History of Brooklands
- therookiereporters
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Although the Brooklands circuit is no longer in use, its extensive history played a vital role in the early development of motorsport.
Brooklands was the first purpose-built banked motor race circuit in the world which opened in 1907, after being financed and built by Hugh Fortescue and Ethel Locke King. The first competitive event at Brooklands was held between 28-29th June 1907 which was the world’s first 24-hour motor event with three cars competing to break the world record for distance covered in 24 hours. During this event Selwyn Edge had covered a distance of 2,545.56 km (1,581.74 mi) which beat the existing record of 1,764.142 km (1,096.187 mi) that was set at Indianapolis in 1905.
Other records at Brooklands include the one-hour record which was broken by George Enoch Stanley in 1912, meaning he became the first ever rider of a 350 cc motorcycle to cover over 100 km (60 mi) in an hour. Furthermore, the world record for the first person to cover 100 miles in an hour was set by Percy Edgar Lambert at Brooklands on 15th February 1913. The distance Lambert actually covered in the hour was 103 miles, 1470 yards (167.1 km). Additionally, in July and August of 1929 Violette and Evelyn Cordery drove 30,000 miles in under 30,000 minutes. This had earned Violette her second Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club. It is also thought that racing driver Ivy Cummings was the youngest person to complete a lap at the Brooklands circuit in 1913 when she was aged 11/12.
During the First World War, Brooklands closed to motor racing but it had resumed in 1920 following extensive track repairs. It was at this time that Grand Prix motor racing was established at Brooklands in 1926 by Sir Henry Segrave. The inaugural British Grand Prix (known as the Grand Prix of the Royal Automobile Club) was won by Louis Wagner and Robert Sénéchal who shared the drive in a Delage 155B. The second British Grand Prix also took place there in 1927 and led to improved facilities at the Brooklands circuit. In 1930 the British newspaper - The Daily Herald offered a trophy for the fastest driver at an event at Brooklands. Furthermore, in 1932 the Junior Car Club organised the ‘British 1000 Miles Race’ which was held on 3-4th June and won by Elsie Wisdom and Joan Richmond who were driving a Riley Brooklands 9 - which was considered one of the most ‘successful, light sporting cars produced by the British motor industry in the inter-war period’.
Racing at Brooklands had stopped in 1939 upon the outbreak of the Second World War but in the 32 years of its use as a motor racing circuit, it served five purposes. There was the outer circuit which was used from 1907-1939 which had a 30° banking with 3 turns and was 4.453 km (2.767 mi) in length. The Grand Prix Circuit used from 1926-1939 was 4.210 km (2.616 mi) in length and had 3 turns. The Mountain Circuit which was used between 1930-35 spanned 1.880 km (1.168 mi) in length. The final two layouts of the circuit used between 1937-1939 were the Campbell Circuit which was 3.648 km (2.267 mi) and the International Trophy Circuit which spanned a distance of 5.422 km (3.369 mi). Both of these circuits had 8 turns.
Today, the circuit forms a part of Brooklands Museum which is a major aviation and motor racing museum, it is also a venue for different events including car meets. Below is aerial shot from 2017 displaying what remains of the Brooklands Circuit.
Article written by Ria Wiktor ©️Ria Wiktor 2026
