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London is set to play a key role in celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of Britain’s first-ever motor Grand Prix this summer.
The historic 110-lap ‘Grand Prix of the Royal Automobile Club’ took place on a fast, specially designed 2.61-mile course around the famous oval circuit at Brooklands, in Weybridge, Surrey. Sections of the renowned, steeply banked track were incorporated, alongside the Finishing Straight, where challenging temporary sandbank chicanes were installed on either side of the refuelling pits.
The race – round four of the five-round 1926 World Manufacturers’ Championship – was won by a Delage shared by triumphant French drivers Robert Sénéchal and Louis Wagner. Malcolm Campbell upheld British honour by finishing second in his Bugatti.
Now, a century later, a major centenary celebration will take place at the Brooklands Museum on Saturday August 8. Around 100 Grand Prix cars from all eras will be on display, with some taking to the track in action. The milestone event will honour the Royal Automobile Club’s role not only in establishing Grand Prix racing in the UK, but also as the official organiser of that original, pioneering event.
The Club will be joining the festivities at Brooklands while also marking its pivotal role in bringing Grand Prix racing to Britain with its own tributes. Cars from the 1926 race will be displayed later in the year within the prized Rotunda of its impressive clubhouse on Pall Mall.
Later in the year, London’s celebrations will culminate in the ‘St James’s Motoring Spectacle’ on Saturday October 31. Held on a Pall Mall closed to through traffic, the free-to-enter annual event will showcase more than 130 vehicles, ranging from pre-1905 veterans to modern hypercars. In tribute to the Brooklands centenary, this year’s Spectacle will feature Grand Prix cars from both 1926 and 2026, alongside the Club’s iconic gold trophy, which is still presented to the winner of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Last year, more than 1,000 visitors seized the opportunity to take selfies with the famous trophy.
Organised jointly by the Royal Automobile Club and Westminster City Council, the Spectacle acts as the perfect curtain-raiser for the annual RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, which, as always, takes place on the first Sunday of November.
To further mark the milestone, the Royal Automobile Club has given the 1926 race pride of place on its 2026 membership card. A special anniversary display will also form part of the Club’s Concours at its Woodcote Park estate near Epsom on Wednesday July 8.
A century ago – even though only nine cars started and just three finished – the advent of Grand Prix racing in the UK was hailed as a great success, helping to shape the sport that has gripped the nation ever since.
“Brooklands and the Royal Automobile Club deserve special congratulation,” reported The Autocar magazine at the time. “The whole affair was splendidly organised, the car parks most efficient, and the score boards and numerous loudspeakers made it possible for the crowd to understand exactly what was happening.”
Members of the Royal Automobile Club were given exclusive access to that early event, with entry to the paddock and the opportunity to watch from the Members’ Hill, offering views of practically the entire circuit.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Royal Automobile Club’s support for this very special centenary celebration,” said Alex Patterson, Chief Executive of Brooklands Museum. “The 1926 race was a defining moment not just for Brooklands but for the development of international motor racing in the UK, and it is fitting that we commemorate it together with the organisation that helped make it happen.
“In August, the Club will be coming back to Brooklands, and Brooklands will also be an integral part of the Club’s own celebrations in London and Epsom. The St James’s Motoring Spectacle always draws a huge crowd and, with the added attraction of this year’s Grand Prix centenary, Pall Mall is sure to be packed once again.”
With so much to commemorate in the months ahead, the illustrious London Club is understandably excited.
“Brooklands holds a unique place in the story of British motorsport, and the Royal Automobile Club is proud to have played such a pivotal role in bringing Britain’s first Grand Prix to life in 1926,” said Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. “To return a century later to celebrate that historic moment alongside Brooklands is both an honour and a powerful reminder of how far the sport has come since those pioneering days.
“At this year’s St James’s Motoring Spectacle, we’re looking forward to bringing that history to life in the heart of London. Visitors will be able to get up close to a remarkable display of Grand Prix machinery spanning a full century of innovation, from the pioneering cars of 1926 to the cutting-edge technology of today. Combined with the presence of our historic gold trophy and the unique atmosphere of Pall Mall transformed into a celebration of motoring heritage, it promises to be a truly memorable occasion for enthusiasts and families alike.”
Tickets for the Brooklands Grand Prix Celebration are available via the official website: www.brooklandsmuseum.com. Brooklands Members can purchase tickets to an exclusive VIP Preview evening on the Friday and are offered Saturday admission.
Admission to the St James’s Motoring Spectacle in central London on Saturday 31 October is free for allcomers – no tickets are required.
