Aintree Motor Racing Circuit
Encyclopedia
Aintree Motor Racing Circuit is a 3-mile (4.83 km) motor racing circuit in the village of Aintree
, Merseyside
, England
. The circuit is located within the famous Aintree Racecourse
and used the same grandstands as horse racing. Built in 1954 as the "Goodwood
of the North", hence the fact the two venues had so many things in common.
The circuit has hosted the Formula One
British Grand Prix
five times, in 1955
, 1957
, 1959
, 1961
and 1962
.
In addition to the Grand Prix, the circuit also held 11 non-championship Formula 1 races, known as the Aintree 200, first won by Stirling Moss in 1954 with the last winner being Jack Brabham
, in April 1964. Aintree was the location for the famous race in 1955 in which Stirling Moss
won his first British Grand Prix
, driving a Mercedes. Two years later, he and Tony Brooks
(sharing the Vanwall) became the first British drivers to win both the British Grand Prix
and a round of the Formula 1 World Championship, whilst driving a British car, a Vanwall
. The 1957 Grand Prix also took the title of Grand Prix de Europe and was the premier Formula 1 event of the season, attracting 150 000 spectators.
The full Grand Prix circuit was last raced on in 1964, but part of it (the 1.5 miles (2.41 km) Club Circuit) is still open and was used for racing until the early 1980s, having been operated by the Aintree Circuit Club http://www.aintree.org.uk from the mid 1960s to the late 1990s. A limited amount of motor sport continues today in the form of car sprints, track days and motorcycle racing on the Club Circuit.
The Motorcycle events are organised by Aintree Motor Cycle Racing Club http://www.AintreeMotorcycleRacingClub, who run 6 events at Aintree each year.
The Liverpool Motor Club http://www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/ organises three sprints, in April, June and September and two trackdays in May and October on the club circuit. 2010 British Sprint Champion Nick Algar set a new course record of 35.82 secs. on the 1847 metre sprint course on the 26th of June 2010 in a Gould GR55
3500cc. The record was previously set by Roy Dawson on 8/09/2007, in exactly the same car, in a time of 36.03 secs. Nick Algar's speed through the finish line speed trap was 172 mph, although he did manage a speed of 176 mph on an earlier timed run that day.
In addition, the Club Circuit sees occasional use by visiting events such as the Greenpower Electric Car Races for Schools http://www.greenpower.co.uk, and also bicycle racing. The Club Circuit itself is situated within the Aintree Grand National Course, and in turn contains a public 9 hole Golf Course operated by Aintree Racecourse.
Spectators are welcome at all of Aintree's Motorsport events; access is from Melling Road, Aintree, L9 5AB.
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The circuit is located within the famous Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
and used the same grandstands as horse racing. Built in 1954 as the "Goodwood
Goodwood Circuit
Goodwood Circuit is an historic venue for both two- and four-wheeled motorsport in the United Kingdom. The 2.4 mile circuit is situated near Chichester, West Sussex, close to the south coast of England, on the estate of Goodwood House, and completely encircles Chichester/Goodwood Airport...
of the North", hence the fact the two venues had so many things in common.
The circuit has hosted the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
British Grand Prix
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 near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire...
five times, in 1955
1955 British Grand Prix
The 1955 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Aintree on 16 July 1955. It was the sixth round of the 1955 World Drivers' Championship.- Classification :- Notes :* Lap Leaders:** Juan Manuel Fangio 10 laps...
, 1957
1957 British Grand Prix
The 1957 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 20 July 1957 at the Aintree Circuit, near Liverpool. It was the tenth British Grand Prix, and the fifth World Championship race of the 1957 Formula One season. The race was won by Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks, who shared driving...
, 1959
1959 British Grand Prix
The 1959 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Aintree Circuit on 18 July 1959. It was the fifth round of the 1959 Formula One season. It was the 14th British Grand Prix and the third to be held at the Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, a circuit mapped out in the grounds of the...
, 1961
1961 British Grand Prix
The 1961 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race, held on 15 July 1961 at the Aintree Circuit, near Liverpool. It was the fifth race of eight in the 1961 World Championship season...
and 1962
1962 British Grand Prix
The 1962 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Aintree on July 21, 1962.- Classification :* Scuderia Ferrari withdrew their other two entries, cars #4 and #6, to which drivers had not been allocated.-Standings after the race:...
.
In addition to the Grand Prix, the circuit also held 11 non-championship Formula 1 races, known as the Aintree 200, first won by Stirling Moss in 1954 with the last winner being Jack Brabham
Jack Brabham
Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One champion in , and . He was a founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor that bore his name....
, in April 1964. Aintree was the location for the famous race in 1955 in which Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
won his first British Grand Prix
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 near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire...
, driving a Mercedes. Two years later, he and Tony Brooks
Tony Brooks
Charles Anthony Standish Brooks is a British former racing driver from England also known as the "racing dentist"...
(sharing the Vanwall) became the first British drivers to win both the British Grand Prix
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 near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire...
and a round of the Formula 1 World Championship, whilst driving a British car, a Vanwall
Vanwall
Vanwall was a Formula One motor racing team that competed in the 1950s. Founded by Tony Vandervell, the Vanwall name was derived by combining the name of the team owner with that of his Thinwall bearings produced at the Vandervell Products factory at Acton, London...
. The 1957 Grand Prix also took the title of Grand Prix de Europe and was the premier Formula 1 event of the season, attracting 150 000 spectators.
The full Grand Prix circuit was last raced on in 1964, but part of it (the 1.5 miles (2.41 km) Club Circuit) is still open and was used for racing until the early 1980s, having been operated by the Aintree Circuit Club http://www.aintree.org.uk from the mid 1960s to the late 1990s. A limited amount of motor sport continues today in the form of car sprints, track days and motorcycle racing on the Club Circuit.
The Motorcycle events are organised by Aintree Motor Cycle Racing Club http://www.AintreeMotorcycleRacingClub, who run 6 events at Aintree each year.
The Liverpool Motor Club http://www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/ organises three sprints, in April, June and September and two trackdays in May and October on the club circuit. 2010 British Sprint Champion Nick Algar set a new course record of 35.82 secs. on the 1847 metre sprint course on the 26th of June 2010 in a Gould GR55
Gould Racing
Gould Racing is a British motorsport company, specialising in racing car manufacture and engineering. The company is run by David Gould, and is based in Newbury, Berkshire, England....
3500cc. The record was previously set by Roy Dawson on 8/09/2007, in exactly the same car, in a time of 36.03 secs. Nick Algar's speed through the finish line speed trap was 172 mph, although he did manage a speed of 176 mph on an earlier timed run that day.
In addition, the Club Circuit sees occasional use by visiting events such as the Greenpower Electric Car Races for Schools http://www.greenpower.co.uk, and also bicycle racing. The Club Circuit itself is situated within the Aintree Grand National Course, and in turn contains a public 9 hole Golf Course operated by Aintree Racecourse.
Spectators are welcome at all of Aintree's Motorsport events; access is from Melling Road, Aintree, L9 5AB.