Britain’s very first Grand Prix was staged at Brooklands in Surrey, the birthplace of British motorsport, in 1926. Now, celebrating this year’s centenary in spectacular style, the award-winning Brooklands Museum is staging a very special event on Saturday 8 August – 100 years to the day after the original race was held.

The start of Britain's very first Grand Prix at Brooklands in 1926

Marking this milestone in British motor racing history, an amazing gathering of 100 Grand Prix cars will be on show at Brooklands, ranging from the very early pioneers to the high-tech Formula 1 machines of today.

Adding to the excitement, many of the earlier machines will be revving up on sections of the original banked oval circuit, while more recent racers will join them in action on the adjoining test track at Mercedes-Benz World – itself located within the historic 2.75-mile speedway.

“It’s going to be a wonderful occasion and a very apt celebration to mark the 100 years of Grand Prix racing in Great Britain,” said Alex Patterson, Chief Executive of Brooklands Museum.

“The Brooklands race in 1926 was fraught with danger and bravery, laying the foundation for Britain’s successful motorsport industry. Paying tribute to that watershed moment in time, this summer’s very special day will feature what’s certainly one of the biggest and most comprehensive collections of Grand Prix cars ever seen and, with many of those performing, it’s going to be a truly fitting tribute.”

Artificial chicanes were added for the inaugural Grand Prix at Brooklands

Brooklands was built in the Surrey countryside of southern England, just an hour from London, and was the brainchild of Hugh and Ethel Fortescue Locke King. When it opened in 1907, it was the world’s first purpose-built, banked motor racing circuit. With road racing banned on the British mainland, it quickly became the country’s motorsport capital, as well as home to equally intrepid early aviators.

It was therefore the natural venue for the Royal Automobile Club to stage Britain’s very first official Grand Prix. A one-off circuit layout was prepared using large sections of the banked outer oval track, with temporary earthwork chicanes on the finishing straight adding to the challenge.

On Saturday 7 August 1926, nine Grand Prix cars lined up before a vast crowd. Four hours later, victory went to the Delage 15-S-8 driven by French aces Louis Wagner and Robert Sénéchal, with Malcolm Campbell upholding local honour by finishing second in his Bugatti 39A. While many of the marques competing that day are no longer at the pinnacle of the sport, Aston Martin – a participant in 1926 – is very much on today’s Formula 1 grid.

French drivers Louis Wagner and Robert Sénéchal celebrate victory in their Delage

Brooklands held a second Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix the following summer – again won by the then state-of-the-art Delage – and two further unofficial Grands Prix races were staged at Donington Park in the late thirties.

With the outbreak of war in Europe, Brooklands was given over to aircraft production. Hawker and Vickers expanded their established factories, building over the circuit's concrete straights and assembling more than 18,000 Hurricane fighters, Wellington bombers and other military aircraft before Armistice was declared in 1945.

With Brooklands no longer available, motor racing quickly relocated to the runways and perimeter roads of many decommissioned World War II airfields. The former RAF base at Silverstone held the country’s first post-war Grand Prix in 1948 and, two years later, had the honour of hosting the very first points-scoring Formula 1 race. Thereafter, the British Grand Prix was also organised at Aintree and Brands Hatch before Silverstone became a permanent fixture on the World Championship calendar in 1987.

The full spectrum of Grand Prix cars will be on show at Brooklands for the centenary celebration (credit: Lou Johnson)

Although Brooklands fell dormant, its legacy endured. Significant sections of the circuit have been carefully preserved by the Brooklands Museum Trust, and its influence shaped Britain’s post-war motorsport landscape. Teams including Connaught, Cooper, Brabham and Tyrrell established themselves nearby in Surrey, while reigning World Champion McLaren is still based just a few miles away in Woking.

“Brooklands remains close to the hearts of motorsport fans everywhere and this is a great moment for the museum to honour the past but importantly to look forward to the next 100 years of innovation,” said Patterson. “We are thrilled to be honouring the venue’s unique heritage with this summer’s centenary celebration. Alongside this remarkable array of cars, we will be inviting many Formula 1 drivers who have competed in British Grands Prix to join us for what promises to be a truly memorable and unmissable event.”

The full spectrum of Grand Prix cars will be on show at Brooklands for the centenary celebration (credit: Lou Johnson)

As well as experiencing British motorsport history at the world's first purpose-built racetrack, visitors to Brooklands Museum can discover racing cars, classic motor vehicles, motorcycles and historic aircraft, including the world-famous Concorde. While tickets for the centenary event are likely to sell out quickly, Brooklands Museum is a very special place to visit for fans of motorsport.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a visit to Brooklands Museum as part of a tailor-made tour of London or England please do contact our friendly team today.

All photos courtesy of Brooklands Museum.