Nine cars lined up on the grid for the first British Grand Prix 100 years ago – only three finished. By all accounts, the race was a chaotic, thunderous spectacle: misfiring engines, collapsing axles, drivers stopping mid-race to bathe their feet in cold water. One of the French drivers, Robert Benoist, who eventually finished third, was forced to wrap asbestos sheeting around his exhaust pipe, which was burning white hot. Two other Frenchmen, Robert Sénéchal and Louis Wagner, took first place in their Delage, and British speed legend Sir Malcolm Campbell finished second in a Bugatti. Frank Halford, driving his self-built Halford Special, which he based on a 1923 Aston Martin short chassis GP replica, looked comfortable in third until the 82nd lap when a broken prop shaft forced him to retire. Still, of the marques with a presence on that historic grid, only Aston Martin remains in Grand Prix racing today.
That event took place at Brooklands Race Circuit in Surrey, the world’s first purpose-built banked motor racing track. The British Grand Prix was also held there the following year, but with the outbreak of war in Europe, Brooklands was given over to aircraft production. To mark the 100th anniversary of this seminal race, Brooklands Museum is hosting a Grand Prix Centennial event on 8 August 2026. A gathering of 100 Grand Prix cars will be at the heart of the celebrations, ranging from the early pioneers to the high-tech Formula 1® machines of today.
“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.”
The milestone event will also honour the role of the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in establishing Grand Prix racing in the UK. The RAC will celebrate later in the year with its own tributes, as cars from the 1926 race will be displayed within the prized Rotunda of its impressive clubhouse on Pall Mall. The festivities will culminate in the ‘St James’s Motoring Spectacle’ on 31 October 2026 – and the Royal Mint has released a commemorative 50p coin to mark the centenary.
In the meantime, the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team returns to Silverstone on 5 July 2026 (15 years since Fernando Alonso took victory there), and this year’s off-track entertainment is certainly worthy of the occasion. The three-day event will see David Guetta, Richard Ashcroft and James Arthur perform headline slots, while Jack Whitehall and Paul Chowdhry top the Comedy Club lineup.
This year also will see the introduction of The Vale, an exclusive trackside location – part members’ club, part boutique hotel – where F1® drivers and Team Principals share stories, iconic DJs provide the soundtrack, and Michelin-starred chefs curate exquisite menus. Silverstone describes it as the most elevated tier in sports and event hospitality, positioned steps away from the paddock. “Formula 1® has evolved into something far bigger than a race weekend,” says Nick Read, Chief Commercial Officer at Silverstone. “It’s a global cultural moment, where sport, design, fashion and business converge. The Vale is our response to that shift.”
Or, for anyone who would prefer to get in and get out, The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Buckinghamshire, is offering an exclusive Silverstone package that includes VIP return helicopter transfers and premium hospitality during the race. From past experience, there’ll more than likely be an Aston Martin or two parked outside the 18th-century Palladian-style mansion (sister property The Wellesley in Knightsbridge), and quite rightly too.
After the excitement of the day, bathing one’s feet in the cool water of The Langley’s outdoor pool would be a most fitting way to bring the past 100 years of the British Grand Prix full circle (even if your surroundings do make you feel more like you’re in the South of France).
