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GRAND PRIX OF GREAT BRITAIN
Silverstone
19 - 21 June 2009
Track details
| Lap dist. : | 5.141 km-3.194 miles |
| Race : | 59 laps |
|
Race dist. : |
303.214 km 188.446 miles |
| Track record : |
M. Schumacher 1:18.739 (Ferrari - 2004) |
Grand Prix motor racing was first established in Britain by Henry Segrave at the Brooklands course in 1926 after his winning of the French Grand Prix in 1923 and the following year at the Spanish Grand Prix which raised interest in the sport.
Silverstone circuit is best known as the home of the British Grand Prix, which it first hosted in 1948.
The 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was the first race in the newly created Formula One World Championship. The race rotated between Silverstone, Aintree and Brands Hatch from 1955 to 1986, but relocated permanently to Silverstone in 1987.
The track underwent a major redesign between the 1990 and 1991 race. The reshaped track's first F1 race was perhaps the most memorable of recent years, with Nigel Mansell coming home first in front of his home crowd, prompting mass hysteria in the grandstands. On his victory lap back to the pits Mansell even found time to pick up stranded rival Ayrton Senna and give him a lift on his side-pod, after Senna's McLaren had expired towards the end of the race.
The 2005 Grand Prix was an important race for all the drivers, especially Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen and Michael Schumacher. McLaren were tipped to be runaway winners but Renault emerged as major challengers during the race.
