Aintree 300
AINTREE Racecourse is now better known for the roar of the crowd at its world famous Grand National meeting.
But yesterday it witnessed the roar of classic car engines which assembled to relive the glory days of British Grand Prix racing at Aintree in the 1950s and 1960s.
The cars were formerly driven by such legendary names of the racing circuit as Stirling Moss and Graham Hill.
Still lovingly preserved by their present owners and in full working order, the cars together were worth more than £3m.
The main attraction was a Vanwall, which was steered to victory by Moss in 1957 – the first time a British driver had won a Grand Prix in a British car.
The race was also notable for being a three-hour marathon, twice the length of a modern race, with Moss changing cars half way through.
The Vanwall is now held in the Donington Grand Prix collection.
Also present was a BRM P261, which was driven by Graham Hill at Aintree’s final Formula One race in 1964, when he finished second.
