2023 Motoring Literary & Art Festival: five talks you can't miss
This autumn's inaugural Motoring Literary and Art festival will bring together illustrious names from across motor racing at Silverstone. Here are five of the talks that you won't want to miss
The festival is the idea of publisher Philip Porter, left. Lord Hesketh will also be in attendance
Gary Harman
Le Mans champions, Formula 1 team owners and grand prix winners will assemble under the same roof this December at the inaugural Motoring Literary and Art Festival, hosted at the home of British motor sport: Silverstone.
Taking place on the weekend of 2-3 December, the event which is supported by Motor Sport, will include panels headlined by the likes of former F1 team owner Lord Alexander Hesketh, Le Mans-winner Jackie Oliver, five-time grand prix winner John Watson and more. There will also be talks dedicated to new book launches and announcements plus a range of star car exhibitions.
With such a full schedule visitors will be hard pressed to attend the 29 events across the weekend — with more still to be added. Here are five speakers you won’t want to miss.
The Motoring Literary and Art Festival will be held on December 3-4 at Silverstone – you can buy tickets here.
John Watson and Goldie Hexagon Racing
Saturday 2 December at 10am — Theatre 1
Cost: £22
John Watson piloting the Hexagon Brabham-Ford in 1974
Grand Prix Photo
John Watson is widely remembered for his success with McLaren, where he scored four of his five grand prix victories from 1981 to 1983. But ‘Wattie’ was given his first F1 shot by a relatively unknown outfit in Goldie Hexagon Racing — a privateer, founded by a 28 year old Daleham Mews garage owner in Paul Michaels.
As a customer of Brabham in 1974, it was certainly an uphill battle, but nonetheless, Goldie Hexagon Racing “lived the dream” in a one-and-done season in motor sport’s top flight — even scoring points from races in Monaco, Austria and the US.
This December, Watson and Michaels will talk through the challenges of competing in F1 as a small constructor, share some of their greatest moments and reveal flashpoints with on-track rivals and Bernie Ecclestone.
Gary Anderson on F1 car design and 2023 season
Saturday 2 December at 2.30pm — Theatre 1
Cost: £22
Engineer for Brabham, McLaren and Jordan, Anderson will certainly have a few stories to tell
Grand Prix Photo
Motoring Literary Festival attendees will have the chance to look at the high-tech world of Formula 1 through the eyes of one of its best-known car designers, Gary Anderson. The former Brabham and McLaren engineer, and designer of the Jordan 191 grand prix car, will be bringing his expertise to Silverstone.
Having worked with some of history’s greatest racers, including Alain Prost, James Hunt, Roberto Moreno and Michael Schumacher, Anderson will certainly have a tale or two to tell — as he did on Motor Sport’s own Engineering the Greats podcast.
Joined by Channel 4 F1 presenter Lee McKenzie, Anderson will also be discussing the 2023 F1 season, whether total domination is healthy, and the prospects for 2024 and beyond.
Mike Wilds: from West London flat to F1
Saturday 3 December at 4.30pm — Theatre 1
Cost: £22
See Mike Wilds at Silverstone on Sunday, December 3
Nick Caro
With 50 years of racing experience, Mike Wilds has lived through several eras of racing.
From Formula 1’s golden era with BRM and Ensign — where he entered eight grands prix and started three — to 12 British championship victories in single-seaters and sports cars, Wilds’ career is one of the more varied and long-lived in the world of motor sport.
His Sunday panel will detail some of his exploits from years on different, as well as first-hand stories of some of history’s greatest racers.
The origin tales behind the GT40 with Jackie Oliver and Tony Southgate
Saturday 2 December at 10am — Theatre 1
Cost: £22
Gulf-liveried Ford GT40 of Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver on its way to Le Mans victory in 1969 – a second consecutive win for the same chassis
GP Library via Getty Images
Born as a rival to Ferrari, Ford’s GT40 became dominant at Le Mans, powering the likes of Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, Dan Gurney and Pedro Rodriguez to victory. But less is remembered about the man or machine that inspired it: Tony Southgate’s Lola Mk6.
The legendary British engineer and racing car designer will be joined in conversation by Le Mans-winning driver Jackie Oliver, who piloted the GT40 to victory at La Sarthe for the final time in 1969 alongside Jacky Ickx.
Together, the pair will discuss the history of Lola and endurance car design, as well as stories from Oliver’s gruelling days behind the wheel of the sports car.
Lord Hesketh with James Page
Sunday 3 December at 10.30am — Theatre 1
Cost: £38
Horsley’s partner in crime Lord Hesketh, left, lights up in the team garage before the 1973 Dutch GP, Zandvoort
Remembered by its charismatic owner as the “biggest little team in the world” and the “last, true F1 privateer” Hesketh will return to the spotlight at the Literary Festival when Lord Hesketh sits down with James Page (author of Superbears – The Story of Hesketh Racing) to talk through the short history of his very own F1 team.
It burst onto the paddock in 1974, with a young James Hunt spearheading the team’s on-track success. Before succumbing to bankruptcy in 1975, highlights of Hesketh’s brief foray into motor sport’s top echelon included podium finishes in Sweden, Austria (1974, ‘75), the US (1974, ‘75), Argentina and France, and a single grand prix victory at Zandvoort.
This session will undoubtably be one of the highlights of the weekend, with Page’s book nominated for various awards, illustrating the compelling stories to be told.