BRDC seeking heritage center funding

The British Racing Drivers' Club has launched a fund-raising project for a new heritage center at Silverstone.

The Silverstone Heritage Live project has the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will provide £9 million ($14m). That leaves the BRDC seeking support to help raise the other half of the funding required.

Interactive exhibitions and displays will be housed in one of Silverstone's World War II hangars. The displays, following the outline of the grand prix circuit, will explain the history of UK motorsport and the roles the circuit and BRDC have played within it. The natural and wartime histories of the area will also be covered. Adjacent to the hangar will be an accessible archive for the BRDC collection.

The project will run as a charity and aims to attract 400,000 visitors each year

The BRDC hopes to secure the funding by the middle of 2016, with Silverstone Heritage Live scheduled to open in 2018, in time for the 70th anniversary of Silverstone's first GP.

"This is not a museum," said BRDC chairman John Grant. "This will be interactive and our aim is to attract new people and a younger generation to motorsport."

Heritage Project director Sally Reynolds added: "We're delighted that Lord Beaverbrook has agreed to lead our fund-raising campaign. We are seeking the support of organizations and individuals to help raise the £9.1 million."

Originally on Autosport.com