Silverstone Festival to display of F1 championship winning cars
He said: "Now, the star-studded collection is not only nearly complete, but it also features an incredible number of title-winning cars. McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Williams have already confirmed their support for the showcase, contributing title-winning cars driven by illustrious champions including Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Fernando Alonso, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Team Lotus was founded by Colin Chapman and recorded its first F1 entry in 1958.Based at Hethel, near Norwich, the team counted world champions Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Mario Andretti among its drivers.British driver Clark was intrinsically linked with Team Lotus in its formative years, winning titles in 1963 and 1965 and the "iconic" Lotus 25/R4 in which he won his first crown will join the display, alongside those driven by Rindt, Fittipaldi and Andretti.The festival will also feature performances from Natasha Bedingfield and Craig David presents TS5.The Silverstone Festival runs from 22-24 August.
Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Express
20 minutes ago
- Auto Express
New Audi A6 e-hybrid 2025 review: a talented car that's held back by obvious drawbacks
If you're after an efficient, refined and comfortable executive saloon, you could do a lot worse than the new Audi A6. This is a well rounded package with excellent executive-car credentials, especially when fitted with the impressive e-hybrid plug-in powertrain. However, the pioneering status that former generations of the A6 held in terms of design, interior tech and material quality doesn't quite apply to this latest model – and that erodes key USPs that made the A6 such a compelling choice. Advertisement - Article continues below Life is pretty difficult for premium car brands like Audi these days. Gone is the era of gentle evolution, and instead constant, relentless innovation is required, largely around the profitable mass production of battery electric models. Yet this can't come at the expense of the combustion-powered models customers are still asking for, and that's why we're testing another all-new Audi A6 – the key difference here being that this model is the new combustion variant. Together with the sleek Avant estate, this new A6 saloon joins the all-electric A6 e-tron launched last year in Sportback and Avant bodystyles, creating a spread of powertrain options in the executive class. In contrast to the BMW 5 Series range, though, the electric and combustion A6 models share little more than a name, because the two are entirely different under the skin. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View A6 View A6 View A6 View A6 This new model uses a heavily modified version of the previous A6's architecture, called PPC. You'll find a range of petrol and diesel engines under the bonnet, but the new chassis has been largely developed to integrate a new generation of plug-in hybrids, one of which we're driving here. As with lots of premium plug-in hybrids in recent years, these new models pack significantly more electric range, with the A6 capable of just over 60 miles from a single charge. This should mean the vast majority of daily driving duties can be handled on battery power, which will not only reduce tailpipe emissions, but will also save on fuel bills, especially if you can charge at home. Advertisement - Article continues below Tempted by an A6 of your own? Configure your perfect Jeep Avenger through our Find a Car service. Alternatively, check out our top prices on used Audi A6 models... This emission-free range is made possible by a 25.9kWh battery pack and electric motor, which are packaged together with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Together, the electric motor and petrol engine produce 294bhp and 450Nm of torque, the majority of which is generated by the petrol engine. This is sent through Audi's 'quattro Ultra' all-wheel drive system, which is able to de-couple the rear axle under light acceleration to further help with efficiency. On its own the e-motor can only produce 73bhp, but despite this meek figure the car will still accelerate up to, and happily cruise at motorway speeds without the petrol engine. However when doing so the A6 e-hybrid, like all plug-in hybrids, isn't at its most efficient, so a bit of planning is often required to make the most of its technical toolkit. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below This is done for you if the integrated navigation is set, because over longer distances the A6 will switch between petrol end electric power to make the most of the battery charge in anticipation of the journey ahead. Advertisement - Article continues below Overall, the powertrain generally feels well calibrated, with the petrol engine imperceptively chiming in and out depending on the level of performance being asked for by the driver. The set-up is easy to control too, thanks to a small meter on the driver's information display that shows in real time how close you are to firing up the petrol engine when accelerating. There's no virtual kick-down in the throttle pedal, as some plug-in hybrids have, but the system is still very intuitive. The e-hybrid's real-world efficiency isn't a million miles away from its quoted figures, with Audi posting a rating of 113mpg, achieved under the new testing cycle for plug-in hybrids. However, most rivals (including the BMW 530e and Mercedes E 300 e) have yet to be re-assessed under the new test, so making on-paper comparisons is difficult for the moment. On our test, we pretty much matched the A6's official figure after a solid morning's drive of around 100 miles, having gone through about 50 per cent of the battery's charge. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below With the battery fully topped-up, the car's trip computer also matched the 60-mile quoted electric range, and we found that figure to be accurate in a combination of low and medium-speed driving. Even if your place of work is more than 30 or 40 miles away from home, regular charging will keep you well within the powertrain's sweet spot. There's only AC charging on board and it maxes out at 11kW, but this will still fill the battery from empty in about two-and-a-half hours – ideal for parking up at work or home, but not for charging on the go. But what about the rest of the car? The A6 has rarely been the sharpest car to drive in the class – no surprise when its key rival is a BMW 5 Series – but this latest generation definitely has an air of confidence about the way it flows down the road. Advertisement - Article continues below The 'Launch Edition' we drove had a couple of unusual additions that we don't think will be particularly common on customer cars, including a sports suspension set-up, rear-wheel steering and 21-inch wheels (the largest available). Yet even with this relatively focused combination, the A6 was unflustered by bumps and rough road surfaces. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The benefit came in the A6's impressive roadholding and confident handling. This is now a big car, and a heavy one at over 2.1 tonnes, but it drives as if it's hundreds of kilos lighter. That's not to say the driving experience is particularly engaging, but it compares well to its rivals. The Balanced and Comfort drive modes seem well judged and prioritise efficiency. While the Drive Select button is touch-sensitive rather than physical, it is in a prime position on the centre console for quick changes. Sport mode sharpens things up and gives you maximum performance, but the engine's inherently good refinement makes it particularly un-satisfying to use in this manner. Where the A6 excels is on a smooth motorway, with very impressive refinement and almost no wind noise thanks to its aerodynamically efficient body. There's little fundamentally wrong with the cabin – the driving position is nicely adjustable, the front pillars are thin, visibility is good and there are some elements that impress. However, there are also a lot of aspects that undermine Audi's positioning as a premium brand. Gone is the previous generation's substantial gear selector and in its place is a plasticky matchbox-shaped mechanism that feels as if it's been borrowed from a supermini, not from the class above, as it once did. This is only emphasised by the excessive use of scratch-prone black plastic on the entire centre console, and the random use of inserts on its edges, which are carbon fibre, or timber and silver plastic, depending on the model. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The soft-touch Dynamica fabric fitted on the seats and some of the lower dash looks and feels fine, but the materials that surround it do only an average impression of leather, and don't feel right for this price bracket. The hard plastic section below the central air vents is also unforgivably cheap and scratchy. The triple-screen infotainment set-up is easy enough to use, but the housing is chaotic, with huge bezels on the main section sitting uncomfortably with the haphazardly placed passenger screen. There are some ergonomic quirks, too, such as the touch panel for secondary controls including the side mirror and rear child door lock being mounted where you'd prefer to see a grab handle – as on the passenger side door. The steering wheel controls also feel cheap and, like almost every hard surface inside, prone to showing greasy fingerprints. Space up front is fine, and there's a good amount of storage for small items, including a wireless phone charger and two USB-C points. However, largely due to the need to package so many different powertrain elements, the second row is a little cramped, with less legroom than you'd expect considering the car's external dimensions. The boot is long and wide, but rather shallow, which leads to an average capacity for the class of just 354 litres – around 180 less than the previous-generation A6, albeit without plug-in hybrid tech. However, the boot floor is at least flat and leaves an unobstructed space when the second row is folded, in contrast to a PHEV Mercedes E-Class saloon. There is no dedicated space to store the charge cable in the Audi, though. Which leads us to those two key rivals. Both BMW and Mercedes offer plug-in hybrid variants of their executive saloons and they come with impressive electric ranges. However, if you look into the details, the BMW is still ahead when it comes to some key factors. Its bigger boot and lower base price keep it as our preferred offering, given that it matches the A6's range, efficiency and tech, while also being lighter and very nearly as fast in a straight line. Model: Audi A6 Avant e-hybrid Launch Edition Price: £69,680 Powertrain: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol, 1x e-motor, 25.9kWh battery Power/torque: 294bhp/380Nm Transmission: 7-speed auto, all-wheel drive 0-62mph: 6.0 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy/CO2: 113mpg/57g/km Size (L/W/H): 4,999/1,875/1,418mm On sale: Now Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email
BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
Blue plaque in Ross-on-Wye for Mott the Hoople band members
A blue plaque is to be unveiled in Ross-on-Wye to commemorate two founding members of the band Mott the "Buffin" Griffin, who died in 2016, and Pete Overend Watts, who died in 2017, both grew up in the town and attended John Kyrle High School, known at the time as Ross plaque will be installed at the Hope and Anchor pub and restaurant where the two, played in 1963 in local band The Anchors, the town council will be unveiled on the final day of Mottfest, a weekend long celebration of the band in the town this October. The band formed in 1969 and are most associated with the 1972 hit single All The Young Dudes, written by David festival dedicated to the band was announced in June, shortly after another of the band's founding members Mick Ralphs died aged Hereford-born musician was another founding member of the band, but left four years later and moved on to Bad organiser Simon Rowberry said the event would help show how important Herefordshire had been to the music industry. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Auto Express
20 minutes ago
- Auto Express
New Mercedes EQB Urban Edition review: electric SUV is starting to show its age
The Mercedes EQB retains its USP as one of the only small-ish electric SUVs available with seven seats and, for many, that will be reason enough to buy one. It's showing its age in places, and prices have risen since the car first went on sale, but this new Urban Edition model packs in a load of desirable extras for a modest premium – making it the new pick of the range. A particularly strong lease or PCP offer would sweeten the deal considerably. Advertisement - Article continues below Soon, we won't recognise the Mercedes small-car range. While the A-Class may have been given a stay of execution, before long, the B-Class, GLA and GLB – plus their electric EQ equivalents – will either be replaced or consigned to the history books forever. Until then, however, the German brand is doing its utmost to maintain interest in its pint-sized hatchbacks and SUVs, sneaking a well equipped Urban Edition trim on to certain model lines – including the intriguing seven-seat EQB. Aside from the slightly dowdy-looking Sport Edition, this blingy Urban-themed special is the most affordable variant in the EQB line-up. Priced at £55,070, it's £2,260 more than the base model, but almost £3k less than the visually similar AMG Line Premium. It's only available in front-wheel-drive 250+ guise; the dual-motor 4MATIC-equipped 300 and 350 cars have been removed from the range. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View EQB View EQB View EQB View EQB With the same exterior styling package as the AMG Line, this version ticks all the right boxes from a design point of view. It means you get a more chiselled look with sportier-looking bumpers, plus an upgraded grille embellished with little three-pointed stars. Further to this, every Urban Edition features Merc's 'Night Package' with darker trim and tinted windows, plus gloss-black 20-inch wheels. Our car's Spectral Blue metallic paint is a no-cost option. Advertisement - Article continues below Did you know you can buy a new Mercedes EQB through our Find a Car service? Alternatively you can get great used deals on used Mercedes EQB models. Inside, you get sports seats covered in man-made leather and microfibre cloth. There's a dark headlining, AMG floor mats, 64-colour ambient lighting and 'Star Pattern' trim. Everything you see in our pictures is standard, but it's worth noting that the Urban Edition misses out on what some may consider essential equipment; items such as keyless entry and a front-facing parking camera are conspicuous by their absence. The single-zone climate control (in a seven-seat car) seems a bit stingy, too. Otherwise, the Urban Edition is a pretty compelling package. It adds a lot of the features EQB buyers – and small-SUV customers in general – are looking for, without bundling in high-margin posh trim, or unnecessary luxuries like an expensive glass roof or bigger screens. If the kit list appeals, there's plenty to recommend. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Not least because the EQB remains one of just a handful of small, electric SUVs available with seven seats. The third row folds flat under the boot floor, and when in place, offers two Isofix child-seat mounts – ensuring your most precious cargo is bolted in as secure as can be. Factor in a five-star Euro NCAP rating and there's good reason to consider one if safety is a top priority. Those in the very back also benefit from a pair of USB-C ports, two cupholders and small nets for storing books or tablets. Advertisement - Article continues below As before, the EQB comes with a sliding middle row. This doesn't transform those rearmost seats into adult-carrying armchairs, but it'll free up a bit of extra kneeroom, or some more bootspace if that's what you require. The EQB's 675-litre load bay in its five-seat configuration is very generous – made all the more usable by the SUV's square shape and upright stance. Up front, the EQB may not have the wow factor of the latest CLA, but the fact that the A-Class felt so cutting-edge when it launched back in 2018 has stood sister models like the EQB in good stead all these years later. As you'd expect, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and while the screens are on the small side, they still look relatively sharp. The isolated row of climate control switches below the air vents are tactile and easy to use. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Quality is a mixed bag. It mostly feels well screwed together, although there are some cheaper materials within arm's reach – particularly around the centre console, ahead of the middle cubby. The seats feel plush enough, and they're supportive on longer drives. No changes have been made to the way the EQB handles, but this version's larger 20-inch wheels mean there's a little more fidgeting and some extra road noise compared with the base Sport Edition model. It's not enough to render the car uncomfortable; the Urban Edition is perfectly agreeable on the motorway, with reasonable refinement considering its blocky shape. Advertisement - Article continues below This isn't a particularly fun car to drive, however. The front-mounted electric motor generates enough punch with just a driver on board, but the steering is light and rather vague. Sport mode does the EQB no favours at all, and even the standard Comfort setting can feel a bit spiky at times. Eco dulls the motor's responsiveness to the other extreme, which is a shame. The SUV feels quite wafty at times, and the poor brake-pedal calibration that plagued early Mercedes EVs is still evident here. It's quite disconcerting at times, in fact, with a regen system that doesn't always act as you'd hope. There's no one-pedal drive mode, either. Efficiency is reasonable considering this is very much based on the firm's first-generation EV tech. We managed 3.6mi/kWh in mild conditions, resulting in a real-world range of around 250 miles – roughly 50 miles shy of the Merc's WLTP-rated maximum. A Kia EV9 will (officially) do more, but its sheer size means it'll cost you more to buy and run. Charging speeds are pegged at just 100kW, however – another compromise caused by the fact the EQB has been around for quite some time now, and is based on an old multi-fuel platform. Still, Mercedes claims a 10-80 per cent top up is possible in around half an hour; an 11kW on-board charger means a full charge takes just over seven hours if you've got a fast enough home wallbox. Model: Mercedes EQB 250+ Urban Edition Price: £55,070 Powertrain: 70.5kWh battery, 1x e-motor Power/torque: 187bhp/385Nm Transmission: Single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 8.9 seconds Top speed: 99mph Range: 299 miles Max charging: 100kW (10-80% in 32 mins) Size (L/W/H): 4,687/1,834/1,701mm On sale: Now Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra slash electric car prices Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra slash electric car prices Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra aren't waiting around for the government grant by cutting £1,500 from their EV prices Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range Five EVs under £24k have joined Dacia's Spring on the UK market. How far can you go on a budget? We find out Skoda Elroq Edition 85 long-term test: the perfect car to fight badge snobbery Skoda Elroq Edition 85 long-term test: the perfect car to fight badge snobbery First report: do age-old stigmas still plague award-winning SUVs? Long-term tests 2 Aug 2025
