Motorsport in the United Kingdom

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7 time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton driving for McLaren at the 2008 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. Lewis Hamilton 2008 Britain 6.jpg
7 time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton driving for McLaren at the 2008 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit.

Motorsport is a popular sport in the United Kingdom . The United Kingdom is a key player in the world of motorsport, hosting rounds of the Formula One World Championship and Grand Prix motorcycle racing, amongst others. It is also the home of many of the current teams in Formula One, such as McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin, while teams such as Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Alpine and Haas are also based in England. There are also a range of popular national series held such as the British Touring Car Championship and the British GT Championship amongst others. The Motor Sports Association is the official governing body of motorsport in the United Kingdom.

Contents

Formula One

The United Kingdom has been a major player in the Formula One World Championship since it began in 1950, providing ten different world champions, winning 20 titles between them, more than any other nation. Mike Hawthorn became the first British world champion in 1958, defeating Stirling Moss, labelled by many as "the greatest driver never to have won the world championship". [1] The country won four consecutive titles between 1962 and 1965, with Graham Hill, Jim Clark (twice) and John Surtees. Hill won again in 1968, and was succeeded by Jackie Stewart, who won in 1969, 1971 and 1973. James Hunt was world champion for McLaren in 1976, and was the last British champion until 1992, when Nigel Mansell won for Williams. Damon Hill, son of Graham, was champion in 1996, while Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button won back-to-back titles for the country in 2008 and 2009, with Hamilton becoming the first Briton to win back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. In 2017 Hamilton became the first Briton to win four titles. He won again in 2018, 2019 and 2020, he became a seven-time champion, equalling Michael Schumacher's record to become the statistically greatest of all time.

Other than the Italian Scuderia Ferrari, the most successful teams in Formula One have been based in Britain. McLaren and Williams are the most successful of these, with former teams Team Lotus and Brabham also winning multiple titles. Of the ten teams currently competing in Formula One, six are based in England.

The British Grand Prix was first held at the Brooklands oval in 1926. The current host is Silverstone Circuit, whereas Brands Hatch last held the race in 1986. The European Grand Prix was held at Brands Hatch in 1983 and 1985, and at Donington Park in 1993. Aintree Motor Racing Circuit has hosted the Formula One British Grand Prix five times, in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1962.

IndyCar

Silverstone and Brands Hatch hosted USAC National Championship non-points races in 1978, whereas CART visited Rockingham Motor Speedway in 2001 and 2002, and Brands Hatch in 2003.

Dario Franchitti has won four IndyCar titles. Nigel Mansell won one in CART and Dario Resta won one in the AAA. Franchitti also won three time the Indianapolis 500, Dan Wheldon two, Jim Clark and Graham Hill one each.

Motorcycle racing

John McGuinness at the Isle of Man TT John McGuinness at Rhencullen - geograph.org.uk - 461512.jpg
John McGuinness at the Isle of Man TT

Silverstone Circuit currently hosts a round of MotoGP while Donington Park hosts the Superbike World Championship. Britain's Leslie Graham won the inaugural Grand Prix Motorcycling World Championship in 1949. Geoff Duke, John Surtees and Mike Hailwood all won multiple world titles during the 1950s and 1960s. Phil Read was world champion in 1973 and 1974, while Barry Sheene won back-to-back titles in 1976 and 1977. Britain has struggled in the top 500cc/MotoGP class since then, with only Cal Crutchlow winning any races.

Britain has enjoyed greater success in the Superbike World Championship, with Carl Fogarty winning four titles in the 1990s. Neil Hodgson won the title in 2003, while James Toseland won the title in 2004 and 2007. The United Kingdom is currently well represented in the Superbike World Championship.

The British Superbike Championship is the leading motorcycle racing series in the United Kingdom. Road racing events are popular, with the Isle of Man hosting the Isle of Man TT and Northern Ireland hosting the North West 200.

Motocross, motorcycle trials and enduro are also popular forms of motorcycle sports, with notable riders such as Kurt Nicoll, David Thorpe, Jeff Smith, Dave Bickers, David Knight, Sammy Miller, Arthur Lampkin, Martin Lampkin and Dougie Lampkin.

Speedway in the United Kingdom is also popular, with events like the Elite League, Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain and British Speedway Championship.

In rally raiding, Sam Sunderland became the first British winner of the Dakar Rally when he won the motorcycle classification in 2017. [2]

Drag Racing

Drag Racing has its origins in the USA during the 1920s. During prohibition the sellers of illegal alcohol, the Moonshine Boys outran the authorities by making their innocuous runabout cars fast and powerful by hiding bigger and more highly tuned engines inside - the Hot Rod was born! After the end of prohibition the Hot Rodders continued and all over America roads were being used to settle the 'mine is faster than yours argument'. Most towns had a main road running down the middle and junctions controlled by traffic lights, the Hot Rodders would race down the main drag from one set of lights to the other - the beginning of Drag Racing.

Drag Racing took off in the UK during the 1960s when, like in the USA, many of the old disused airstrips around the country were converted to drag strips.

Podington airfield, near the villages of Hinwick and Podington, was formerly a wartime airbase used by the USAAF during the Second World War. In 1966 permission was obtained to use the airfield as a drag racing complex, the ¾ of a mile main runway being used as the drag strip. The track was named Santa Pod after the Santa Ana strip in America, combined with the name of the local village of Podington.

Since then the name Santa Pod Raceway has become synonymous with the sport of Drag Racing in Europe. Today the raceway hosts events throughout the year including the FIA European Drag Racing Championships and the 'Run What You Brung' (RWYB) events where anyone with a valid driving licence can have a go and put their own vehicles and skills to the test.

Rallying

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Wales Rally GB
Lydden Hill Race Circuit Mattias Ekstrom (Audi S1 EKS RX quattro) (27211434172).jpg
Lydden Hill Race Circuit

Rallying is a popular form of motorsport in the United Kingdom. The RAC Rally began in 1932, and has since evolved into Wales Rally GB, the country's round of the World Rally Championship. Colin McRae won the World Rally Championship in 1995, and Richard Burns won in 2001, both for the Banbury-based Subaru World Rally Team. Both were recognised as two of the sport's most famous and popular drivers, but Burns and McRae died in 2005 and 2007 respectively. The Ford World Rally Team was also based in England, as is M-Sport.

The British Rally Championship is the national rally championship of the United Kingdom, featuring events such as the Circuit of Ireland Rally, Scottish Rally and Rally Isle of Man. Smaller championships running annually in the UK include the Scottish Rally Championship, BTRDA rally championship, MSA English Rally Championship and the Northern Irish Rally Championship.

The first rallycross event in history was organised at Lydden Hill Race Circuit in 1967. The circuit has hosted rounds of the European Rallycross Championship and currently the FIA World Rallycross Championship. The British Rallycross Championship also races at Pembrey and Croft.

Touring cars

A British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch in 2006. BTCC Brands06 PaddockHill.jpg
A British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch in 2006.

The British Touring Car Championship is the country's most popular national racing series. Its popularity was highest during the 1990s and the Supertouring era, when it attracted a range of well-known international manufacturers and drivers. Although spiralling costs meant that the series declined during the early 21st century, the series is now regaining popularity.

The United Kingdom also had a presence in the World Touring Car Championship, with Guernsey's Andy Priaulx winning three consecutive world championships between 2005 and 2007. Brands Hatch hosted the UK's WTCC round, the FIA WTCC Race of UK, until 2009. This race was then hosted by Donington Park. Other touring car series in The UK includes TCR UK.

Brands Hatch annually hosted a round of the prestigious German touring car series, DTM, from 2006 to 2013. This series has had a strong representation from UK drivers. The 2005 championship was won by Gary Paffett and the 2010 championship by Scotsman Paul di Resta.

Sportscars

Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 Aston Martin DBR1-2 (18678336020).jpg
Lola-Aston Martin B09/60
Bentley Continental GT3 2013 Bentley Continental GT3 (19876352828).jpg
Bentley Continental GT3

British teams and drivers have enjoyed many successes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Britain has had more winning drivers than any other nation, including France. Jaguar and Bentley have taken 15 wins between them. Derek Bell won the race five times during the 1970s and 80s, and Allan McNish three times. Brian Redman and Moss won several World Sportscar Championship races as well.

Vic Elford won the 24 Hours of Daytona, 1000 km Nürburgring and Targa Florio. Andy Wallace won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. Derek Warwick won the FIA World Endurance Championship in 1992 and Anthony Davidson in 2014.

Silverstone formerly hosted the 1000 km Silverstone of the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as rounds of the Le Mans Series and the FIA GT1 World Championship.

The British GT Championship is the major national sportscars series, with Britcar, GT Cup Championship and many other smaller championships also running.

Notable British sports car racing teams include Aston Martin Racing, Jaguar Racing, Drayson Racing, Ecurie Ecosse, Richard Lloyd Racing, RML Group, Strakka Racing, Spice Engineering and Tom Walkinshaw Racing.

Junior formula

The British Formula Three Championship was regarded as one of the most important series below Formula One, with former champions including Nelson Piquet, Mika Häkkinen, Ayrton Senna and Emerson Fittipaldi. Due to the emergence of successful junior formulae in mainland Europe, the series does not attract the quality of drivers it once did, but is still the most important of the national Formula Three series.

In the later 20th century, the British Formula Renault Championship and British Formula Ford Championship were the two main entry level formula series. They were replaced by the F4 British Championship, launched in 2015. The Formula Ford Festival is also known for producing talented young drivers.

Club racing

The United Kingdom has a large 'club racing' scene, with a wide range of series for amateur drivers, with each containing a diverse range of drivers and cars. Clubs include the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC), British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) and Classic Sports Car Club (CSCC). Each club holds a range of meetings throughout the year, with each meeting consisting of races in several different categories.

Historic racing

The start of a Masters Endurance Legends race at Brands Hatch, consisting of Le Mans Prototypes. MELBHstart.png
The start of a Masters Endurance Legends race at Brands Hatch, consisting of Le Mans Prototypes.

Historic racing is popular in the United Kingdom. Major events include the Goodwood Revival, Silverstone Classic, Brands Hatch Masters Historic Festival and Donington Historic Festival. Notable historic racing clubs include the Vintage Sports-Car Club and Historic Sports Car Club.

Circuits

Current venues

Former venues

See also

Related Research Articles

Motorsport(s) or motor sport(s) are sporting events, competitions and related activities that primarily involve the use of automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats and powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific terms automobile sport, motorcycle sport, power boating and air sports may be used commonly, or officially by organisers and governing bodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Grand Prix</span> Formula One Grand Prix

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donington Park</span> Motorsport circuit in England

Donington Park is a motorsport circuit located near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England. The circuit business is now owned by Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision organisation, and the surrounding Donington Park Estate, still owned by the Wheatcroft family, is currently under lease by MotorSport Vision until 2038. It has a capacity of 120,000, and is also the venue of the Download Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silverstone Circuit</span> British motor racing circuit

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road racing</span> Form of motorsport racing on paved roads

Road racing is a North American term to describe motorsport racing held on a paved road surface. The races can be held either on a closed circuit or on a street circuit utilizing temporarily closed public roads. The objective is to complete a predetermined number of circuit laps in the least amount of time, or to accumulate the most circuit laps within a predetermined time period. Originally, road races were held almost entirely on public roads. However, public safety concerns eventually led to most races being held on purpose-built racing circuits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rallycross</span> Form of sprint style automobile racing

Rallycross is a form of sprint style automobile racing, held on a closed mixed-surface racing circuit, with modified production or specially built road cars, similar to the World Rally Cars. It is mainly popular in the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Great Britain. An inexpensive, entry level type of rallycross is the Swedish folkrace or its Norwegian counterpart, the so-called bilcross. The folkrace is most popular in Finland where it was founded back in the late 1960s. In Europe, rallycross can also refer to racing 1:8 scale off-road radio-controlled buggies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brands Hatch</span> Race track in West Kingsdown, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit in West Kingsdown, Kent, England, United Kingdom. Originally used as a grasstrack motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently hosts many British and International racing events. The venue is owned and operated by Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision organisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Palmer</span> British racing driver and commentator (born 1956)

Jonathan Charles Palmer is a British businessman and former Formula One racing driver. Before opting for a career in motor racing, Palmer trained as a physician at London's Guy's Hospital. He also worked as a junior physician at Cuckfield and Brighton hospitals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mondello Park</span> Motorsport venue in County Kildare, Ireland

Mondello Park is Ireland's only international motorsport venue and is located in Caragh, County Kildare off the R409 regional road, approximately 48 km (30 mi) from Dublin city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lydden Hill Race Circuit</span> Racing circuit near Canterbury in Kent, England

Lydden Hill Race Circuit is a motorsport venue in Denton with Wootton, about half-way between Canterbury and Dover in Kent, England. The mile-long circuit is mainly used for Rallycross, Drift, Saloon and Sports car racing as well as Motorcycle racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadwell Park</span> Motor racing circuit in Lincolnshire, England

Cadwell Park is a motor racing circuit in Lincolnshire, England, 5 mi (8.0 km) south of Louth, owned and operated by MotorSport Vision, a business associated with former racing driver Jonathan Palmer. Sited on former parkland across a steep-sided valley with dips and crests, the circuit features sharp changes in gradient, including one section called The Mountain where bikes can become airborne by up to several feet. Its mix of challenging corners has led to its nickname as the Mini-Nürburgring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croft Circuit</span> Motor racing circuit in North Yorkshire, England

Croft Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, England. The tarmac circuit is 2.127 mi (3.423 km) long and is based on the lands of an airfield, but has long since moved on from being a basic airfield circuit. The circuit holds meetings of the British Touring Car Championship, British Rallycross and Pickup Truck Racing race series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pembrey Circuit</span> Motor racing circuit in Wales

Pembrey Circuit is a motor racing circuit near Pembrey village, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is the home of Welsh motorsport, providing racing for cars, motorcycles, karts and trucks. The circuit's facilities have also been used for a single-venue rally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorsport in Australia</span> Overview of motorsport in Australia

Motorsport is a popular spectator sport in Australia, although there are relatively few competitors compared to other sports due to the high costs of competing. The oldest motorsport competition in Australia is the Alpine Rally which was first staged in 1921 followed by the Australian Grand Prix, first staged in 1928. The most widely watched motorsport category is Supercars, especially at the Bathurst 1000. Other classes in Australia include Australian GT, Formula 3 and Formula Ford, Superbikes, as well as various forms of speedway racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Jordan (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (born 1989)

Andrew Phillip Jordan is a British racing driver, who has driven in the British Touring Car Championship. He was the 2013 British Touring Car Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MotorSport Vision</span> Motorsport organisations

MotorSport Vision (MSV) is a motorsport organisation and an operator of six UK venues. MSV has a portfolio ranging from major two and four-wheel championships to organising the PalmerSport corporate driving event.

The 2013 BRDC Formula 4 Championship was a multi-event motor racing championship for open wheel, formula racing cars held across England. The championship features a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded drivers competing in 2 litre Duratec single seat race cars that conform to the technical regulations for the championship. The 2013 season was the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 Championship organized by the British Racing Drivers' Club in the United Kingdom. The season began at Silverstone Circuit on 27 April and ended on 29 September at Donington Park. The series had eight triple header events all held in the United Kingdom.

The 2014 Protyre Formula Renault Championship was a multi-event motor racing championship for open wheel, formula racing cars held across England. The championship featured a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded drivers competing in 2 litre Formula Renault single seat race cars that conformed to the technical regulations for the championship. The 2014 season was the 20th British Formula Renault Championship organised by the British Automobile Racing Club and the third season as the premier Formula Renault 2.0 championship in the United Kingdom. The season began at Rockingham Motor Speedway on 4 May and ended on 28 September at Silverstone Circuit. The series formed part of the BARC club racing meetings at six events all held in England, with three triple header events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">F4 British Championship</span> Auto racing championship in the United Kingdom

The F4 British Championship is a single-seater motorsport series based in the United Kingdom. The series is run to the FIA's Formula 4 regulations, and is administered by Motorsport UK. The championship is designed as a low-cost entrance to car racing, and is aimed at young racing drivers moving up from karting.

References

  1. Grandprix.com
  2. "Dakar Rally: Sam Sunderland becomes first British rider to win famous race". bbc.co.uk . 14 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.