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Race Retro, Stoneleigh 24-26 February 2017


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#1 Alan Cox

Alan Cox
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Posted 12 January 2017 - 18:20

Recent news from the show's press office:

Race Retro brings Rally Legends to Stoneleigh Park

Rally fans are in for a treat at Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, as we
have lined up a ‘clash of the titans’ as Finnish rally legends Ari Vatanen and Markku Alén join our 15th anniversary celebrations by getting back behind the wheel on the bespoke Live Rally Stage.

Vatanen and Alén are larger than life characters who are guaranteed to delight the crowds. To have them with us at the show is one thing but to have them in action, driving these amazing Group B cars on our Rally Stage is something you won’t see anywhere else. We are thrilled to have them as part of our ‘Super Show’

Appearing on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February at Stoneleigh Park, Ari Vatanen won the WRC drivers title in 1981, before joining Peugeot at the wheel of a 205 T16, and was on course to win the 1985 World Championship until a near-fatal accident in Argentina ended his season and nearly his life. The Finn recovered to return to the sport winning four Paris-Dakar Rallies in 1987, 1989, 90 and 91, as well as smashing the record for the Pikes Peak Hill climb in a 600bhp Peugeot 405 T16 in 1988. Vatanen said: “I am very much looking forward to joining Race Retro and seeing all the rally fans over the weekend.To get to drive these fantastic cars again is an honour and I can’t wait!”

Surprisingly Markku Alén, known for his catchphrase “now maximum attack,” never won a WRC title but he did hold the record for the most stage wins at 801 until the record was taken by Sébastien Loeb in the 2011 Rally Catalunya. After seven years at Fiat, Alén moved to Lancia where he became a familiar face alongside the iconic Martini livery of the Delta HF. He then moved to Subaru and Toyota before swapping rallying for Touring Cars for a season.

Alén, who appears on the afternoon of Friday 24th and will be in action on Saturday 25th February, said: “I am delighted to be invited to this great event and look forward to driving on the Rally Stage with my old friend Ari. It will be a great weekend and I look forward to meeting fellow enthusiasts.”



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#2 Alan Cox

Alan Cox
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Posted 12 January 2017 - 18:22

Racing legend Tom Kristensen to appear at Race Retro's 15th anniversary 'Super Show'

Racing legend Tom Kristensen will make his debut at Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, on Saturday 25th February, as part of the three-day event’s 15th anniversary ‘Super Show’ celebrations. Kristensen will appear on the Interview Stage within the Motor Sport Hall of Fame, to which he was inducted in 2013. He will also be meeting fans and signing autographs as well as answering all their questions about his amazing career.

"I’m thrilled to be invited to Race Retro to be a part of the Hall of Fame Live,” said Kristensen. “Being inducted was a great honour and I look forward to meeting many enthusiasts over the weekend at this great event.” Kristensen won Le Mans at his first attempt in 1997 and holds the record for the most wins at the 24hr of Le Mans, with nine victories to his name, six of which were consecutive years. One of the stars of Audi’s near-monopoly of La Sarthe, he helped revolutionise endurance racing with the advent of diesel and hybrid technology in sports cars. He also raced for Porsche, Bentley and BMW in France.

As well as his wins at Le Mans, Kristensen also has six victories at Sebring, one at Petit Le Mans, and won the FIA World Championship (WEC), making him the most successful sports car driver of his era. Like many racing drivers, his career started in karting, moving into Formula 3 and Touring Cars where he won races in all categories, before finding his success in endurance racing. Kristensen announced his retirement at the end of the 2014 season but still takes part in events such as Goodwood, Copenhagen and The Race of Champions.

Kristensen will be just one of the Motor Sport Hall of Fame inductees attending Race Retro and Hall of Fame Live, which will see stunning displays of race and rally cars and bikes. Displays include a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Cosworth DFV, curated by designer Mike Costin, which includes the Williams FW08 raced to victory by Keke Rosberg in the World Championship.

There will also be a celebration of 40 years since the reopening of Donington Park, a tribute to Lotus, a marque that is synonymous with many of the Hall of Fame inductees, and the cars and bikes of motorsport legend John Surtees.

 



#3 Alan Cox

Alan Cox
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Posted 12 January 2017 - 18:24

Engine designer Mike Costin curates 50 year Cosworth Anniversary display at Race Retro

Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, will bring together an incredible collection of Cosworth DFV powered race cars, to celebrate 50 years since one of the world’s most iconic engines made its debut on the track. The collection, which includes the Williams FW08 driven by Keke Rosberg to win the 1982 World Drivers’ Championship, has been curated by Mike Costin, who along with Keith Duckworth gave his name to the powerplant. Mike will appear at Race Retro and will be interviewed on the Motor Sport Live Stage. “I am delighted to be involved in this display to mark the anniversary of the Cosworth DFV story,” said Costin. “I look forward to being reunited with some of the star cars of the past.”

Event Director Daniel Nwaokolo said: “The Cosworth DFV is synonymous with the greatest era of Formula 1 and to have the display curated by designer Mike Costin, one of the greatest engineers of our time, just makes it even more special.” Held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from 24-26 February 2017, Race Retro’s display will include stunning cars from the Donington Grand Prix Collection, all to be hosted in the dedicated Motor Sport Hall of Fame.

Christopher Tate, Managing Director of Donington Park, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Motor Sport Magazine to put on this fantastic display at Race Retro to kick off the 40th anniversary celebrations of the re-opening of Donington Park. We’re looking forward to showing some of the most famous cars from our Grand Prix Collection and welcoming a large number of enthusiastic race fans ahead of what is certain to be a special year for Donington Park. “And we can announce one special feature – if you can bring and show us your treasured ticket or programme* from our historic opening event in 1977 at Donington Park, we will exchange that, in advance, for free admission to one day of this year’s Donington Historic Festival, April 28/29/30.”

As a statement of its intention as the new owner and to celebrate the event’s 15th anniversary, organisers Clarion Events will be staging a ‘Super Show’ for 2017. The Cosworth DFV display is the first of many celebratory features to be hosted within the Motor Sport Hall of Fame, with other iconic motorsport names, cars, bikes and technological advancements to be recognised.

Race Retro will also welcome motorsport industry traders with over 85 specialists already committed to attending including Demon Tweeks, Classic World Racing, Millers Oils, and the Vintage Sports Car Club.Tickets are now on sale for Race Retro, held from 24th to 26th February 2017 at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, with free parking for all visitors.

*Donington Park offer: The details that apply are that people would get their ticket/programme back again of course, but need to do the exchange by post or in person at least one week in advance.