Donington ready to re-live GP history.

Donington Park again echoed to the sound of grand prix machinery past and present as the wraps were taken off the GPlive initiative which aims to celebrate the top flight of motor racing over the decades.

Dreamed up by Richard Morgan, GPlive - which will make its public debut over 18-20 May 2007 - is being billed as 'a unique celebration of the pinnacle of motor racing entertainment' with grand prix cars and stars from all eras due to feature in the three-day festival.

"GPlive will be a stylish display that recaptures the golden days of grand prix motor racing, giving unprecedented access to the fastest cars and the greatest stars," Morgan said at the event's launch at Donington Park on Tuesday [18 July].

"Over three days, visitors will enjoy a wide variety of motorsport and lifestyle activities. Donington is a vibrant venue with masses of history, and we'll combine that with a high-octane celebration, featuring what will probably be the largest gathering of former grand prix cars in the world."

Morgan envisages a blend of races and on-track demonstrations, with historic cars being driven by men who remain motorsport legends, and the launch included stars and cars covering well over half a century of grand prix action.

Already in the planning stage are various themed areas, including 'Polesitters', a static display of cherished grand prix cars; 'Silver Screen Racers', an outdoor 'autotorium' showing the very best in grand prix footage; 'Wind & Wheels', which will chart the progress of aerodynamics in grand prix design; and 'Artemotive', which will feature some of the finest grand prix and motoring imagery.

In addition, marque paddocks will be devoted to car club displays, while a motorsport mall, Q&A sessions, autograph signing areas; and an interactive gaming zone - where the public can test their mettle as a grand prix driver - will all be part of the show.

"For three days next May, race fans will have a unique opportunity to get close to the cars and the drivers at the heart of this great sport," Morgan continued, "More than anything, that's what GPlive is all about."

Among the cars present at the launch were a former James Hunt McLaren and one of Minardi's PS04B race cars from the team's last season in F1. Jochen Mass, Hunt's team-mate at McLaren in 1976, was reunited with the M23, invoking the sort of sentiment that Morgan had in mind when creating GPlive.

"It was a fantastic year, a fantastic team and a fantastic car," Mass said as he looked at the car, "For me, this is what GPlive is all about - reliving memories and meeting old friends, both the cars and the drivers."

A winner in both grands prix and at Le Mans, Mass provides the team behind the project inside knowledge of events like the Mille Miglia Retrospective and Goodwood Revival, and will act as chairman of the race car selection panel for GPlive.

Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart, who also brought a couple of his F1x2 two-seater F1 cars out to play, is another early fan of the proposed GPlive format.

"An event like this brings the glamour and passion of the sport to the people, and it's long overdue" said Stoddart. "GPlive is all about fun and spectacle, and we aim to play our part with our F1x2 and some of the old race cars."

Along with Mass, Morgan has succeeded in attracting one of the biggest names from motorsport history, Sir Stirling Moss, to the project. In his role as patron of GPlive, Moss - rated the best driver never to have won the world title - demonstrated a 1954 Maserati 250F, one of his favourite cars, at the launch and has seen and heard many of the cars expected at the event, as well as witnessing the charm, camaraderie and competitiveness of grand prix racing from the inside.

"GPlive will be a motorsport experience like no other - celebrating the pinnacle of racing achievement and showcasing some wonderful old relics - including me!" he joked, "I'm sure that the combination of historic, classic, and contemporary grand prix machinery will be irresistible to enthusiasts from around the world."