When an event is well into its third decade of existence there’s not much that will still surprise its long-time visitors – and in fact, with the Silverstone Classic, it’s traditions rather than the element of surprise that gives people the reassurance to return each year. One is that at least one evening gets rained off by a sudden thunderstorm, another is that grids will be plentiful and opposition is at its toughest. The same was true for the 2018 edition. Even in the driest and hottest summer ever the track was hit by a deluge, and over at the National Paddock it was easy to lose count of the Juniors that filled one garage after another. As usual, the Classic won by sheer numbers.

This year’s Masters Historic Festival emulated the previous edition by somehow missing out on the traditional spring thunderstorm while treating the visitors to two days of perfect weather for motorsport and picknicks. The action was great too, with some tense racing going on in the various Masters grids in the programme, while the guests featuring on the Masters bill proved to be a fortunate pick – the fans loved the F2s and stayed until the chequered was dropped for the final car across the line in the Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge.