Nine iconic ERAs to take centre stage at Chateau Impney

Almost half the world’s remaining pre-war ERA single-seater racing cars will compete at the inaugural Chateau Impney Hill Climb when the event returns to the historic motorsport calendar in July.

A total of eight ERAs will take part in the weekend-long event, which will take place in the grounds of the historic Worcestershire hotel on 11 and 12 July 2015.

The full list of ERA models and drivers competing at the event is as follows:

Completing the extraordinary line-up of ERAs will be R8C. Originally built in 1936, the car will be on static display as part of a wider motorsport exhibition.

“We’re delighted to have attracted not one, but nine of the iconic remaining ERAs still in existence to the Hill Climb,” said Rod Spollon, chairman of the Chateau Impney Hill Climb Club. “It is not often that car enthusiasts can see one ERA in action, never mind eight of them competing at once. It’s a great coup for the event in its first year.”

The earliest ERA competing at the Hill Climb will be R4A which dates back to 1935. Together with its contemporaries, it will be vying to outshine an exciting array of co-competitors, including pre-war Grand Prix Bugatti Type 35s, Aston Martins and a number of 1950s sports cars, including rare C-Type and D-Type Jaguars.

The ERA was produced by English Racing Automobiles (ERA), a small racing car manufacturer based in Bourne, Lincolnshire. Established in 1933 by Humphrey Cook, Raymond Mays, and Peter Berthon, only 19 cars were produced by the original factory before World War 2. Revered by racing fans around the world, in its heyday the ERA was raced by everyone from aristocracy and royalty to famous racing drivers of the day, even Mays himself. Seen by many as the only pure English racing car, the ERA has truly earned its place in the annals of British and European road racing history.

Returning after a hiatus of more than 47 years, the Chateau Impney Hill Climb event will see 200 competitors across 19 classes tackle a brand new 1,000 yard course which organisers believe to be one of the most challenging and unique in the country.

“With long fast straights and tight bends, the new Chateau Impney course is perfect for cars like the ERA and we cannot wait to see how the ERAs handle the new configuration. With that in mind, I am sure that we will have an ERA in the running to be crowned fastest car of the weekend,” concluded Rod.

Organisers hope to attract 10,000 spectators across the weekend to the parkland setting. As well as the opportunity to see the ERAs alongside a diverse array of classics, the event will also include a comprehensive Concours d’Elegance, more than 100 dealer and trade stands and a major classic car auction, hosted by specialist auctioneers, H&H Classics.

Win yourself a pair of tickets to the 2015 Chateau Impney Hill Climb here.

Tickets for the Chateau Impney Hill Climb are on sale now and start from £20 per person. Any online ticket purchases made before Tuesday 30 June will receive a 10 per cent discount.

To find out more, visit www.chateauimpneyhillclimb.com