Modern Prototypes and Grand Prix Royalty Star in Expanded BRDC Classic

Motor Racing Legends debuted their expanded roster at the BRDC Classic, adding two new featured grids to their already packed program. The meeting showcased an impressive range of competition history, bridging the gap between evocative post-war Grand Prix machines and modern endurance icons. With high-profile drivers and rare chassis filling the paddock, the event highlighted MRL's commitment to evolving the historic motorsport landscape.

Endurance Icons Bring Modern Prototypes to Historic Racing

A headline addition to the program was the newly established Endurance Icons grid, bringing a wave of childhood nostalgia to the Silverstone circuit. Designed to house more modern prototype and GT machinery from the turn of the century, the grid featured several historic firsts, including what was the historic racing debut of the thunderous Cadillac Northstar LMP1, freshly restored and shipped to the UK from across the pond.

Spectators were also treated to the sight of a Bentley Speed 8, alongside historic racing regular Niklas Halusa, who piloted his iconic Audi R8 LMP1, a machine that dominated prototype racing during the early 2000s.

Two 30-minute sprints on the Silverstone Grand Prix layout gave the new to MRL category a strong first outing, both races dominated by Keith Frieser’s Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S, with Niklas Halusa trailing behind to claim second in the once dominant Audi during the first of two races. 3rd fell into the hands of Mike Newton in the #25 MG Lola EX264 - the same car he piolted at Le Mans back in 2005.

The high-caliber machinery was matched by an equally impressive lineup of drivers. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown arrived with support from United Autosports to field an ex-AF Corse Ferrari 458 GT2, while British Touring Car star Jake Hill took the wheel of one of two iconic Nissan GT-R GT1 machines present at the event. Jake Hill, alongside co-driver Colin Sowter went on to take first in class during race 1.

Keith Frieser went on to dominate yet another overall and class victory in race 2, with Niklas Halusa trailing in second from the start.

Max Lynn forced his way into second in his newly prepared Cadillac Northstar, mere laps before the safety car was released.

Racers were forced to slow to the pace of Silverstones safety car whilst marshals Worked hard to recover the stranded #31 Courage C65 of Mark Drain, which came to a halt after slowing to an almost complete stop along the Hangar Straight.

The stops reshuffled the front, with pro ranked drivers inevitably dropping back on their longer minimum pit stop duration.

As soon as racing resumed, Max Lynn in the Cadillac Northstar LMP was on the move once again, working his way to third with Halusa’s Audi R8 following him through to fourth, ahead of Newton.

Zak and son Max Brown took a class win in race two, taking the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 GT2, ran by United Autosports, with a 12-second margin.

The sight of these modern sports car weapons competing side-by-side offered spectators a rare look at a popular era of sports car racing that had rarely been showcased in a competitive historic environment until now.

Grand Prix Icons Showcase Historic Single-Seater Greats

Complementing the sports car action was the Grand Prix Icons grid, which gathered an extraordinary collection of Formula 1 machinery spanning multiple generations.

The field brought together a diverse mix of engineering concepts, highlighted by a rarely seen Brabham BT49 alongside a pair of legendary McLarens in the form of the ground-effect MP4/1 and the iconic M23.

Adding a distinctive multi-cylinder soundtrack to the proceedings, a V12-powered BRM P153 also took to the circuit, providing a memorable contrast to the V8 power plants that dominated the rest of the field.

A 17 car entry list provided great entertainment throughout the weekend, with the speed contradt between late 70s cars with conventional downforce clearly contrasted by the ground effect cars of the mid 80s.

It was clear to see, however, that despite the high downforce, these high powered machines were still a handful to drive. Steve Hartley made a crucial error entering the loop in his historically important McLaren MP4/1, spinning him off into the grass and stalling the Cosworth made DFV V8 engine. The lack of a starter motor in Grand Prix machinery meant he was out of the race for good, forced to stand aside and watch.

GT3 Legends Grid Reaches New Heights

Following its initial debut in 2024, the GT3 Legends category continued its rapid growth with a strong 29-car entry list at the renewed and refreshed BRDC Classic.

The category has quickly established itself as a firm favorite among competitors and spectators alike, capturing the early years of the modern GT3 revolution. The expanded field attracted a healthy mix of historic racing regulars and well-known guest drivers.

Zak Brown doubled up on his driving commitments across the weekend, joining a stacked grid that also featured popular creator turned real-world racer Jimmy Broadbent in a legendary Nissan GTR GT3, as well as sports car veteran Marino Franchitti, racing alongside Gregor Fisken, who's Porsche 911 GT3 RSR sported a striking Fiskens 'art car' livery inspired by his family's Frazer Red tartan.

Race 1 proved early on that none of the drivers were here to play; it was fierce competition like you’d expect from modern day GT3 racing.

On the opening lap of the first race of the weekend, Sam and Richard Neary’s #30 Team Abba Racing Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, the #192 Audi R8 LMS Ultra GT3 of Julian Thomas and Nick Sampson’s Aston Martin came together in an unfortunate sequence of events, spinning off into the gravel traps at Copse. Several more cars picked up minor damage as they desperately scrambled to find a way through the carnage.

The close wheel-to-wheel battles, scuffles and spins throughout the 29-car field underlined the increasing popularity and fierce competition of GT3 machinery in the historic scene.

Motor Racing Legends arrived hoping to raise the bar - and they did just that.