Race Retro to kick off season

Over 20,000 fans of classic and historic motor sport are expected to visit Race Retro, the fifth annual International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, from March 14-16. The annual kick-off point for the historic motor sport season is set to be the biggest yet, with celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ford Escort playing a major role both in the indoor displays and the outdoor live action rally stage set up on the venue’s asphalt roads. Exhibitors from across the sport including race and rally organisers, engine builders, suppliers and preparation companies will pack the halls, while a demonstration of Group B rally cars should make the live action rally stage a major attraction. Rally legends Markku Alén and Björn Waldegård will be on hand as a range of Ford Escorts join the Group B cars. Alén had his first works drive in a Mk1 Escort, while Waldegård rallied extensively for the Ford team and won the 1979 World Championship at the wheel of a Mk2. Elsewhere a rare Group B Ferrari 308GTB, one of the Michelotto QV cars from 1983, will make its debut appearance in Britain, as will the 1988 Paris-Dakar-winning Peugeot 405T16 of Juha Kankkunen, having only recently been released from the Peugeot factory collection. The show runs for three days and tickets can be booked at www.historicmotorsportshow.com or by calling 0844 848 3229. Tickets are £25 per day, or £20 per day if bought in advance. • Motor Sport will be at Race Retro on stand E28 in Hall 2, where we will be exhibiting Paul Smith’s ex-Elio de Angelis F3 Chevron B38 that will run in this year’s BP Ultimate Classic F3 series. Come and see us!