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Exhibition marks F1 Grand Prix's 75th anniversary

Martin Heath
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Kate Bradbrook
BBC News
Reporting fromSilverstone
Kate Bradbrook/BBC A dark green and gold racing car with a number 5 on the front. There is a red car behind it and two further red cars to the right. One has the number 27 in white writing on the bonnet. They are parked on a grey stage at an exhibition.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
The exhibition showcases cars from across the decades

The Silverstone circuit has gone full throttle in marking an important motor racing anniversary with a unique exhibition.

Its display was launched on Tuesday - exactly 75 years after the first F1 World Championship Grand Prix.

It includes cars driven by Nigel Mansell, David Coulthard and George Russell.

The circuit's head of learning engagement, Rob Jaina, said the vehicles had never been brought together as a collection before.

Getty Images A black and white photo of the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. An Alpha Romeo with a thin bullet-shaped body, with a driver's head visible above the windscreen, passes the finish line as a man in a dark-coloured coat waves a chequered flag. Spectators are visible behind a low barrier at the edge of the track, with a stand behind them.Getty Images
The first World Championship Grand Prix was won by Giuseppe Farina

The very first F1 World Championship Grand Prix took place on 13 May 1950, with 21 drivers negotiating a track marked out by hay bales.

It was won by the Italian Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo.

All but 17 British Grand Prix races have been held at the Northamptonshire circuit, which was once an RAF base.

Kate Bradbrook/BBC A black racing car with gold writing that says "John Player Special", with a intertwined letter JPS logo and a number one in black with a gold background. It has large Goodyear tyres. It has Ronnie Peterson's name on the body about where the driver's seat begins. It is parked on a black stage at an exhibition.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Ronnie Peterson's 1974 JPS Lotus is part of the exhibition...
Kate Bradbrook/BBC A black racing car with silver trim. The name David is seen in black writing on a white background on the side of the body, alongside "Computer Associates" and Mobil. There is an information stand in front of the car, which is parked on a black and red surface. There are display boards with pictures of racing cars behind it.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
as is David Coulthard's McLaren MP4

The exhibition at Silverstone Museum showcases vehicles from each decade since that first race.

Stuart Pringle, the circuit's chief executive, said: "History is wonderful because it gives us something to anchor our brand to and talk about the sport.

"The modern circuits, and there are many wonderful circuits on the calendar now, but they don't have the history behind them, so we're really lucky."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Stuart Pringle with short brown hair smiling at the camera and wearing a white T-shirt with the Silverstone Logo. He is standing in front of display cases at an exhibition.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Silverstone's chief executive, Stuart Pringle, said Silverstone was lucky to have so much history

Mr Jaina, from the museum, added: "We've got some cars that have never even been brought together as a collection before.

"We've got everything from world championship cars to cars that haven't been quite as successful, but are still pretty special."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Rob Jaina with short blond hair smiling at the camera and wearing a white shirt. There is a display behind him called "The Future" and part of a green car is visible to his left. There are people looking at exhibits behind him.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Silverstone's Rob Jaina said the cars were on display together for the first time
Kate Bradbrook/BBC Nigel Mansell's car in the middle of two other F1 cars. It is blue and yellow and has Canon written across it.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
The exhibition includes the car in which Nigel Mansell won the 1992 Championship (centre)
Getty Images Racing car mid-circuit with a blue body, with the words Renault Elf 4 on the front. The word Canon appears on the rear wing in red writing. Nigel Mansell's helmet is visible protruding from the cockpit. The car has very large black tyres.Getty Images
Nigel Mansell's Williams-Renault FW14B won the British Grand Prix in 1992

Among the highlights is Nigel Mansell's Renault FW14B, which he drove to victory in the 1992 World Championship.

Mr Jaina said: "When he won here at Silverstone in '92, the crowd went absolutely berserk - they were running on the track in scenes we've never really seen before or since, and to have that car here is so special - to be where it all started."

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