Calendar of Events 2023
Completed entry forms received to date have, without exception, been from competitors requesting to compete in all four rounds this season.
A very promising start to the year!
Don't delay, enter today to secure your place on the grid.
Silverstone GP Circuit - 11 June
Donington - 8th July
Castle Combe - 23rd September
Algarve Classic Festival - 27/28/29 October
Since its debut in 2007, the GT & Sports Car Cup has grown in stature to become the premier international competition catering for cars of a golden era, as recognised by the 2020 Royal Automobile Club ‘Series of the Year’ accolade. This season, its 17th edition, offers owner/drivers of charismatic Pre-1966 Grand Touring cars in four capacity classes, and Pre-’63 Sports Racers, a subtly-tweaked four-race calendar. As ever, entry is by invitation, ensuring the highest car preparation and driving standards.
Organisers Flavien and Vanessa Marçais are delighted to announce to the GT&SCC’s loyal family of competitors and supporters that 2023’s programme incorporates three regular favourite venues of recent years, each boasting strong history over many decades, but starts with a return to the MG Live extravaganza on the Historic Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone, the home of British motor racing, in June. We stay with Equipe Classic Racing for a visit to Donington in July, and again take centre stage at Castle Combe’s popular Autumn Classic event in September. And what programme would be complete without a sojourn south to the annual gathering, which is the Algarve Classic Festival on Portugal’s fabulous Formula 1 circuit in October?
Both French-born Flavien and his British wife Vanessa (Finburgh) are fortunate to have been brought up in motoring families, surrounded by the finest classic cars. Having inherited their forbears’ exquisite tastes for automotive excellence, Flavien and Vanessa are racers who have forged their careers in this fascinating area of the industry, selling cars through their Automobiles Historiques business, backed-up by a world-class photographic archive. Their passion for cars and zest for life, underpins the GT&SCC on all levels: “The quality of racing and social experience are equally important.”
MG LIVE AT SILVERSTONE GRAND PRIX, June 11
Last summer’s switch to the MG Car Club’s showcase brought an agreeable change of backdrop for the GT&SCC. Retaining our opportunity to race on Britain’s premier circuit, it opened a window on one of the motor industry’s greatest marques as its iconic MG B model celebrated its 60th anniversary. This year is MG’s centenary, which will attract enthusiasts from around the world. We are proud to be welcomed back to the event, competing for 90 minutes on the Formula 1 circuit’s Historic derivative, with its less aggressive entry to Club Corner. Silverstone is situated 30 miles from MG’s birthplace in the glorious university city of Oxford, and 40 from Abingdon, period home to the BMC Competitions Department. It’s a chance to stretch your cars’ legs down the original Hangar Straight, following in the wheeltracks of motor sport’s greats.
EQUIPE DONINGTON, July 8
By popular request, we are back at Donington after a year’s sabbatical, this time having teamed-up with our friends at Equipe Classic Racing, who provided the platform for 2022’s season-opener at Oulton Park. Situated in the heart of England, Donington is a beautiful flowing circuit boasting top class facilities under MotorSport Vision’s aegis. The venue’s roots can be traced back to the mid-1930s when aviator Richard Shuttleworth in an Alfa Romeo Tipo B won the first of four charismatic Grands Prix. In ’37 and ’38, the Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz ‘silver arrows’ arrived from Germany and thrilled spectators, Bernd Rosemeyer and Tazio Nuvolari winning respectively for the former marque we now know as global brand Audi. The current circuit suits cars with handling and power equally and, in a full pack, will reward consistent drivers over a 75-minute duration.
CASTLE COMBE AUTUMN CLASSIC, September 23
Different winners over the GT&SCC’s five visits, driving a broad spectrum of cars - Lotus 15, Jaguar E-type, Lotus Elan, Austin-Healey 3000 and AC Cobra - underline the appeal of Castle Combe’s Autumn Classic, a relaxed event now entering its second decade. The former WW2 airfield perimeter track first hosted car and motorcycle racing in 1950, Stirling Moss, Ivor Bueb, Roy Salvadori and George Abecassis being among its early winners. In ’53 Ken Wharton shattered the lap record in a BRM V16, but two years later, Franco-American Harry Schell (Vanwall) pushed it past 90mph in winning the west country circuit’s only Formula 1 race. Close to Bristol and Bath, Combe is synonymous with spectacular sideways motoring, with big Healeys in their period pomp. Our 90-minute race is guaranteed to entertain a large audience, many dressed to reflect the pre-’65 era.
ALGARVE CLASSIC FESTIVAL AT PORTIMAO, October 27-29
No GT&SCC season would be complete without our two-hour Algarve Classic Festival finale. Indeed, what’s not to like about the sensational undulating 2.9-mile circuit, or superb hospitality put on by Paulo Pinheiro and his Autodromo Internacional Algarve team? Situated close to Portimao, overlooking the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, the FIA Grade 1-licensed venue is a firm favourite among Historic racers, as it was with Formula 1 when the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix ended the country’s 24-year drought. An easy hour’s drive from Faro - served by many European airports - laid-back Algarve is the perfect place for an end-of-year getaway. Fine hotels, wonderful restaurants (some hidden gems) and world-class golf are among the local attractions which make the event unmissable. Once sampled, the AIA’s delights lure racing pilgrims back year after year.
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