23 brilliant photos of the lost Formula 1 track that cost £100,000

VaselineMay 16, 2024

0 3 minutes read

23 brilliant photos of the lost Formula 1 track that cost £100,000

Decades ago, Merseyside hosted the British Grand Prix on a now lost Formula 1 track.

In 1954, Britain’s first and only purpose-built three-mile Grand Prix motor racing circuit was built around the iconic Aintree Racecourse.

The circuit took four months to build at a cost of around £100,000. Aintree went on to host five World Championship Grand Prix races after winning a successful bid following the first race at the track on 29 May 1954. Aintree’s Grand Prix races were held in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1962, with several non-world championships. Formula 1 races are hosted there.

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The full three-mile Grand Prix circuit was last used in 1964 before being shortened. But stock car racing continued on the club’s 1.5-mile circuit until 1982.

Here, we take a look back at a number of moments from those events, from what the track looked like to competitors and members of the public. You can see them in our gallery below.

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1 of 23

Stirling Moss competing in the Aintree Grand Prix, 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

2 of 23

Henry Taylor’s Lotus-Climax which crashed on the fifth lap of the British Grand Prix at Aintree, July 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

3 out of 23

British Formula 1 Grand Prix at Aintree July 1961. Winners on the podium – German driver Taffy von Trips with Ferrari teammate and future world champion Phil Hill and Laura Ferrari, wife of Enzo Ferrari

(Image: Mirrorpix)

4 out of 23

British Formula 1 Grand Prix at Aintree. Giancarlo Baghetti in action. July 15, 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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Cars line up for the start of the 1961 British Grand Prix at Aintree

(Image: Mirrorpix)

6 out of 23

W Von Trips won the Aintree Grand Prix, 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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1961 British Grand Prix at Aintree. Winner Von Tripps No.4 leads Stirling Moss at Tatts Corner

(Image: Mirrorpix)

8 out of 23

British Formula 1 Grand Prix at Aintree. Giancarlo Baghetti in action. July 15, 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

9 out of 23

Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Aintree circuit. Giancarlo Baghetti tests his goggles. July 15, 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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Stirling Moss won the Aintree Trophy Race Liverpool in a Masserati race car, 1954

(Image: Mirrorpix)

11 of 23

Ferrari driver Wolfgang von Trips receives the trophy from Phil Hill after winning the British Grand Prix at Aintree. July 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

12 out of 23

Wolfgang von Trips, driver for Ferrari, after winning the British Grand Prix at Aintree, 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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Wolfgang von Trips, driver for Ferrari, after winning the British Grand Prix at Aintree, 1961

(Image: Mirrorpix)

14 of 23

Ferrari’s Phil Hill talking to a stranger at the 1962 British Grand Prix

(Image: Mirrorpix)

15 out of 23

Phil Hill and his Ferrari during the practice session. July 1962

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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Line-up at the start of the European Grand Prix at Aintree. July 20, 1957

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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Jack Brabham at the British Grand Prix held at Aintree. July 21, 1962

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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German driver Wolfgang “Taffy” von Trips takes his Ferrari Dino 156 past the checkered flag at the 1961 British Grand Prix at Aintree

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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HRH The Duke of Kent filming the start of the race at Aintree, 1962

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Aintree circuit. Pictured, Bruce McLaren on July 12, 1962

(Image: Mirrorpix)

21 of 23

Stirling Moss drives Jaun Fargio in the British Grand Prix at Aintree, 1955

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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Stirling Moss (Mercedes Benz), who won a closely contested British Grand Prix, talks to Juan Manuel Fangio (Mercedes Benz), who came second in the race. July 1955

(Image: Mirrorpix)

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Juan Manuel Fangio (Mercedes Benz), number 10 leads the grid for the first time at the circuit, closely followed by Sterling Moss (Mercedes Benz) number 12. Moss won the race in a closely contested finish. July 1955

(Image: Mirrorpix)

VaselineMay 16, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Vaseline

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