Exhibition marks F1 Grand Prix's 75th anniversary

by Andrea
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The Silverstone circuit has gone full throttle in marking an important motor racing anniversary with a unique exhibition.

Its display was launched on Tuesday – exactly 75 years after the first F1 World Championship Grand Prix was staged at the Northamptonshire venue.

It includes cars driven by Nigel Mansell, David Coulthard and George Russell.

The circuit's head of learning engagement, Rob Jaina, said the vehicles had never been brought together as a collection before.

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The first World Championship Grand Prix was won by Giuseppe Farina

The very first F1 World Championship Grand Prix took place on 13 May 1950, with 21 drivers negotiating a track marked out by hay bales.

It was won by the Italian Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo.

  • Listen: The Motorsport Show – 75 Years of F1

All but 17 British Grand Prix races have been held at the Northamptonshire circuit, which was once an RAF base.

Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Ronnie Peterson's 1974 JPS Lotus is part of the exhibition…
Kate Bradbrook/BBC
as is David Coulthard's McLaren MP4

The exhibition at Silverstone Museum showcases vehicles from each decade since that first race.

Stuart Pringle, the circuit's chief executive, said: "History is wonderful because it gives us something to anchor our brand to and talk about the sport.

"The modern circuits, and there are many wonderful circuits on the calendar now, but they don't have the history behind them, so we're really lucky."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Silverstone's chief executive, Stuart Pringle, said Silverstone was lucky to have so much history

Mr Jaina, from the museum, added: "We've got some cars that have never even been brought together as a collection before.

"We've got everything from world championship cars to cars that haven't been quite as successful, but are still pretty special."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Silverstone's Rob Jaina said the cars were on display together for the first time
Kate Bradbrook/BBC
The exhibition includes the car in which Nigel Mansell won the 1992 Championship (centre)
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Nigel Mansell's Williams-Renault FW14B won the British Grand Prix in 1992

Among the highlights is Nigel Mansell's Renault FW14B, which he drove to victory in the 1992 World Championship.

Mr Jaina said: "When he won here at Silverstone in '92, the crowd went absolutely berserk – they were running on the track in scenes we've never really seen before or since, and to have that car here is so special – to be where it all started."

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