Motorsport

THE racetrack which hosted the first ever British Grand Prix is now overgrown and abandoned.Having been bombed during the Second World War, the track never re-opened for racing once the conflict ended.
The racetrack which hosted the first ever British Grand Prix is now abandonedCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Brooklands Racetrack is now overgrown and covered in grassCredit: Alan Hunt (Creative Commons)
Brooklands Racetrack was put out of use after being bombed during the Second World WarCredit: John Chapman CC BY-SA 3.0
It had been used by the military during both World Wars after first opening in 1907 as the first racetrack of its kind.
However, Brooklands Racetrack now looks unrecognisable over a century on.
The track, which is located in Weybridge, Surrey, was the UK’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit.
With a unique design, the circuit had a 30-foot-high, banked-corner made of concrete.
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Brooklands’ look even predated the iconic Indianapolis Speedway circuit.
After less than a decade in operation, the track closed during World War I and was claimed by the War Office.
During that time, it became a major location for military aircraft construction, with the aerodrome built in 1909 used as a flying training centre.
Once the war ended, racing resumed on the track in 1920 after required track repairs had been carried out.
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Brooklands Racetrack opened in 1907Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Brooklands Racetrack hosted the first British Grand Prix in 1926Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
The first-ever British Grand Prix was held at the circuit in 1926, with sand chicanes and a finishing straight constructed.
Racing would be forced to stop for good with the outbreak of World War II, with the final meeting held less than a month before the war started in 1939.
The aerodrome was again claimed by the government and used to produce military aircraft.
Bombs also landed on the track during the conflict, with the site not handed back over by the government until 1949.
Nowadays, the Brooklands’ remaining features are covered in overgrown grass and surrounded by trees.
Brooklands Racetrack closed during both the First and Second World WarCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Brooklands Racetrack was not used for racing again after the Second World WarCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
The iconic banked-corners can still be seen, though, dropping down to the side of a busy road and overlooking a nearby supermarket.
It is a fate that has befallen other racetracks, including the Buddh International Circuit in India, which still has the names of drivers on display around the track. More

MAX VERSTAPPEN’S girlfriend Kelly Piquet stunned in a tiny bikini as she took a break from life in the fast lane.The model is enjoying some time in the sun after attending the wedding of her best friend earlier this month.
Kelly Piquet stunned in a polka dot bikiniCredit: Instagram / @kellypiquet
She is enjoying a holiday with her daughter PenelopeCredit: Splash
Kelly works as a modelCredit: Instagram / @kellypiquet
She has dated Max Verstappen since late 2020Credit: Getty
Kelly is the daughter of F1 legend Nelson Piquet SrCredit: Splash
And she dazzled in a polka dot bikini that left little to the imagination.
Kelly shared snaps of a boat trip on Instagram, while she also went paddleboarding with her three-year-old daughter Penelope.
Fans were impressed Kelly’s look as one commented: “Beautiful ❤️”
Another added: “Gorgeous 💕”
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And a third said: “”You are so beautiful, you can’t be from this world🥰”
Kelly, 34, began dating Verstappen in late 2020 and recently had to squash rumours they have split.
The Brazilian also comes from an F1 background with Kelly’s father Nelson a legend of the sport.
Verstappen, 25, is on course to equal his three world championship wins after winning the last five races.
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Most recently the Dutchman conquered Silverstone and is now preparing for the final two Grands Prix before the summer break.
The world number one is best known for his F1 performances but is also a big star in the world of simulation races.
He often takes part in virtual F1 tournaments and was disqualified from competition this week after ramming into an opponent.
After the first hour, a racer from an opposing team, Sven-Ole Haase, hit Verstappen from behind, causing him to crash into his team-mate.
This led both drivers to spin out of control, putting the team behind their competition.
Later in the race, Verstappen took an off-track shortcut and caught up with Haase.
Then when Haase broke for a corner, Verstappen refused to, and rammed Haase’s car.
The car was rammed off the track and into the barriers. More

A LEGENDARY Formula One car has suffered major damage after a “very bizarre incident” at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.The Leyton House, one of iconic engineer Adrian Newey’s first F1 cars, was the victim of the accident.
A legendary F1 car was left in a wreck after a ‘very bizarre incident’ at GoodwoodCredit: Goodwood festival
The scheduled Saturday run was cancelled due to storms, but the packed timetable went ahead as normal after the weather cleared up.
A host of historic cars from all types of motorsport were driven up the famous Goodwood Estate hill.
However one of those motors, an Adrian Newey-designed Leyton House Judd CG901 from 1990, appeared to suffer mechanical failure as the driver approached the Molcomb corner.
The car then spun around and crashed into some nearby straw bales that lined the road.
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It then bounced onto the track as the marshals pulled out and began waving the red flags.
Fortunately for driver Richard Hope, he escaped uninjured.
And he managed to climb out of the vehicle while the debris was quickly cleared up.
Karun Chandhok, who was driving a McLaren Can-Am motor up the hill. was the next driver approaching following the crash.
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Commentator Alex Jacques said as the replay was shown: “This is the Leyton House F1 car that put [Adrian Newey] on the map.
“Hitting the brakes, and around into the straw.”
Co-commentator Alice Powell then said: “That’s a very bizarre incident, it looks like it just locked up the rear tyres there and, at that point, the driver is a passenger.
“The hay bales, the straw bales did their job but that’s an expensive crash.”
She then added: “I don’t think that is possibly on the driver, that looks like some other issue there because the rear has just instantly locked.”
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