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Tom Wheatcroft Tribute
Cholmondeley Pageant of Power 2010 gave enthusiasts a unique opportunity to see � and hear! � some of the greatest racing cars ever built.
Centrepiece of the 2010 Pageant was the tribute to Tom Wheatcroft, featuring some of his favourite cars. A motor racing legend, Mr Wheatcroft, founded the Donington Collection, widely regarded as housing the finest grouping of racing cars anywhere in the world.
Three historic Grand Prix Vanwalls ran on the track together for the first time ever: the special streamlined car developed for a race at one of France�s fastest tracks, the unique rear engined model that ran briefly in 1961 and the original Thinwall Special, the first car the company raced. Vanwall were the first British company to win the F1 Constructors Championship in 1958 and set in motion the global domination of the UK motor racing industry which continues to this day.
Other cars from Wheatcroft�s priceless collection included a number of British Formula One treasures. BRM�s spectacular V16 Mark Two, a candidate for noisiest racing car ever, will be running while other BRMs will be static displays. His favourites also included the 8CM Maserati and Ascari�s double world championship winning 500 Ferrari.
Tom Wheatcroft, who died in October 2009, was one of the most remarkable figures in British motor racing over the last forty years. He built up perhaps the greatest collection of racing cars anywhere in the world and kept them at his own racing circuit, Donington Park, which he acquired in the early 1970s. He achieved a lifetime�s ambition in 1993 when the European Grand Prix was held at Donington and won by Ayrton Senna. He later said it had cost him �3m � �but it was worth every penny.�
Apart from his collection of racing cars and Donington itself, Mr Wheatcroft�s generosity and enthusiasm helped the career of many up and coming British drivers � including multiple Le Mans winner Derek Bell who starred at the first Pageant in 2008.
�I�m absolutely delighted to support this fantastic tribute to my Dad,� said Kevin Wheatcroft. �He had a real soft spot for Cholmondeley and often said that once it reached its third birthday it would really develop into something very special. He�d be delighted to see this, he really would".
The coveted "Wheatcroft" trophy was presented at the 2010 Pageant of Power to Rick Hall who, along with his team, was responsible for bringing these cars back to their former glory.
