2021 Historic motor racing and classic car race calendar
A vintage year for historic racing? The 2021 calendar sees the return of the biggest events of the season, with Monaco, Le Mans, Goodwood and Silverstone planning bumper schedules — if the situation allows
Goodwood Revival returns this autumn
Michael Cole/Getty Images
On the face of it, this year’s historic racing calendar is mouthwatering. Goodwood returns with a full complement of familiar events, while packed grids are promised for the Historic Monaco Grand Prix; the Historic French Grand Prix; Le Mans Classic and Silverstone Classic
How the year progresses, however, is currently anyone’s guess. Goodwood’s 2021 Members’ Meeting and the Mille Miglia have had to be pushed back already but it’s not yet cause for alarm: the UK government’s roadmap out of lockdown could allow up to 10,000 spectators to watch outdoor events from mid-May, with restrictions completely eased by June.
Last year Goodwood showed that a spectator free festival was possible, but events rely on crowds for atmosphere and funds. Organisers will be hoping that the return to normality goes to schedule — or even earlier.
Keep an eye on our historic racing calendar for the latest information on the major events in Britain and Europe. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for the best — and update the fixtures where the reality of our current situation intervenes.
March
26-28 March
Dix Mille Tours du Castellet
Circuit Paul Ricard, France
This Peter Auto season-opener should be spectacular if it goes ahead. Races will be held on two layouts of the Paul Ricard Circuit, including the classic format, which should allow Group C sports cars to reach more than 185mph on the Mistral Straight. The planned line-up is brilliantly varied, with 2-litre Porsche 911s, a huge variety of sports cars, touring cars and GTs.
April
Donington opens this year’s Masters Historic Season
MSV
2-3 April
Masters Historic Race Weekend
Donington Park
The Masters Historic Series has announced a nine-race European schedule for 2021, which is due to begin at Donington at the beginning of April. ’70s and ’80s F1 cars will will be the star attraction for most, but don’t overlook the ’90s and ’00s sports cars in Masters Endurance Legemds, as well as historic sports cars and pre-’66 touring cars
17-18 April
HSCC Snetterton 300
Snetterton
The first round of the Historic Sports Car Club season is held at Snetterton, and celebrates the life of Jim Russell, the racing school founder. As well as multiple Formula Ford races, there will be touring and GT cars, as well as a 40-minute, two-driver race for pre-’66 sports and GT cars.
Biennial Historic Monaco GP is currently scheduled for the spring
Alexandre Guillaumot / DPPI
23-25 April
Historic Monaco GP
Monte Carlo
Postponed from last year, this year’s Historic Monaco Grand Prix returns as one of the most glamorous events on the historic racing calendar, with single-seater and sports-car action around the street circuit and tickets costing a fraction of the price you’d pay to watch this year’s Grand Prix.
May
Anti-clockwise route for this year’s Mille Miglia, which was initially scheduled for May but now delayed until June.
Reda&Co via Getty Images
7-9 May
Hockenheim Historic, the Jim Clark revival
Hockenheim, Germany
Celebrating the racing great who lost his life in a Formula 2 car at the circuit, the Hockenheim Historic is set to host 12 series, including a poignant Historic Formula 2 race, the CanAm Challenge Cup, classic touring cars historic F1 cars and the BOSS GP series with V8 and V10 Formula 1 racing.
14-16 May
Spa Classic
Spa Francorchamps, Belgium
Touring cars feature heavily in the bill for this Peter Auto event, with Heritage Touring Cup races taking place in the day and night, featuring saloons and coupes from 1966 to 1984. In between, there are prototypes, GTs and more tin-tops.
22-23 May
HSCC International Trophy
Silverstone
The first 2021 races for Thundersports, the Aurora Trophy and the Dunlop Saloon Car Club are scheduled for this Silverstone meeting, which also includes Historic Formula Ford, ’70s Road Sports and a 90-minute race for the GT and Sports Car Club, which celebrates 60 years of the Jaguar E-type.
29/30 May
Masters Historic Festival
Brands Hatch
Revive the memories of when F1 raced at Brands Hatch with this round of the Masters Historic Series. Sports car, Mini and touring car rounds will also be held.
June
Historic French GP moves from Magny Cours to Paul Ricard in 2021
DPPI
4-6 June
Dijon Grand Prix de l’age d’or
Dijon-Prenois, France
The historic circuit that held the French Grand Prix in the ’70s and ’80s, will play host to the Global Endurance Legends series of ’90s and ’00s sports cars, as well as historic touring cars and F2 single-seaters.
HSCC Wolds Trophy
Cadwell Park
Among the races for this early summer meet are the Justin Haler Trophy, featuring 1-litre Historic F3 cars, a host of Formula Ford grids, Classic Clubmans and ’80s Production Cars.
10-13 June
Grand Prix de France Historique
Paul Ricard, France
A total of 70 Formula 1 cars are expected to compete in the sunshine of the southern French summer. The 70 years of the World Championship will be celebrated with a grid of ’50s and ’60s cars, which include Jim Clark’s Lotus 25; more than 30 cars from the ’70s and ’80s,; plus 21st century examples in the Maxx Formula Series. That’s just the start, with more sports car and single-seater categories.
16-19 May
Mille Miglia
Italy
Pushed back into October last year, the Mille Miglia has again been delayed in 2021, moving to a June date from May. The month’s delay is hoped to bring the race beyond the pandemic “turning point”. This year’s event travels anti-clockwise around Italy. Brescia once again hosts the start, sending the cars westward towards the coast and then down to Rome, where they will then head to the east coast before returning to Brescia
26-27 June
HSCC Donington Park
Donington Park
Thundersports, saloon cars and single-seaters feature in this new HSCC two-day Donington round.
July
1-4 July
Le Mans Classic
Le Mans, France
Postponed from last year, the 2021 Le Mans Classic is once more set to celebrate the rich history of the endurance race, three weeks after this year’s event. Expect day-and-night racing, parades and auctions.
9-11 July
HSCC Legends of Brands Super Prix
Brands Hatch
HSCC regulars will race on both the Indy and Grand Prix circuits over the same three-day weekend, which promises a packed series of Formula Ford, F3, touring car and sports car races. They will also be joined by pre-’66 Grand Prix cars on the Saturday and Sunday.
8-11 July
Goodwood Festival of Speed
Goodwood
Motor racing’s biggest garden part is set to return this summer, with a theme of The Maestros — motor sport’s greatest all-rounders. If crowd restrictions are eased and the sun shines, the hillclimb could mark a welcome return to normality.
16 – 18 July
Historic Grand Prix
Zandvoort, Netherlands
F1 should finally return to Zandvoort this year, but not before the circuit hosts its annual historic festival, which includes a round of the Masters Historic series. LAst year also brought plenty of prototypes and touring cars, more of which are likely to be confirmed this year.
30 July – 1 August
Silverstone Classic
Silverstone
Covid restrictions forced Silverstone to hold a virtual festival last year, but it’s planned to return in its full glory this year, with some slots filled by last year’s planned celebrations. These include a celebration of 60 years of the Mini Cooper — including a grid of 60 cars in the Classic Mini Challenge, plus a 30 year celebration of the event itself. Among the familiar F1, GT, sports and touring car races, will also be tributes to Alfa Romeo, the Range over, Datsun 240Z and the Jaguar E-type, which is 60 this year.
August
Masters Historic will visit Brands Hatch in May, with a Zolder date in August
Darrell Ingham/Getty Image
20 – 22 August
Historic Grand Prix
Zolder, Belgium
Masters Historic will run F1, sports car and touring car rounds at this year’s Zolder festival, and will be joined by DTM Classics, plus the eclectic grid of the Belcar Historic Cup.
28 – 30 August
HSCC
Oulton Park
September
F1 and Le Mans machinery will be among the cars at the Monza Historic
17-19 September
Circuit des Remparts d’Angoulême
Angoulême, France
Categories for pre-war MGs, Bugattis, GTs and 1950s sports cars were among those scheduled for last year’s event — in addition to a Concours d’elegance and road rally. It has been postponed to this year, with line-ups for the scenic festival on the historic circuit still to be confirmed.
Monza Historic
Monza
This high-speed round of the Peter Auto series brings classic sports cars, prototypes, touring cars and GTs to Italy.
Goodwood Revival
Goodwood
Back after a Covid-enforced break, this year’s Goodwood Revival promises exquisite cars, close racing and plenty of atmosphere at the historic circuit.
18-19 September
HSCC Mallory Park
Mallory Park
A packed bill of HSCC regulars is expected at this two-day autumn event.
21-25 September
Rallye des Legendes
France
Conceived as a part-concours show and part-historic rally, this event combines beautiful classics with road sections through the French countryside. Full details are still to be confirmed.
October
Relive the past at Spa
1-3 October
Spa Six Hours
Spa Francorchamps, Belgium
Hundreds of classic cars are expected in the Ardennes for the extravaganza that is the Spa Six Hours. In addition to the endurance race, you can expect series from across Europe, including Historic Masters.
8-10 October
Dijon HVM Motors Cup
Dijon-Prenois, France
Details are still to come for this autumn classic festival. Among those who have announced plans for the event, is the HSCC, which has announced Historic F2 and Formula Junior races.
Estoril Classics
Estoril, Portugal
The end of the Peter Auto series comes in Portugal, with the eight grids covering the 1950s to 2000s
16-17 October
78th Goodwood Members’ Meeting
Goodwood
The Members’ Meeting is traditionally one of the opening events of the year, but the desire to welcome back large crowds is behind this year’s temporary move to October. It had already been scheduled for mid-May rather than its usual April slot, in the hope of avoiding coronavirus restrictions, but Coronavirus restrictions are set to last beyond that period. The autumn date will give the meeting a familiar feel, with racing into the night.
HSCC Championship Finals
Silverstone
The HSCC season closes with the final races of the year, where you can expect fiercer competition than usual, as the final placings are decided.
22-24 October
Espiritu de Montjuic
Barcelona, Spain
Sadly not taking place in the Parc Montjuich, this Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya festival hosts single-seater, prototype and GT races; classic vehicle displays and entertainment that’s geared to all ages.
29-31 October
Masters Portimao Festival
Portimao, Portugal
Apart from pre-’66 Minis, the full Masters Historic line-up, including F1, Sports Cars and Endurance Legends, will make a final appearance in 2021 at Portimao.