For an unprecedented third consecutive year, Ford will be the official event partner for the Legends of Le Mans Dinner, which is set to take place on Thursday 17 May at the Royal Automobile Club’s prestigious Woodcote Park estate. The 50thanniversary of Pedro Rodriguez and Lucien Bianchi’s famous victory in the Ford GT40 will be celebrated, while current Ford GT racers Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell will be there.
The Ford Chip Ganassi Team pairing won their class at both the Silverstone Six Hours and the Shanghai Six Hours during a successful 2017 World Endurance Championship campaign. They also stood on the podium at Le Mans, with Tincknell proudly wearing the Hope for Tomorrow logo on his overalls.
“Le Mans is a uniquely challenging event with a great atmosphere,” said Priaulx. “I’m really looking forward to the Legends of Le Mans dinner – with the legendary racers who are already lined up, it’ll offer a brilliantly entertaining insight into what it’s like to take part in the 24 Hours.”
“We’re delighted to once again be supporting the Hope for Tomorrow Legends of Le Mans Dinner,” said Jay Ward, Director, Ford of Europe Product Communications. “Ford has got a great history of success at Le Mans, from the GT40’s victories in the 1960s to Mirage in the ’70s with the Ford-Cosworth DFV engine – all the way up to our current GT programme. We’re really excited about going back there in 2018.”
Priaulx and Tincknell will be joined by a galaxy of stars including Darren Turner, a class winner at Le Mans in 2017 for Aston Martin, and their former Ford team-mate Marino Franchitti.
The legendary Tony Brooks – the man once described by Sir Stirling Moss as the “greatest unknown racing driver” – competed at La Sarthe for Aston Martin during the 1950s will also be there on the night. Brooks will be joined by renowned Ferrari and Porsche privateer David Piper – who was one of the drivers in Steve McQueen’s iconic ‘Le Mans’ film – plus Guy Smith, 2003 victor with Bentley.
Jonathan Legard will host the evening, with fellow broadcaster Simon Taylor interviewing the drivers. Those who were there in 2017 won’t forget the lively banter between Turner and Tincknell on the night, the friendly rivalry between the duo continued the rest of the racing season! there’s guaranteed to be more of the same this year as the stars entertain everyone with their anecdotes and insight.
The evening will conclude with a motorsport-themed live auction, hosted by the renowned auctioneer Duncan Moir and featuring a fantastic array of ‘money can’t buy’ experiences and signed memorabilia.
The Legends of Le Mans Dinner is a unique celebration of the world’s most famous race – the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The star-studded fixture is the charity’s flagship fundraiser, and gives enthusiasts the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Patrons – and Le Mans winners – Derek Bell MBE, David Brabham and Martin Brundle, plus David Richards CBE and Ross Brawn OBE.
The star-studded event is held in support of Hope for Tomorrow, the national cancer charity that was founded by Christine Mills in December 2003 dedicated to bringing treatment closer to patients’ home by providing Mobile Cancer Care Units.
Event Ticket Information:
Tickets include Champagne reception and three-course dinner, and are priced at £185 per person, £1800 per table of 10 guests, or £2500 for a table of 12 hosted by one of the legendary drivers.
Event Address: The Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EW
For further details or to book tickets, please contact Emma Bowles on 01666 505055 or
emmabowles@hopefortomorrow.org.uk
About Hope for Tomorrow:
Hope for Tomorrow provides state-of-the-art Mobile Cancer Care Units (MCCUs) to bring vital cancer care closer to patients, reducing travel, waiting times and the stresses and strains of busy hospitals.
Working in a unique partnership with the NHS, they have eleven MCCUs operational in Gloucestershire, Somerset, South Wiltshire, Hampshire, East Kent, Lincolnshire, North Wiltshire, Cornwall, West Suffolk, East Essex, and Surrey/South London, with two reserve MCUs in place to ensure continuity of service during the maintenance schedule. They also provide a Nurses’ Support Vehicle with each MCCU, which allows the nursing team to travel to and from the daily treatment locations.
Since the launch of the first MCCU in 2007, the charity has saved patients a total of over 2,000,000 miles and over 170,000 hours of travel and waiting time.
The charity won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Innovation, in 2016. The Award is the UK’s highest accolade for business success, and was made in recognition of their achievements since the Founder, Christine Mills MBE, set up Hope for Tomorrow in 2003.
For further information, please visit: www.hopefortomorow.org.uk
Registered Charity No 1094677