Rick Parfitt Jnr stars as world-famous Silverstone Classic races into action
Rick Parfitt junior won an action-packed celebrity race this evening (Friday 23 July) to get the Silverstone Classic weekend off to a flying start as members of the music industry took a clean sweep of the podium places.
The BSM Centenary Abarth 500 Celebrity Challenge put a field of famous names from TV, sport and radio into competition on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, racing in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for research into bowel cancer.
On the opening lap, Travis drummer Neil Primrose dived ahead of Parfitt in a daring move at Stowe Corner, but two laps later Parfitt grabbed the lead back as the two Abarth 500s traded paint in a high-speed clash. Once ahead Parfitt extended his lead, but had some anxious moments in the closing stages as Primrose narrowed the gap once more.
“Amazing,” said a jubilant Parfitt on the podium. “I can now say I’ve won at Silverstone and tomorrow evening I’m playing in front of 30,000 people here. My life is complete!”
Primrose was a fighting second. “That was mental,” he said. “Rick pushed me off,” he said, with tongue in cheek. “Then I cooked my tyres, but it’s good to come and have a play in aid of such a good cause.”
Completing the podium for the traditional champagne spraying was music producer Paul O’Duffy, who grabbed the place after a fierce battle with chef James Martin. “I had a great battle with James,” said O’Duffy as he joined Parfitt and Primrose on the celebrity podium. Further down the order were dancer Brendan Cole and DJs Richard Allinson and Johnnie Walker, but chef Heston Blumenthal was forced out with a puncture.
Silverstone was buzzing today (Friday) in the final build up to this weekend’s racing bonanza. With the paddock crammed with glorious racing cars spanning six decades and the infield full of more than 6000 classic cars, the famous Northamptonshire circuit is ready for the biggest festival of classic racing in the world. Fun fairs, hot-rods, motorbikes, rally cars and hot air balloons are all in place ready to deliver a wonderful weekend of entertainment, with something for all the family.
On-track, qualifying sessions for all of the weekend’s 22 races have been held through Friday and stars like Sir Stirling Moss and Chris Rea took to the track, along with around 1000 other drivers in 800 wonderful racing cars. With the chance to get close to the cars and drivers, the event offers unparalleled access to the machines that were made famous by drivers like Jim Clark, Graham Hill, James Hunt and John Surtees.
Grand Prix cars ranging from the 1930s to the 1980s will celebrate 60 years of Grand Prix racing at Silverstone, while sports-racing, GT and touring cars will add to the fantastic spectacle.
With a full programme of racing throughout Saturday and Sunday, the 2010 Silverstone Classic is set to be the biggest and best event of its type.
Cat: Silverstone Classic News Stories
Comments
Author: Dave Holland
Well an absolutley fantastic weekend well worth the money, third year in a row, a must for any true car fan, we will be back next year.
Date: 2010-07-26 10:22:13
Author: John Kelly
£50 entrance fee.You must be joking.
Date: 2010-07-24 23:11:18
