The Motor Sport Hall of Fame has announced a number of changes for 2016. Among these was the launch of five categories to include Formula 1, sports car racing, motorcycling, and US motor sport. For the first time in its six year history, members of the public were invited to cast their votes as to who should be included for 2016, over 25,000 people took part. Voting has now closed, and we are delighted to reveal the top three nominees chosen have been announced in the current issue of Motor Sport.
The Hall of Fame was created in February 2010, and the inductees at its inaugural ceremony included Jacky Ickx, Tony Brooks and Ron Dennis. Each year, a further four legends from the world of motorsport have been inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame, joining past inductees such as James Hunt, Colin Chapman and Sir Jack Brabham.
2016 will also see the Hall of Fame awards dinner open to the public for the first time. 150 tickets will be available to motorsport fans keen to rub shoulders with past and current stars, including John Surtees, Derek Bell, Ron Dennis, Tom Kristensen and Jackie Stewart. Prior to the dinner, a separate Hall of Fame Live Q+A will be hosted by TV presenter Jennie Gow and will feature an open Q+A session with former Hall of Fame inductees.
“I’m excited for the 2016 events,” said Motor Sport editor Damien Smith. “I feel the changes we’ve made will help our Hall of Fame become stronger, and ensure that we continue to highlight the names which have made the biggest contribution to the world of motorsport.”
There will be several demonstrations of historic racing cars during the day and evening, including Derek Bell who will take to the Captain’s Drive in the # 17 Shell Dunlop Porsche 962 which came second in the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans and Brian Redman’s T70 Red Rose Motors car, chassis SL71/27. On display statically will be the Richard Burns Safari rally winning Impreza from 2000 and one of Roger Penske’s finest; the Penske PC23, which Al Unser Jr, Emerson Fittipaldi and Paul Tracy raced in 1994 and finished in the top three places in the IndyCar season helping the team dominate the Chassis Constructor’s Cup.
Celebrating two wheels will be Mike Hailwood’s son David riding his late father’s motorcycle, plus the iconic Texaco Heron bike that Barry Sheene raced in 1979 at the Silverstone GP, along with John Surtees and the 1956 championship-winning MV Agusta.
The 2016 Hall of Fame Live and Hall of Fame Awards dinner will take place on Tuesday May 31st at the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom. Tickets to the Hall of Fame Live event cost £72, tickets to the dinner are from £399 with discounts when bought in bulk. All are available via the Motor Sport website,www.motorsportmagazine.com or directly: www.motorsportmagazine.com/halloffame/tickets/
