Heikki Kovalainen signs up for Brooklands Motoring Festival

Brooklands Motoring Festival: The Double Twelve, is shaping up to be a Formula 1 delight as organisers confirmed a driving appearance by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ newest racing star Heikki Kovalainen.

Support for the weekend-long event, over 28-29 June 2008, is quickly growing. In addition, Heikki Kovalainen’s team mate, Lewis Hamilton will also appear. And the historical context of the event is being boosted by racing legend Sir Stirling Moss, and involvement of the Brooklands Society.

Originally from Finland, Kovalainen, 26, is quickly making a name for himself during his first season with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, securing a stunning podium finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Peter O’Halloran, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz World, commented: “Brooklands is the home of motor-racing as we know it today and, in particular, of the British Grand Prix, first held here in 1926. Given that this year’s Festival falls the week before the current British Grand Prix, it seems only fitting to have such a large F1 presence.”

Brooklands Society’s 41st Annual Reunion
The heritage of Brooklands will also play a large part of ‘The Double Twelve’ through its competition element and the involvement of the Brooklands Society. For 40 years the Brooklands Society has held its annual reunion at the end of June, to celebrate the heritage of the Brooklands site. These reunions have rightly achieved fame for attracting large numbers of original Brooklands cars and motorcycles and then-surviving Brooklands drivers and riders were amongst the large crowds.

This year, the Society’s 41st reunion is to form an integral part of the Brooklands Motoring Festival on Sunday 29 June, with the special invited marques for the year taking their place on this bigger stage, some special parades and an exlcusive celebratory reunion lunch in the historic Clubhouse.

Picking up on the Double Twelve theme, the Society is assembling grids of cars which took part in the original Double Twelve races in the 1920s and ‘30s, and these cars will run in a re-enactment of those famous races.

The principal featured reunion marque is Riley, whose cars were amongst the most successful at the track in the 1920s and ‘30s, and special displays and parades will include Rileys from the early days right up to the end of production in the 1970s. They will include the “Brooklands” sports/racing version of the company’s famous “Nine” model, as well as the sporting saloons of the post-war era. Backing the Rileys up will be a fine display of veteran De Dion Boutons, representing one of the most important early motor manufacturers.

Festival organisers Mercedes-Benz World and the Brooklands Museum have created a competition which combines a Concours d’Elegance with driving tests, using many of the test layouts used in the 1939 Junior Car Club (JCC) Rallies at Brooklands.

Competitors will have their vehicles judged against the exacting criteria of a Concours d’Elegance, while the tests will take place in thrilling and evocative environments such as the Members’ Banking and the notorious Test Hill of the original circuit, as well as on the modern handling circuits at Mercedes-Benz World.

Points awarded for both car and test will be added to give an overall score, ensuring that the overall winner will be the best driver using the best-kept vehicle.

Allan Winn, Director of the Brooklands Museum, commented: “We will be replicating the exact tests undertaken in the past so it will be interesting to observe whether driving skills have advanced or diminished in the 80 years since these Rallies were first held.

“We aim to make ‘The Double Twelve’ the UK’s premiere Concours event which will rival the best in the world, so drivers competing in the inaugural event will be making history.”

Competitors will tackle a wide range of driving tests over the two days, including:

Test Hill: The car is driven up the Test Hill, stopping on the steepest part, and must then be restarted without rolling backwards. The car must climb the rest of the hill without stopping, to cross a finish line on the flat area beyond the top of the hill.

Wiggle Woggle: The car must be driven forwards, undertake a three-point turn, drive a figure of eight around two markers, drive forward and perform another three-point turn before driving to the finish.

Half Mile: Each car must do three laps of the Mercedes-Benz World circuit. The object of the test is to complete the laps within a set time.

Quick Start: When the clock starts, the driver must run to the car, start it and do a reverse-and-forward manoeuvre to reach the finish line.

The Festival, which will take place over 28-29 June 2008 in Weybridge, Surrey, will be an action-packed weekend of entertainment. With scheduled performances including the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows Display Team and the Blue Eagles Helicopter display team the weekend is set to appeal to everyone from motoring and motor sport enthusiasts through to families looking for a special day out.

To book tickets or for further information please call 0844 8472421 or visit brooklandsfestival.com. Prices start from £25.00 for Adults, £10.00 for Children or £60.00 for a family ticket (two adults, three children).