Finance experts combine to sponsor Silverstone Classic

David Oates, a wealth management specialist based in Thornton, Leicestershire, and Stephen Smith, principal of Smith Eliot Financial Management in Oakham – both senior partners of the St. James’s Place Partnership – are co-sponsoring the Drivers’ Club with Maserati.

“Stephen and I are both keen motor sport enthusiasts – I circuit-raced in the 70s and 80s – and are delighted to have the opportunity to co-sponsor the Drivers’ Club, which will be home to hundreds of competitors from all over the world over the three day festival,” said David.

On-track the Silverstone Classic boasts a stellar line-up of races as 1000 hard-charging racers do battle in 800 of the world’s finest and most evocative cars spanning seven decades of motor racing heritage. In total, 23 races will cover Grand Prix cars, sports, GT, saloon and single-seater racing cars from 1930 to the 1990s.

Highlights this year include six races for historic F1 cars to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first FIA Formula One World Championship round staged at Silverstone in 1950 plus the newly created Royal Automobile Club Historic Tourist Trophy. It features a star-spangled grid for pre-63 GT cars and has attracted some of the rarest and most exciting GT cars ever created led by a plethora of mouth-watering Ferrari GTOs and Aston Martin Zagatos.

Adding to the occasion, more than 100 car clubs will be displaying in excess of 6,000 privately owned classic cars and bikes in the huge infield area.

“This year’s Classic will be the biggest and most spectacular yet and we are delighted that the Drivers’ Club will be supported by two members of the St. James’s Place Partnership,” said event director Nick Wigley.

“The Drivers’ Club is ideally placed close to the paddock and overlooks the inside of Copse Corner. It will provide excellent viewing as well as the perfect place for competitors to relax and prepare to go racing.”