PORSCHE AND HONDA TO BE CELEBRATED AT RACE RETRO 2012

Race Retro, Europe’s premier International Historic Motorsport Show, will be celebrating the Porsche marque, thirty years of the Group C Porsche 956 and thirty years of the Honda Racing Corporation, when it returns to Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, from 24-26 February 2012,

Porsche is Race Retro’s chosen car marque for 2012. From the 1948 birth of the iconic 356, the first sports car to bear the Porsche name, to the current-model 911 GT2 RS, an astonishing and pulse-quickening creation, Porsche has relentlessly pushed the performance envelope. Committed to technical excellence and continual improvement, Porsche has immersed itself in motor sport, and the lessons learnt and advantages gained are passed directly to its road cars. This high-octane philosophy permeates the marque and always has done.

Porsche’s motor sports heritage across the decades will be well represented at Race Retro, with a number of static race and rally displays in Hall 1. Plus, there’ll be guest appearances by Porsche race and rally stars, including a number of legendary Porsche works drivers. There’ll be plenty of sideways action too, on the live action rally stage, on both Saturday and Sunday, where a jaw-dropping selection of rallying icons, including a Porsche 911 RSR, will be showing their mettle.

Hall 2 will be home to Race Retro’s ‘The Porsche 956 at Thirty’ celebrations. It’s hard to appreciate that this astonishing Group C car first competed back in 1982. A wonderfully-timeless and evocative design, it so purposefully and powerfully symbolises Porsche’s involvement with motor sport and its triumphs. The 956, and its successor the 962, secured numerous team, manufacturers’, drivers’, race, and championship successes throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Few manufacturers have been such an integral part of bike racing as Honda hence the celebration of its glorious thirty years. Ever since the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) was founded in 1982, this hugely-successful organisation has been at the forefront of GP racing, road racing, endurance racing, trials riding and motorcross. And, uniquely, as well as covering all disciplines, since its inception, HRC has actively supported privateer teams and individual riders who have always been able to avail themselves of technical support, set-up advice, research and development, and specialist parts. Visitors to Hall 3 will delight in the variety of Honda displays and delight in the fact that they can rub shoulders with Honda team riders, team managers, and mechanics.

Of course, Classic bikes should be heard as well as seen! The good news is that the race bike ‘Fire-up Paddock’ is returning for 2012. Each day, this aural arena will resonate with the sounds of bike racing’s glorious past, including the marvellous multi-cylinder Hondas.

Adult ticket prices are £20 when booking in advance, £25 on the gate. Children’s tickets are £5 on Friday or Saturday and free on Sunday. Parking is also free throughout. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com.