A knight of the realm named Stewart will be taking part in July’s Silverstone Classic, but we don’t mean the wee Scot Jackie, rather famed actor Patrick. Sir Patrick Stewart OBE has been rehearsing for his role as a real-life racing driver at this summer’s Silverstone Classic, set for the weekend of July 28-30.
The 76-year-old movie star who famously played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the iconic Star Trek Next Generation sci-fi series as well as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films has just passed his official ARDS racing driver test at the Silverstone Motorsport Academy, and is now ready to compete in a special Celebrity Challenge Trophy Race at the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival.
“It was a lot of fun,” reported a delighted Stewart who passed both written and driving tests to obtain his competition license. “For someone who has followed motor racing since being a teenager, to drive around Silverstone and negotiate such legendary corners as Becketts and Stowe is just such a thrill. Speed is not a particularly big passion of mine, but when you are behind the wheel of a nice car it’s quite exhilarating to open it up, and I am looking forward to the Classic race meeting very much. Everybody has got a little bit of competitiveness and aggression about them, so it will certainly be entertaining!”
Other famous faces who’ll be lining up on the star-studded grid include Olympic gold medalists Mark Hunter MBE, Jason Kenny CBE, Greg Searle MBE, Jonny Searle MBE and Amy Williams MBE, bike racing World Champions Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer, former England test cricket captain Mike Gatting OBE and a host of other famous faces from sport, film and television. All will be helping to raise funds and awareness for the Classic’s official charity partner Prostate Cancer UK.
The impressive collection of celebrities will race competition-prepared Austin A30 and A35 sedans (above) from the late ’50s that were introduced a few years ago by the Historic Racing Drivers Club (HRDC) as a cost-effective route into historic racing. More than 50 have now been built, guaranteeing this enormous grid — not to mention some unmissable enjoyment for contestants and crowds alike this July. For complete information and event schedules, please visit www.silverstoneclassic.com
