Photographing the BRDC Classic at Silverstone – Part 1
Report by David Harbey
30 July 2026
The Early Years of the Silverstone Classic
What is generically known as the Silverstone Classic has been around since 1990 and was originally a weekend of historic racing featuring Grand Prix, sports, GT and saloons that competed up to the early 70s.
Sponsored by Christie’s and Coys in the early years, it pre-dated the Goodwood Revival by nearly ten years. By the end of the nineties, there were car club displays and a broad range of trade stands to supplement the racing.
Family Memories and Historic Racing
It was a regular feature in this family’s diary as it generally fell close to Andrew and his twin sister’s birthday so we would make it a family day out with my Mum and Dad. As today, the paddocks were open allowing for plenty of time to wander and stare – it was the first time I had seen Nick Mason’s Ferrari 250 GTO in the metal – a special moment ! Oh, and there was the time when Stirling Moss nearly ran over Andrew in the paddock …
Entry lists from the time show a wide range of notable and original race cars (and drivers !) – some of which (and whom) are still competing today. It didn’t always go well though … this looks like the outcome of a clash in 1998 between Carlos Monteverde and Bart Rosman.
From Film Photography to the Digital Era
The years rolled on, I got my first digital camera and there was always an anniversary to celebrate – whether that was Aston Martin in 2006 or Group C in 2007.
2013 was wet … very wet …
By 2019, the car clubs were a huge part of the weekend. T’was rumoured some people didn’t watch any racing and spent all their time polishing their cars. I was getting used to retirement and producing content for PistonClick.
Andrew was using my old Olympus and taking photos in Mr PistonClick Editor’s Skyline as they did their rather damp parade lap. A perfect birthday present for Andrew – he is of the Gran Turismo generation.
The BRDC Classic Returns to Its Roots
The expansion of the weekend to more of a Festival vibe with consequent increases in prices meant that post-Covid it wasn’t really my cup of tea. Other racing enthusiasts seemed to be saying the same thing but for 2026 it is all change. CarFest has taken over the August dates so it was back to late July for the BRDC Classic. With considerable input from Motor Racing Legends, it is essentially a back to basics, more racing, less festival event.
Andrew and I were enthused by the news and so he organised car club tickets for the weekend. At £65 for infield parking and three day tickets for two people, this has always been the most cost effective way to “do” the Silverstone Classic.
Media Accreditation at Silverstone
There was a surprise in store – a couple of weeks before the event, the editor of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club magazine contacted me – the upshot being that I was set up for media accreditation for the weekend. This would be a first on the Grand Prix circuit and most welcome. I, and others, have witnessed over the years the increasingly difficult challenge of getting good photos whether through, over or round the ever-present fences.
I have had that privilege once before on the National Circuit and, as then, it transforms the photographer’s experience at Silverstone. Friday was qualifying and one race for fifties sports cars, so I focused on the paddock and pit lane. The paddock was laid out by race as at the Le Mans Classic and gave a real feeling of an event as I walked in.
Photographing the BRDC Classic Friday – Pit Lane and Qualifying
I spent time in pit lane and on the pit wall. Shooting through the narrow gaps in the fence is interesting to say the least.
The pit garages were being used for the newer GT3, F1 and Endurance cars.
Other grids formed up behind the pit garages before driving through to pit lane and the track.
It was then out on track – firstly down to Club / Vale for the GP Icons qualifying. For the spectator photographer this was always a promising location. There is a view over Vale and Club. However, Silverstone has increased the height of the fence there to preclude a clean shot and for this weekend they were using the historic layout – essentially a gentle but fast left / right sweep. Add to that, at various times the gates were locked to restrict spectator access to the area – all a little uncoordinated.
Photographing the BRDC Classic Saturday – Becketts, Village and GT Legends
I started Saturday morning at Becketts for the Pre-War, Historic Road Sports and 2 Litre sportscars. As with Vale and Club, accreditation opens up a much wider range of possibilities with, for example, the Silverstone Six grandstand or the Wing in the background. Whereas in recent years, the paddocks have been split over the International and National Paddocks, this time all the action, car club displays and trade stands were within the confines of the National Circuit.
After lunch on Saturday, it was down to the Village complex. This has been the best place for fence free photography for spectators with two “windows” in the fence giving angles on the Village to Aintree section. The greater freedom I had enabled me to get a wider range of shots of the F1 cars and the Historic Touring Cars.
Then to the inside of Aintree for the GT3 Legends – not one but two R35 GTRs, Aston Martins and a deliciously raucous Camaro were a delight !
To round out a very long day, we had a Pre-66 GT race and then the Endurance Legends. I moved across to Luffield where the light was fabulous for the GTs including the ever-popular Breadvan.
The Endurance Legends covered a wide range of years and classes, including an Audi R8, Bentley and Ferrari 458.
Photographing the BRDC Classic Sunday – Changing Weather and Historic Action
Sunday dawned dull and we had rain on the short journey to Silverstone. Andrew had to stop to put up the roof on his MX5! A damp track greeted the Pre-66 Touring cars qualifying. Despite the dark clouds, there was no more rain. Strong winds persisted for the rest of the day helping dry the track.
The Derek Bell Trophy race had one of the smaller entries of the weekend but there was a spirited battle for second.
I stayed at Luffield / Brooklands for the Pre-War race. Andrew was off looking at the car clubs and trade stands. The visibility of the drivers is one of the attractions of this class, unless it is a right-hand drive Aston Martin with tonneau cover.
Comparing Spectator and Media Photography
We met up and drove round to Becketts. As a spectator he was able to shoot over the fence from the foot of the Becketts grandstand. As a comparison, you can see what images we were both able to get. Mind you, his shot of the thundering GT1 GTR is one to keep!
From there we moved to Village for some Formula 1 and more glorious historic touring cars. Flaming Skylines if you were very lucky. Andrew used the two windows in the fence for his shots. He also went for a 1/10th second shot which works well in 3:1 aspect ratio.
Our penultimate location was the Wing. It was possible to get down there by bus, or indeed, more correctly, ancient charabanc! Fortunately, I had a pass to allow me to drive down, but there didn’t seem to be a lot of checking on Sunday at least. The Wing levels the playing field – we were both shooting down on the cars as they accelerated up Hamilton Straight.
Time to remember why I was here! There were many Alfas in the final two races, so it was back to Luffield. In the Pre-66 Touring Cars the Mustangs were ganging up on everything including this innocent little Alfa Romeo Giulia!
In the final Historic Road Sports race, I concluded that there is a perfection to the look of a sixties Alfa Romeo.
A Memorable Return to Silverstone
A long, hot, tiring three days but so worthwhile to shoot at a track I been going to for over sixty years without the challenge of the fences. A huge thank you to the AROC for giving me the opportunity – and, yes, I’d happily do it again !
Photographing the BRDC Classic – Photographers notes
Over the course of the weekend, I used every lens in the bag. In the pit lane 24-120 zoom, for the track shots 70-200 zoom, 300 prime and 500 prime.
