CarFest returning to Silverstone for second year

2 days ago

Louise Parry

News image — Thousands of runners and walkers joined festival-founder Chris Evans at the annual Festival Dash

Vojtech Bartonicek/Carfest Chris Evans stands among a large crowd, holding both hands in the air, one holding a microphone. He is wearing sunglasses, a red and white cap and a yellow costume with arm holes and a red long-sleeved top underneath. Around him are some inflatable animals. Everyone is waving and many wear sunglasses. The Silverstone audience stands are blurred in the background. — Thousands of runners and walkers joined festival-founder Chris Evans at the annual Festival Dash

Music and motoring festival CarFest will return to Silverstone next summer after a successful first year at the racing circuit.

More than 30,000 people flocked to the Northamptonshire venue each day during the August bank holiday weekend, to attend the festival which was founded by Chris Evans.

"Being at Silverstone gave us the chance to do everything we love about CarFest on a whole new scale," said radio broadcaster Evans.

On site, more than £125,000 was raised for charities, including five local ones: The Pace Centre, Helen & Douglas House, The Smallpeice Trust, Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity and Northamptonshire Community Foundation.

The total raised for charity will be announced later, and includes 10% of ticket sales and other initiatives.

Simon Knight A black Mercedes sports car is parked on the Silverstone track, with side doors raised up on both sides. The track is full of people milling around, with the stands in the distance. — Silverstone was chosen as a more central venue that ties in with the festival's "automotive heritage"

As well as musical performances from headliners such as Jessie J, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Nile Rodgers & Chic and the Sugababes, there were plenty of cars on display - both vintage and brand new.

More than 260 cars took place in track shows, and daily "grid walks" allowed guests to walk along the famous circuit to see cars up close.

CarFest's first ever mother and daughter race team, Lucie and Honey Hodgson, showcased their championship cars on the race track.

Beyond cars and music, there were children's activities, opportunities to watch cooking demos at FoodFest and do yoga at SpaFest.

Sir Chris Hoy also hosted a Cycle Dash with Bikeability to encourage younger visitors to embrace two wheels.

Organisers decided to move the festival to a site in central England to make it more accessible to visitors from across the country. It had previously been held in Laverstoke Park Farm in Overton, Hampshire.

Evans, who founded the festival in 2012, said: "We've been dreaming about bringing CarFest to Silverstone for a long time, so to be here and see it all come together was incredibly special."