Hundreds of MG drivers from Oxfordshire descend on Silverstone on Friday to pay homage to Abingdon’s best known export.

An estimated 15,000 people will attend a three-day bash at Britain’s most famous racing circuit as Abingdon’s MG Car Club lays on its biggest event to celebrate the club’s 80th birthday.

The car club was started in 1930 in Stevenage but in 1989 moved to the former factory in Cemetery Road where more than a million cars bearing the octagonal badge were built.

This year’s event, the 60th to have been staged at Silverstone, will see classic cars and buses take part in 14 races over three days.

There will be displays of classic MGs and the weekend will also see the launch of the new MG 6 – the first new car since the marque was taken over by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in 2007.

Club spokesman Chris Seaward said MG owners from across Europe and from as far afield as New Zealand and China will attend the event, with many making pilgrimages to Abingdon beforehand.

He said: “The car club attracts people from all across the world to Abingdon and the car is also hugely popular among local people.

“There will be a noticeable increase in the number of MGs on the road over the next few days and it’s a source of pride for Oxfordshire that the appeal of the car is so strong.

“The car has such a rich history and it’s great our celebrations have been chosen as the launch venue for the new MG.”

The club has 10,500 registered members and hundreds of owners are expected to attend the event.

Colin Grant, from Dorchester-on-Thames, has owned eight MGs in his lifetime and will be among the crowd driving to Silverstone.

The 59-year-old’s father, Harry, worked at the factory from 1955 until it closed in 1980.

He said: “I was brought up on a staple diet of MGs. The MG was so successful because its cars were very affordable but also very desirable.

“Abingdon is the traditional home of the car and we’re still flying the banner for MG all these years later.”

Tickets cost £20 today, £25 tomorrow or Sunday, or £40 all weekend.

Serving military personnel, veterans medically discharged since 2001 and under 16s can get free entry.