Early British Grand Prix

EARLY BRITISH GRAND PRIX

NOSTALGIA ROAD

By Trevor Pask

Ever since the car was first developed in the late 19th century, there has been the urge to compete for speed and endurance. Early attempts at motor racing proved haphazard as well as dangerous for both participants and spectators with many of the early races being held in Europe as restrictive British law made road racing in Great Britain an impractical proposition. The result was that Britain became a pioneer in the growth of off-road motor sport with the development of the famous circuit at Brooklands and its dramatic banking.

Over a century, Britain has become one of the major centres of motor sport, with many of the greatest names in the business, such as Mclaren, based in the United Kingdom. Beginning prior to WWII, competitive motor sport has been very popular amongst spectators and, since the creation of the Formula 1 championship in the post war years, the British Grand Prix has been one of the most important fixtures on the calendar.

Over the years, Grand Prix racing in Britain has taken place over a number of circuits and Trevor Pask examines the history of the British Grand Prix from it relatively humble origins through to the 1970's when the buccaneering spirit of those early days was replaced by the rise of corporate sponsorship.

Published by Crecy - # NR705

Softcover - 64 Pages