Brooklands Museum has announced that its 2026 celebrations to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Britain’s first Grand Prix are being supported by the prestigious Royal Automobile Club.
Back in 1926, the Royal Automobile Club was the driving force behind bringing international car racing to the UK in what proved to be a landmark event in British motorsport history.
Now, 100 years later, a special centenary celebration will take place at the historic Brooklands circuit near Weybridge, Surrey on Saturday August 8, 2026 with an anticipated 100 Grand Prix cars from all eras on display and action.
Additionally, this milestone occasion 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.
Scenes from the first British Grand Prix at Brooklands in Surrey (Photos: Brooklands Museum Trust)
The first British Grand Prix
The seminal 110-lap Grand Prix of the Royal Automobile Club was staged on a special 2.61-mile layout of the famous oval circuit. Sections of the banked track were included, as well as the Finishing Straight on which two temporary sandbank chicanes were installed 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 French drivers Robert Sénéchal and Louis Wagner, with Malcolm Campbell upholding British honour by finishing second in his Bugatti.
Although only nine cars took the start and just three finished, the advent of Grand Prix racing in the UK was hailed as a great success.
“Brooklands and the Royal Automobile Club deserve especial 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.”
A special anniversary display will also form part of the Royal Automobile Club’s Concours at its Woodcote Park estate, near Epsom, on Wednesday July 8, followed later in the year by a curated showcase of cars and memorabilia at the Pall Mall clubhouse.
A defining moment for Brooklands and British motorsport
“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 a year of celebrations, Brooklands Museum will also be bringing the story of Britain’s first Grand Prix of 1926 to life with a new Grand Prix exhibition in the Jackson Shed from Saturday June 27. For families, there is also a racing themed Easter trail from March 28 to April 12, a pit stop challenge in May Half Term and a year long Scavenger Hunt.
- Tickets for the Brooklands Grand Prix Celebration are now available. Adult admission is priced at £39.95 in advance, with tickets for accompanied children aged 4 to 17 (under 4s are free) available at £19.95. Brooklands Members are able to purchase tickets to an exclusive VIP Preview evening on the Friday and are offered Saturday admission for £19.95 (child £9.95) – a special price that includes an official programme.
- Early booking is strongly advised as record numbers of tickets have already been purchased for what is expected to be a truly outstanding - and sell-out - occasion.
While you're there
- To turn your day out into an extra special adventure, stay at Brooklands Hotel & Spa, where the old Brooklands race track weaves through the reception and the 1907 restaurant, bar & grill offers top-class dining options.
- Still feeling the need for speed? Head next door to Mercedes-Benz World and book a driving experience - from sessions for kids aged three and up to thrilling high-speed drives for adults.
