Motor racing legends to ‘appear’ at Bath Festival.

Motor racing Legends Niki Lauder, Jackie Stewart and Stirling Moss will be making a guest appearance at this year’s Bath Festival of Motoring – although not in person.

The three racing heroes, plus a host of other famous names from the Grand Prix scene of the 50s, 60s and 70s, are featured in rare films being screened at the Festival for the first time.  The movies – created by the in-house film Unit of Castrol Oil – are rarely seen.

They feature not just highlights of some of the most exciting races over the decades, but behind-the-scenes conversations and interviews with drivers such as world racing champions Emerson Fittipaldi and Graham Hill.

Festival of Motoring organiser, Simon Spalding, said that the films are not only exciting records of the races, but also interesting social archives.

“The Castrol team were given special access, and these films provide a much more realistic impression of what Grand Prix racing was like back then than usually reflected in newsreels or tv coverage of the time.  You can almost smell the oil and sweat!

“To see these legendary drivers, often talking candidly, unaware of the camera, is a real thrill.  It’s also fascinating to see how fashions and styles change over the decades – not just in terms of design and dress, but attitudes as well.

“These rare films are real gems, and we’re delighted to be showing them to a wider public. They deserve to be more widely appreciated.”

Grand Prix films being screened include:

– 1958 Brussels GP, won by Englishman, Tony Brooks, driving a Vanwall

– 1962 Rouen GP, won by American, Dan Gurney, driving a Porsche

– 1964 Brands Hatch GP (the first GP race held there), won by Scot, Jim Clark   driving a Lotus 25

– 1972 Austrian GP, won by Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi , driving a Lotus Ford

Also on display at the Festival will be hundreds of classic vehicles and some of the latest prestige ‘supercars’, alongside live entertainment and an array of local food and drink.  

The event is supporting two main local charities: ‘Freewheelers’, the local volunteer blood bike service, and ‘Time2Share’ which provides support for disabled children and their families.

The Festival, organised by the Rotary Club of Bath, takes place on the 18th and 19th June at Walcot Rugby Ground, in Lansdown.  Tickets can be bought from the Festival website, www.bathfestivalofmotoring.com