Session data will appear here
- Circuit type
Race - Circuit Length
5.141 km - Circuit Turns
17 - Circuit Direction
Clockwise - Capacity
150,000 - Established
1947
Profile Like many UK historic tracks, Silverstone was built on the site of an old RAF airfield with the original circuit making use of the three runways in a triangle formation, so common to World War Two airfields.
The first race at the circuit is reported to have taken place in September 1947 between local resident Maurice Geoghegan and 11 friends who raced on a two-mile ad-hoc circuit. The race was plagued by sheep wandering onto the circuit; the event was nicknamed the 'Mutton Grand Prix' after Geoghegan hit one of the unfortunate creatures, signalling the end for both car and sheep. Full profile
