Autoblog

SPOILER ALERT

Click for a hi-res gallery from the 2008 British GP

Storms swept through Silverstone this year for the British Grand Prix. First came the announcement of David Coulthard's retirement from Formula 1, which was followed by the announcement that, starting in 2010, the race would leave its historic home at Silverstone and move to Donington Park.

The decision by Formula One Management and the FIA followed years of calls for the ageing Silverstone track -- owned and operated by the British Drivers Racing Club -- to renovate and get itself up to the modern standards set by F1's newer tracks. However, after failing to secure government funding or sufficient private investment, the decision was made to move the event to Donington. So as the storms set in to close two major chapters of British motor racing history, the rain poured down on the penultimate running of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Follow the jump to read how it turned out.

Gallery: 2008 British Grand Prix

[Images: Getty/AFP]

In the United States, racing fans get one chance a year to see F1 cars in action at the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Those willing to trek over the border get another shot at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, each pitting a couple dozen current Formula One single-seaters against each other in pursuit of the world championship. British fans, however, are in for an even sweeter treat in the form of GPLive, a spectacular display of over 200 historic grand prix racers that will take place at Donington Park later this month.

Running over the course of the weekend from May 18-20, GPLive will feature what promises to be the largest single gathering of F1 cars, spanning decades of the sport, in one fast-paced, high-octane retrospective. Dozens will be on display from the famous Donington Park collection, in addition to others from private collections. More than a hundred, meanwhile, will take to the track again to relive their glory days, including several former world champions' rides.

One of the highlights will undoubtedly be the four cars taking part from the private collection of 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter, including his championship-winning Ferrari 312 T4. Joining Scheckter's cars will be cars driven by past champions including James Hunt, Alan Jones, Jim Clark and Mario Andretti. Ayrton Senna's 1986 Lotus-Renault 98T, in full JPS livery and 1000-horsepower spec, as well as dozens more, will also be on hand for the enjoyment of the crowd of motoring enthusiasts, for whom this is shaping up to be the event of a lifetime.

Follow the link for more details of the historic racing machines to be included in the GPLive show.

[Source: Gizmag]