Back to the start: Motor Sport joins Brooklands to celebrate centenary of first British Grand Prix

Racing History
Marcus Simmonds profile picture
April 29, 2026

One hundred years ago, Brooklands hosted the first British Grand Prix, a race faithfully reported in the pages of Motor Sport, which began life two years earlier as the Brooklands Gazette. Now, we have joined forces to mark the momentous centenary

1926 British Grand Prix at Brooklands

Henry Segrave leads Robert Benoist at Brooklands in 1926. Inset, Motor Sport began ;life as the Brooklands Gazette

Brooklands Museum

Marcus Simmonds profile picture
April 29, 2026

Motor Sport has become the official media partner for the centenary celebrations of the first grand prix to be held in Britain at Brooklands.

The event, organised by the Brooklands Museum, will take place at the Surrey venue on Saturday August 8 – 100 years and one day after what was officially titled the Grand Prix of the Royal Automobile Club.

Tickets are limited for the celebration, and are expected to sell out comfortably in advance.

One hundred grand prix cars from the past century are expected, and will include the Halford Special, which took part in the 1926 race in the hands of its creator Frank Halford. Delage, the manufacturer that won the race with a car shared by Robert Sénéchal and Louis Wagner, will also be represented.

Of the current Formula 1 teams invited, an exciting announcement from reigning world champion team McLaren – based in nearby Woking – is expected shortly.

From the archive

The surviving sections of the Brooklands banking, and the start-finish straight, will host runs from cars of earlier eras, with more modern F1 machinery taking to the test track at Mercedes-Benz World – situated on the infield of the historic course.

Motor Sport magazine was born in 1924 as the Brooklands Gazette, before adopting its current name the following year. As such, the 1926 grand prix was reported fully in that year’s September issue.

“A brighter scene than Brooklands on August 7 1926 would be hard to imagine,” read our account. “Sunshine, dresses, sumptuous cars, grass, trees, advertisements, and lastly the little green and blue projectiles themselves – such is the picture retained in the mind of this great event.”

“This centenary celebration is a truly special moment not just for Brooklands, but for British motorsport as a whole,” said Brooklands Museum Chief Executive Alex Patterson. “To bring together such an extraordinary collection of Grand Prix cars at the very place where it all began is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to welcoming Motor Sport  – a magazine that was born here at Brooklands – to be part of this historic occasion.”

“Brooklands is woven into the DNA of Motor Sport magazine, so to return as an official partner for this landmark anniversary is hugely significant,” added Motor Sport editor Joe Dunn. “The 1926 Grand Prix was a defining moment for both the sport and our publication, and it’s an honour to celebrate that shared heritage 100 years on.”

Tickets are available at £39.95, and £19.95 for accompanied children aged four to 17 (under-fours are free), from www.brooklandsmuseum.com.