Gallery: Bearman & Brundle let rip in cars from 1950 British GP

F1

To celebrate 75 years of F1, Ollie Bearman and Martin Brundle got behind the wheel of cars involved in the 1950 British GP – They told Motor Sport about the thrilling experience

Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars

Brundle and Bearman get au fait with 1950s machinery

Jakob Ebrey

Author

James Elson

This 2025 British Grand Prix is being used as the headline event to mark F1’s 75th anniversary, after its very first world championship race came at Silverstone in 1950.

Sky has got in on the action by borrowing two cars related to that landmark GP – oh, as as well as F1 ace Ollie Bearman and Le Mans winner Martin Brundle – for a short documentary film to run over the weekend.

The cars in question are the cult classic ERA R4A (used as Bob Gerrard’s spare car at that 1950 race) and an ‘recreation’ Alfa Romeo 158 similar to that driven by Giuseppe Farina to win that momentous race, built from 70% original parts.

 

Gallery
Brundle & Bearman on-track in Alfa and ERA
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Jakob Ebrey

4 Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars 3

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5 Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars

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6 Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars

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7 Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars

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8 Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars

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9 Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars

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10 Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars

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11 Martin Brundle Ollie Bearman old F1 cars

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Motor Sport was on hand to watch Bearman and Brundle tear round the circuit in vintage machinery, as well as talk to them about the exhilarating experience.

The Alfa will feature as part of a bumper display at this year’s Silverstone Festival, with there being a car to represent each world champion from F1’s 75-year history.

Though Bearman had never driven a grand prix machine older than a 2021 Haas, he took to the 90-year-old ERA immediately.

From the archive

“It’s very different to what I’ve been used to, but the power and acceleration is really impressive,” he said. “Actually, I was quite shocked!

“When you’re in it, there are so many different things to think about. I was having to pump the fuel because we were going slowly, to keep it flowing – no electronics on this car! It was really, really fun.”

Brundle also pointed out how apparent the risks that racers of this era took are when driving these cars.

“You always get out of them thinking, how did they do that?” he said. “It just seems impossible with how little grip and drivability they had.

“When you see what drivers of these cars, and people like Stirling [Moss] and Jenks [Motor Sport’s Denis Jenkinson] did at Mille Miglia… they were gladiators to say the least.”

Read the full article in the August 2025 edition of Motor Sport.

This year the Silverstone Festival (August 22-24) will celebrate 75 years of Formula 1 with a special tribute. The biggest and best collection of cars raced by grand prix champions since the competition began will be on display, with at least one for every title winner. For ticket information visit silverstone.co.uk.

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