In 1950 the modern era of Formula 1 began. Great Britain and Italy are the only countries to hold a Grand Prix in every year since.
To mark the 50th Grand Prix at the Silverstone race track I look back at the history of the British Grand Prix.
The first British Grand Prix was held at the Brooklands race track, a 2.7 mile banked oval track in Surrey in 1926, before the modern Formula 1 era began. It was won by the French team of Louis Wagner and Robert Senechal driving a Delage 155B. Only three cars completed the full race distance.
Unfortunately, Brooklands was decimated during the onslaught of WW2 and was all but abandoned. After the war Motor Racing’s popularity meant new race tracks where needed. The abandoned air fields up and down the country with their criss-crossing concrete runways were ideal options for the ever-growing sport.
One of these airfields was Silverstone, I think you may have heard of it. Half of it lies in Northamptonshire; the other half in Buckinghamshire. On October 2nd 1948 a 3.7 mile circuit marked out with straw bales and oil drums staged its first race, attended by a reported 100,000 people. The Royal Automobile Club International Grand Prix. Contested by 23 cars and won by the Italian Luigi Villoresi in his Maserati.
In 1949 the track was trimmed to three miles and was won by Emmanuel de Graffenried in yet another Maserati.
In 1950 the modern era of formula 1 began. The British Grand Prix ran exclusively at Silverstone from 1950 – 1955.
The first winner was Giuseppe Farina in his Alfa Romeo 158. In 1955 Stirling Moss became the first of many British drivers to taste success at the home of British motor sport (in the modern era).
Between 1955 and 1962 the Grand Prix alternated between Silverstone and Aintree, more famous for horse racing and The Grand National in particular. It is for this reason the word “Paddock” is used to describe where the cars are prepared before races in motor racing today, as the horses are assembled and paraded before their own races in Horse Racing. Even the term “Grand Prix” – Grand Prize in English, comes from horse racing.
In 1963 the Grand Prix moved to a Silverstone and Brands Hatch combination. Brands Hatch is a Kent race circuit and the only one on which I have driven. Its undulating twists and turns make it a most enjoyable driving experience. And it’s proximity to London made it popular with the fans in the south of the country.
In 1987 the Grand Prix returned home to the Silverstone GP, “The Home Of British Motor Sport,” where it remains to this day.
The circuit has had several upgrades since the first race, but remains one of the great circuits of world Motor Sport: Spa, Monza, Hockenheim, Monaco and Silverstone must remain the bedrock of Formula 1. Without these and other classic tracks F1 is just another race series. I’ve said before in other articles that F1 needs to hold on tight to its traditions. Its unique selling points are famous marks like Ferrari, Lotus & McLaren, numerous legendary drivers and, of course, its wonderful circuits.
The 2014 British Grand Prix
Friday 4th July to Sunday 6th July 2014.
Brooklands 1926-1927
Silverstone 1948-1954
Aintree and Silverstone: 1955-1960, alternating yearly.
Aintree alone: 1961-1962.
Silverstone and Brands Hatch: 1963 -1986, alternating yearly
Silverstone: 1987-present.
For the latest sports injury news, visit our partners at Sports Injury Alert.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @F1taxi. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
