Lusso and a 250 GT Coupé Boano.
Frank Sytner, BMW-agent and former BTCC-champion took the win piloting the 250 GTO '64 s/n 4399GT of
Sir Anthony P. Bamford. "Pink Floyd" drummer Nick Mason became 2nd in his 250 GTO ' 62 (s/n 3757GT),
which had once been owned by Jacques Swaters' Ecurie Francorchamps; it had taken "Beurlys" and "Eldé"
to 3rd OA in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963.
Bamford's car is one of three 1962 GTOs which had later been rebodied in the more dramatic 1964
body-style. Graham Hill, Mike Parkes and Innes Ireland had been the drivers when s/n 4399GT was owned by
Colonel Ronnie Hoare's Maranello Concessionaires Team in the 1960's.
Restorer David Cottingham of Watford, Herts, brought a real movie-star to Silverstone: The 1956 250 GT LWB
Berlinetta Scaglietti "Tour de France" (s/n 0585GT) which he had entered in the GT-race once played a role in
the American movie "The Love Bug" (starring the VW Bug "Herbie"). Herbie's Fans will probably remember:
The Bug sprayed a load of Irish coffee on the hood of the Ferrari which was the only car to beat the VW in a
foregoing race.
Mid-engined sportscars and front-engined prototypes
The field of the participants in the Ferrari Shell Historical Challenge consisted of about 40 entrants, many of
them regular drivers, but some new faces, too, could be seen among them.
The Stieger brothers took a win each, Patrick in the 512 M (s/n 1018) and Christoph in the 312 PB (s/n 0888).
David Piper and his 330 P2 (s/n 0836) came in on third position in one of the heats, while Peter Hardman
strengthened his lead in the championship placing 3rd and 4th in the races.
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