Season opener for those interested in historic motor sport is the annual Reis Race Retro show held as usual on three days, this year on Friday 21st February to Sunday 23 February 2020. Amongst the attractions, over 140 Group B and WRC rally cars attended together with a number of celebrity drivers attempting the mocked up rally course at the National Agricultural and Exhibition centre at Stoneleigh Park, near Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Around 25,000 people attended over the weekend.
Didier Auriol kicked off the live rally action, reunited with a Ford Sierra Cosworth replica of the car he drove in period, while Ingram sat behind the wheel of a ‘Skodaru’, a Peugeot 306, and a Nissan Funny F2 to name a few. The wet weather only added to the fun as the cars slipped and slid around the rally stage, resulting in a fantastic spectacle for onlookers.
Back inside, on the Reis Live interview stage, hosted by Gemma Scott, French World Rally Champion Didier Auriol was just one of the guests appearing. European Rally Champion Chris Ingram, F1 driver Martin Donnelly, Le Mans racer Andy Wallace, and former McLaren F1 mechanic Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestley were also interviewed, to name a few.
250 exhibitors were displaying a full range of tuning goodies and safety equipment, together with another hall full of Autojumble for sale.
Silverstone Auctions held two auctions - one for competition cars and the other for special sports cars. Results included an Aston Martin DB5 seeing the hammer down at £708,750, a WRC 2007 Subaru Impreza selling at £189,000, and the 1992 Lancia Hyena Zagato finding a new home for £168,750.
All in all, it is a great event to meet up with fellow competitors at the beginning of the new season and find out what restorations and rebuilds have taken place over the winter.
