The Silverstone Classic, celebrating eight decades of classic motor racing, and featuring some of the most valuable and highly sought after machinery ever raced is being staged at Silverstone on July 28-30.

More than 800 competitors will battle it out on the GP circuit in a line-up of 22 races, with over 600 race cars and motorcycles.

The Derek Bell Trophy alone features pre-1980 cars from F1, F2, F3, F Atlantic and F5000, while other race series competing at the three-day event include Historic Formula Endurance, GT & Sports Endurance, Sports cars, Supersports cars, Saloons and a Special Feature Pursuit Challenge exclusively for Aston Martins, featuring DBR1 to DBR9 works race cars.

The oldest car competing at the event will be a 1921 TT 3 litre Bentley, which will roll back the years when it is driven out on track by Richard and Andrew Frankel in The BRDC500 Trophy. Meanwhile, the youngest car at the Classic is a 1992 Spice GTP, driven by Jim Mullen in The British Empire Trophy.

The international appeal of the event is probably best represented by the Colin Chapman Trophy for HSCC Historic Formula Junior cars which fields an entry list that includes drivers from the USA, Australia, Germany, Japan and Scotland.

This year's Silverstone Classic will also feature, for the first time, two races for Classic 750 and Unlimited Motorcycles. Fifty riders are expected to make the start grid for each of the races on Saturday and Sunday.

Among the marques and machines on show will be Triumphs, Yamahas, Kawasakis, Ducatis, Norton Seeleys, and a Harris Laverda. In addition to a spectacular race entry list, the entire infield will be packed with car and motorcycle club displays, featuring more than 1,500 classic examples from more than 50 famous marques; a period fun fair; air displays; hot air balloon flights; an antique and craft fair; trade stalls; a photo and art gallery; The Scalextric Roadshow, plus live music and barbecues in the Scarf and Goggles entertainment area.

Tickets for the 2006 Silverstone Classic have been priced at £15 per day if booked in advance (£20 on the day), while special event tickets are £40 for all three days. Children aged 15 years and under, accompanied by an adult, go free, while parking, roving grandstand seating, paddock access and centre transfer are all also included in the prices. To purchase tickets, or for further information on the 2006 Silverstone Classic, visit www.silverstone.co.uk/classic, or call 08704 588 260.