Gallery: Autosport International 2017

Autosport International made yet another lasting impression in 2017, playing host to the biggest names in motor racing, the many innovative and celebrated developments in automotive technology and the most iconic competition cars to grace the circuit in motorsport history.

Visitors were treated to a grid of F1 cars and a line-up of historic Formula Fords to celebrate the series 50th anniversary. The F1 Racing display enabled the crowds to get up close to the likes of F1 cars from Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Red Bull. They could even take a closer look at the Jaguar i-Type – the manufacturer’s Formula E racing car.

At the other end of the single-seater ladder was a platter of historic Formula Ford racers. Three-time F1 World Champion Ayrton Senna’s Van Diemen RF81 headlined the display to celebrate the series’ 50th anniversary. The Historic Sports Car Club’s (HSCC) feature also included Formula Fords raced by Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher and Emerson Fittipaldi.

Autosport International 2017 also featured a world-first Classic Team Lotus assembly of all seven remaining Lotus 49s, complete with former engineers Dick Scammell, Bob Dance and Herbie Blash also in attendance. And let’s not forget the display of more than a dozen Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500s, brought together to celebrate 30 years since the birth of what is arguably the most successful touring car design in history.

Finally, we at Historic Racing Technology were delighted to see the Team Gunston Lotus 72/3 – aka the Holy Grail. This example is the “world’s most original” Lotus 72, having been stored away and remained untouched for more than 40 years after its final outing in 1976.

The 72 was a hugely innovative F1 car, designed for the 1970 season by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe. Its “wedge shape” was unique for its time, its suspension incorporated anti-dive geometry and the two radiators, mounted either side of the cockpit, is said to have dramatically improved aerodynamic performance. The 72 competed in more than 70 World Championship races, winning 20 Grand Prix, two Driver’s and three Constructor’s Championships.

Check out the gallery below for the sights and sounds of ASI17!

Photos by Sophie Williamson-Stothert