The British Grand Prix is a Grand Prix motor race organised in the United Kingdom by the Royal Automobile Club. First held in 1926, the British Grand Prix has been held annually since 1948 and has been a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship every year since 1950. In 1952, following the transfer of the lease of the Silverstone Circuit to the British Racing Drivers' Club, the RAC delegated the organisation of the race to the BRDC for the first time, and this arrangement has continued for all British Grands Prix held at Silverstone since then.
Silverstone Circuit is a motor racing circuit in England, near the Northamptonshire villages of Towcester, Silverstone and Whittlebury. It is the home of the British Grand Prix, which it first hosted as the 1948 British Grand Prix. The 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was the first race in the newly created World Championship of Drivers. The race rotated between Silverstone, Aintree and Brands Hatch from 1955 to 1986, but settled permanently at the Silverstone track in 1987. The circuit also hosts the British round of the MotoGP series.
The 1950 British Grand Prix, formally known as The Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix d'Europe Incorporating The British Grand Prix, was a Formula One motor race held on 13 May 1950 at the Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, England. It was the first World Championship Formula One race, as well as the fifth British Grand Prix, and the third to be held at Silverstone after motor racing resumed after World War II. It was the first race of seven in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers.
Reginald Parnell was a racing driver and team manager from Derby, England. He participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, achieving one podium, and scoring a total of nine championship points.
The XXX BRDC International Trophy was a motor race for Formula One cars held on 19 March 1978 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. It was the 30th running of the International Trophy, and the last to non-Championship Formula One regulations. The race was held over 40 laps of the Silverstone circuit, for a total distance of around 189 kilometres.
The first BRDC International Trophy meeting, formally titled the Daily Express International Trophy, was held on 20 August 1949 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. It was the first race meeting to only use the former airfield's perimeter roadways, rather than the main runways. The event was held over two heats of 20 laps and one final of 30 laps of the Grand Prix circuit. The final was won by Italian Alberto Ascari, who would go on to win the World Championship of Drivers twice. In addition to the main Formula One-regulation competition, the meeting also contained events for 500 cc racing cars and production cars. The race meeting was attended by over 100,000 people, but was marred by the death of St. John Horsfall in an accident on the 13th lap of the final race.
The 23rd BRDC International Trophy meeting - formally the GEN/Daily Express BRDC International Trophy - was held on 8 May 1971 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. The race was run to Formula One and Formula 5000 regulations, and was held over two heats of 26 laps each, the final results being an aggregate of the two. Graham Hill emerged the winner in the unique Brabham BT34 lobster-claw car, designed by Ron Tauranac. It would be the two-time World Champion's last victory in a Formula One race. The 1971 event was also notable as one of the few competitive outings for the Lotus 56 gas turbine car. However, suspension failure on only the third lap of the first heat resulted in early retirement for driver Emerson Fittipaldi, although the car held together for long enough to take third place in the second heat.
The 2nd BRDC International Trophy meeting – formally the International Daily Express Trophy – was held on 26 August 1950 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. The race was run to Formula One regulations, and was held over two heats of 15 laps each, followed by a final race of 35 laps. Italian driver Nino Farina emerged the winner, in an Alfa Romeo 158, repeating his victory from the 1950 British Grand Prix, held at the same circuit in May. He beat his Argentine team-mate Juan Manuel Fangio, and British driver Peter Whitehead in a Ferrari. Other notable entrants were the two BRM V16 cars entered for Raymond Sommer, Peter Walker, Raymond Mays and Reg Parnell. However, their legendary lack of reliability resulted in neither car completing a lap in anger.
The 28th BRDC International Trophy was a non-championship Formula One race held at Silverstone on 11 April 1976. The 40-lap race was won from pole position by Englishman James Hunt, driving a McLaren-Ford, who also set the fastest lap. Italian Vittorio Brambilla finished second in a March-Ford, with South African Jody Scheckter third in a Tyrrell-Ford.
The 1975 BRDC International Trophy, formally known as the 27th Daily Express International Trophy, was a non-championship Formula One race held at Silverstone Circuit on 13 April 1975. It was organised by the circuit owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club, as a "curtain raiser" for the European portion of the 1975 Formula One season. James Hunt, driving for the small Hesketh Racing team, set the fastest lap time in practice and took pole position for the start. In the race he continued to run at the front, heading the leading pack for many laps and setting fastest lap of the race on lap 14. Third-place runner, McLaren driver Emerson Fittipaldi, equalled his time on lap 23. However, Hunt's engine failed at the start of lap 26 and the lead was inherited by second-place runner Niki Lauda in his Ferrari. Lauda held the lead for the remainder of the race, despite Fittipaldi "pull[ing] out the stops" to try and pass him. At the finishing flag, Fittipaldi was only one-tenth of a second behind Lauda, with Mario Andretti in a Parnelli taking the last podium position in third.
The 21st BRDC International Trophy was a non-championship Formula One race held at Silverstone on 30 March 1969. The race was run over 52 laps of the circuit and was won by Jack Brabham in a Brabham BT26A.
The 20th BRDC International Trophy was a non-championship Formula One race held at Silverstone on 25 April 1968.
The 12th BRDC International Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 14 May 1960 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. The race was run over 50 laps of the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, and was won by British driver Innes Ireland in a Lotus 18. The race was marred by the death of experienced American driver Harry Schell in a violent accident during practice in wet conditions.
The 1984 BRDC International Trophy was a Formula Two motor race held at Silverstone on 1 April 1984. It was the 36th running of the International Trophy, and the seventh and last under Formula Two regulations. It was also the opening race of the 1984 European Formula Two Championship.
The 11th BRDC International Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 2 May 1959 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. The race was run over 50 laps of the Grand Prix circuit, and was won by Australian driver Jack Brabham in a Cooper T51.
The 8th BRDC International Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 5 May 1956 at Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. The race was run over 60 laps, and was won by a lap by British driver Stirling Moss in a Vanwall. Moss also took pole, and shared fastest lap with BRM driver Mike Hawthorn.
The 7th BRDC International Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 7 May 1955 at Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. The race was run over 60 laps, and was won by British driver Peter Collins in a Maserati 250F. Collins also shared fastest lap with Maserati driver Roy Salvadori, who was on pole position for the start of the race.
The 6th BRDC International Trophy meeting was held on 15 May 1954 at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. The race was run to Formula One regulations, and was held over two heats of 15 laps each, followed by a final race of 35 laps. Argentinian driver José Froilán González, driving a Ferrari 625, set fastest qualifying lap, won his qualifying heat and the final, and also set fastest lap.
The 1st August Cup was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 2 August 1954 at Crystal Palace Circuit, London. The race was run over two heats of 10 laps and a final of 10 laps, and was won by British driver Reg Parnell in a Ferrari 500.
The 4th BRDC International Trophy meeting was held on 10 May 1952 at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. The race was run to Formula Two regulations, and was held over two heats of 15 laps each, followed by a final race of 35 laps. British driver Lance Macklin, driving an HWM-Alta won the final. Mike Hawthorn in a Cooper T20-Bristol was the fastest qualifier, and Rudi Fischer in a Ferrari 500 set overall fastest lap.
Reg Parnell 
