Brooklands.  Donington Park.  Silverstone.  Brands Hatch.  Very few of us haven’t heard at least one of those names, or perhaps been lucky enough to visit them. 

The Brooklands oval – the world’s first purpose-built racing circuit - has long since overgrown, although the others are very much alive.  And at one time or another they’ve all hosted that most beloved of our sporting events – the British Grand Prix.

With the race taking place next weekend, we thought we’d take you for a quick trip down memory lane as a reminder just how exciting, and unpredictable, this prestigious, noisy, colourful sporting event can be.

1950

Silverstone holds the very first world championship race, beginning a long and illustrious career as the UK’s number one race track.

1973

First ever crash at Silverstone

Sees the biggest first-lap crash ever to occur at Silverstone.  It could have been far worse than it was, after a young Jody Sheckter runs his McLaren wide on the home straight, hits the Armco and spins back onto the track leaving cars travelling at high speed with nowhere to go.  Eleven cars careen into each other but incredibly, it takes another full lap before red flags are waved.  Jackie Stewart, rounding the last corner again, shows astounding reflexes by managing to stop before ploughing into marshals on the track.  Equally amazing is the single broken ankle suffered by Andrea de Adamich, during an era when fatal crashes happen almost monthly.

1979

The team at Williams have particularly fond memories of Brands Hatch, since it’s where they achieved their first ever F1 victory in 1979 with Clay Regazzoni, and won it again the following year with Alan Jones.

1983

We all remember Jensen Button’s extraordinary win from the back at the Canadian in 2001, but Brands Hatch has seen almost similar.  In 1983 Nigel Mansell in car 12, a new 94T turbo-charged JPS Lotus designed and built in only six weeks, is plagued by trouble during practice and qualifying.  The whole electrical wire loom is completely replaced on race morning, and Nigel starts in 16^th.  By lap 3 he’s moved up to 10^th, and continues to power through the field up to second place, the highest he’s ever been in any Grand Prix.  After his single pit stop he finishes 4^th.  

1987

Mansell's pitch invasion 1987

Track invasions are a long tradition at both British circuits, especially where Mansell’s been part of the action.  But none can be more memorable than in 1987 (Mansell’s sublime dummy on Piquet three laps from home)

1992

Mansell brings home his fourth and final win, in the distinctly liveried and all-powerful Williams FW14. He wins the Championship too, then moves to Indy Car.

Of course, it doesn’t always need a crowd to create something memorable. Or just plain dangerous.  In 2003 Cornelius Horan, a defrocked Irish priest, took to the track on the Hangar Straight at Silverstone, running towards cars doing in excess of 150mph in his attempt to explain that the world was about to end.  It almost did, for him.

1995

With fourteen laps to go, Damon Hill makes “that move”.  He and Michael Schumacher lead the race and the championship.  At Priory corner, Hill makes a desperate lunge from way too far back, taking both cars into the sand trap.  The diminutive but very popular Brit Johnny Herbert wins the race.

2004

Was a year of controversy.  The British Grand Prix was actually removed from the 2005 race calendar because Silverstone wouldn’t cough up Bernie Ecclestone’s race fees.  Eventually, after long months of negotiation and media speculation, fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief as an agreement was reached that saw Silverstone stay on the calendar, as it will now do until 2027.

Even as late as last year’s race, who doesn’t remember the heart-stopping sight of leader Lewis Hamilton’s rear left tyre shredding pieces of rubber all over the Wellington Straight, followed in short order by the same thing happening to Massa, Vergne, Gutierrez and Perez?

One thing’s for sure.  The British Formula One Grand Prix will never stop bringing us moments like these. 

Long may it do so!