British Grand Prix
The
British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the
FIA Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Silverstone circuit in
Northamptonshire.
Grand Prix motor racing was first established in Britain by Henry Segrave at the
Brooklands course in
1926 after his winning of the
French Grand Prix in 1923 and the following year at the Spanish Grand Prix which raised interest in the sport. The first ever British Grand Prix was won by the
French team of Louis Wagner and Robert Senechal driving a Delage 155B.
Silverstone has hosted the race regularly since the start of the F1 championship in 1950 and every year since 1987; it alternated with Brands Hatch between 1964 and 1986, and with Aintree (better known as a horse-racing course) between 1955 and 1962.
As of 2003, the future of the race is in some doubt due to a dispute between Silverstone's owners the British Racing Drivers' Club, and the Formula One authorities led by Bernie Ecclestone, over the funding of necessary improvements to keep the track's facilities up to the standards for a Formula One venue.
Grand Prix winners:
- 1926 - LouisWagner / Robert Senechal (Delage 155B)
- 1927 - Robert Benoist (Delage 155B)
- 1928 - 1934 : No competition
- 1935 - Richard Shuttleworth (Alfa Romeo Tipo B)
- 1936 - Hans Rüesch / Richard Seaman (Alfa Romeo Tipo 8C)
- 1937 - Bernd Rosemeyer (Auto Union C)
- 1938 - Tazio Nuvolari (Auto Union D)
- 1939 - 1947 : No competition
- 1948 - Luigi Villoresi (Maserati 4CLT/48)
- 1949 - Emmanuel de Graffenried (Maserati 4CLT/48)
Formula 1 winners: