Silverstone Circuit facts for kids
| Home of British Motor Racing | |
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Silverstone Circuit since 2011
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| Location | Silverstone, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) BST (April–October, UTC+1) |
| Coordinates | 52°04′16″N 1°00′58″W / 52.071°N 1.016°W |
| Capacity | 164,000 |
| FIA Grade | 1 (GP) 2 (Historic & National) |
| Owner | British Racing Drivers' Club |
| Opened | 1948 |
| Major events | Current: Formula One British Grand Prix (intermittently 1948–1985, 1987–present) 70th Anniversary Grand Prix (2020) Grand Prix motorcycle racing British motorcycle Grand Prix (1977–1986, 2010–2019, 2021–present) European Le Mans Series (2004–2005, 2007–2011, 2013–2019, 2025) BTCC (1979–2006, 2008–present) British GT (1993–present) Silverstone Classic (1990–2019, 2021–present) Former: FIA WEC 4 Hours of Silverstone (2012–2019) WTCC Race of UK (2005) World SBK (2002–2007, 2010–2013) FIA World RX World RX of Great Britain (2018–2019) FIM Endurance World Championship (1983, 2002) GT World Challenge Europe (2013–2019) FIA GT (1997–2002, 2005–2009) World Sportscar Championship (1976–1988, 1990–1992) |
| Arena Grand Prix Circuit (2011–present) | |
| Length | 5.891 km (3.661 mi) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:27.097 ( Max Verstappen, Red Bull RB16, 2020, F1) |
| Motorcycle Circuit (2010–present) | |
| Length | 5.900 km (3.666 mi) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:58.895 ( Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia RS-GP24, 2024, MotoGP) |
| Arena Grand Prix Circuit (2010) | |
| Length | 5.901 km (3.667 mi) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:30.874 ( Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F10, 2010, F1) |
| International Circuit (2010–present) | |
| Length | 2.979 km (1.851 mi) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Race lap record | 1:00.485 ( John Seale, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, 2021, GT3) |
| National Circuit (1997–present) | |
| Length | 2.639 km (1.640 mi) |
| Turns | 6 |
| Race lap record | 0:47.404 ( Scott Mansell, Benetton B197, 2004, F1) |
| Bridge Grand Prix Circuit (1997–2010) | |
| Length | 5.141 km (3.194 mi) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 1:18.739 ( Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004, 2004, F1) |
| Bridge Grand Prix Circuit (1996) | |
| Length | 5.072 km (3.152 mi) |
| Race lap record | 1:29.288 ( Jacques Villeneuve, Williams FW18, 1996, F1) |
| Bridge Grand Prix Circuit with Copse tightened and Abbey chicane (1994–1995) | |
| Length | 5.057 km (3.160 mi) |
| Race lap record | 1:27.100 ( Damon Hill, Williams FW16, 1994, F1) |
| Bridge Grand Prix Circuit (1991–1994) | |
| Length | 5.226 km (3.260 mi) |
| Race lap record | 1:22.515 ( Damon Hill, Williams FW15C, 1993, F1) |
Silverstone Circuit is a famous motor racing track in England, UK. It is located near the villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury in Northamptonshire. This circuit is known as the home of the British Grand Prix. It first hosted this big race in 1948.
In 1950, the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a very special event. It was the first-ever race in the new World Championship of Drivers, which we now know as Formula One. For many years, the British Grand Prix moved between Silverstone, Aintree, and Brands Hatch. But since 1987, Silverstone has been its permanent home. The circuit also hosts the British round of the MotoGP series, which is a major motorcycle racing event.
Contents
Discovering Silverstone Circuit
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The Silverstone circuit was once a Royal Air Force (RAF) bomber station. It was called RAF Silverstone and was used during World War II from 1943 to 1946. The track's shape still follows the outline of the airfield's three runways. These runways were laid out in a classic WWII triangle pattern.
The circuit sits right on the border between Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. You can get there easily from the nearby A43. Towns like Towcester and Brackley are close by. The city of Milton Keynes is also nearby. Many Formula One teams have their headquarters in the UK. The Aston Martin team, for example, has a new base less than a kilometre from the track.
How the Circuit Started
Silverstone was first used for racing by a group of friends in September 1947. One friend, Maurice Geoghegan, knew the airfield was empty. He and eleven other drivers had an unofficial race on a 2-mile (3.2 km) circuit. During this race, Geoghegan accidentally hit a sheep that had wandered onto the track. The sheep died, and his car was badly damaged. This informal race became known as the Mutton Grand Prix.
The next year, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) took over the airfield. They created a more official racing circuit. The first two races used the runways, with long straight sections and sharp corners marked by hay bales. But for the 1949 International Trophy, they decided to use the perimeter track. This layout was used for the 1950 and 1951 Grands Prix. In 1952, the start line moved, and this new layout stayed mostly the same for 38 years.
Changes to the Track Over Time
Over the years, the track has changed to make it safer and more exciting. In 1975, a chicane (a series of tight turns) was added to slow down cars at the Woodcote corner. In 1987, the Bridge corner was slightly changed.
A big redesign happened between the 1990 and 1991 races. The track went from being super-fast to more technical. This meant drivers needed more skill to navigate the corners. Nigel Mansell won the first Formula One race on this new track. He famously gave his rival Ayrton Senna a lift back to the pits after Senna's car ran out of fuel.
After some serious accidents in 1994, many Grand Prix circuits were changed for safety. Silverstone also made changes to reduce speeds and add more run-off areas. For example, the entry to Stowe corner was modified. The Abbey kink was also changed into a chicane very quickly for the 1994 Grand Prix. Today, parts of the track, like the starting grid, are very wide to meet modern safety rules.
Silverstone's Racing History
The Early Years: 1940s and 1950s
After World War II ended in 1945, there was no permanent place for motorsport in Britain. The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) decided to host a Grand Prix. They looked at old RAF airfields and chose Silverstone. In August 1948, plans were made to create the circuit in less than two months.
The 1948 British Grand Prix was held on October 2, 1948. The track was marked with oil drums and hay bales. About 100,000 spectators watched the race. Luigi Villoresi won in a Maserati. The second Grand Prix in 1949 used the full perimeter track. It was won by Toulo de Graffenried.
The 1950 British Grand Prix was a huge moment. It was the first-ever race in the new World Championship of Drivers. Even King George VI and Queen Elizabeth attended, which was the only time a reigning monarch has been at a British motor race. Giuseppe Farina won in an Alfa Romeo.
In 1951, José Froilán González made history by winning in a Ferrari, beating the powerful Alfas. The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) took over the lease of the circuit that year. They started making it a more permanent racing venue.
From 1955, the British Grand Prix alternated between Silverstone and Aintree. Later, Brands Hatch also became an alternative venue.
Exciting Races: 1960s and 1970s
In the 1960 British Grand Prix, Jack Brabham won in a Cooper. The race is also remembered for Graham Hill's amazing drive. He stalled at the start, fell to last, but then raced through the field.
Jim Clark won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1963 and 1965. He was a very talented driver. In 1967, the new 3-litre Formula One cars came to Silverstone, and Clark won again.
The 1970s brought more speed and changes. In 1971, Jackie Stewart won at Silverstone on his way to his second World Championship. The 1973 race saw a big accident at the start, but thankfully only one driver was injured.
In 1977, the British motorcycle Grand Prix moved to Silverstone. This was a big change for motorcycle racing. Pat Hennen won the first event on a Suzuki. The 1979 British Motorcycle Grand Prix was one of the closest races ever, with Kenny Roberts winning by a tiny margin.
Modern Era: 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s
The 1980s saw the rise of turbocharged engines in Formula One. These cars were incredibly fast. In 1987, a new corner was added before Woodcote for safety. From 1987 onwards, the British Grand Prix stayed permanently at Silverstone. Nigel Mansell won the 1987 race in a thrilling comeback, passing Nelson Piquet in the final laps.
The 1990s brought major redesigns to the track. Corners like Club and Stowe were made slower, and new sections were added. These changes made the circuit more challenging. In 1991, Mansell won again, becoming the most successful British driver at the time.
The 1994 Grand Prix was controversial. Damon Hill won after Michael Schumacher was disqualified for ignoring a penalty. In 1995, Johnny Herbert won his first Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The 2000s started with a challenging British Grand Prix in April 2000. Bad weather made the car parks unusable for many fans. David Coulthard won his second straight victory. In 2003, a track invader briefly interrupted the race, which was won by Rubens Barrichello.
In 2004, Michael Schumacher won his 80th Grand Prix victory at Silverstone. There were concerns that Silverstone might lose the British Grand Prix. However, a new deal was signed, keeping the race at the circuit. Lewis Hamilton's success in 2007 led to a huge increase in ticket sales for Silverstone. He won the 2008 British Grand Prix by a massive 68 seconds.
Recent History: 2010s and 2020s
In 2010, Mark Webber won the British Grand Prix. The British motorcycle Grand Prix also returned to Silverstone that year after a long break. Jorge Lorenzo dominated the MotoGP event.
Fernando Alonso won the 2011 British Grand Prix for Ferrari. In 2012, Webber won again. The 2013 British Grand Prix was exciting, with Nico Rosberg winning a race that saw several tyre failures. Jorge Lorenzo also won the 2013 British MotoGP after a close battle.
Lewis Hamilton won the 2014 British Grand Prix. His teammate Nico Rosberg had to retire due to a gearbox problem. Hamilton's win in the 2019 British Grand Prix was his sixth at Silverstone, breaking a record for most wins at the event.
The 2020 British motorcycle Grand Prix was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Silverstone hosted two Formula One races in 2020 without spectators. The second race was called the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix to celebrate 70 years of Formula One.
In December 2020, the pit straight at Silverstone was named after Lewis Hamilton. This was to honour his amazing achievements in motorsport. It was the first time a part of the track was named after an individual.
The 2024 British Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton win his ninth British Grand Prix. This broke the record for most wins at a single circuit or Grand Prix. He also extended his record of consecutive podium finishes at Silverstone to 12. On July 6, 2025, Google celebrated the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, which started at Silverstone in 1950, with a special Google Doodle. Lando Norris won his first British Grand Prix, becoming the 12th British driver to win on home soil.
The dates for the 2025 British motorcycle Grand Prix were confirmed to be May 23–25, 2025. This will be the earliest a British motorcycle Grand Prix has ever been held at Silverstone. In the Moto2 race, British rider Jake Dixon won his first home race.
Other Competitions at Silverstone
Silverstone also hosts many other racing series. It is home to the Silverstone Classic, which is the world's largest historic race meeting. This event features classic cars from different eras.
The circuit has also hosted exhibition rounds of the D1 Grand Prix, a popular drifting competition. The drifting course uses the Brooklands and Luffield corners. It is known as one of the most technical drifting courses. Silverstone also hosts the Formula Student Competition every year.
Events
- Current events
- 22 February: Pomeroy Trophy
- 15–16 March: BRSCC Season Opener
- 5–6 April: Britcar
- 25–27 April: British GT Championship Silverstone 500, GB3 Championship, GB4 Championship
- 2–4 May: Britcar BRSCC Silverstone 24 Hours, Supercar Challenge, F4 British Championship
- 17–18 May: TCR UK Touring Car Championship
- 23–25 May: Grand Prix motorcycle racing British motorcycle Grand Prix, British Talent Cup
- 4–6 July: Formula One British Grand Prix, FIA Formula 2 Championship Silverstone Formula 2 round, FIA Formula 3 Championship
- 2–3 August: GB3 Championship, GB4 Championship, GT Cup Championship
- 22–24 August: Silverstone Classic
- 5–7 September: Ferrari Challenge UK Ferrari Racing Days
- 12–14 September: European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Silverstone, Le Mans Cup, Ligier European Series
- 20–21 September: British Touring Car Championship, F4 British Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
- 27–28 September: BRSCC Silverstone Finals Race Weekend
- 11–12 October: HSCC Finals
- 19–20 October: MRL Silverstone GP Meeting
- 1–2 November: Walter Hayes Trophy
- Former events
- 24H Series (2016, 2018)
- American Le Mans Series Silverstone 500 USA Challenge (2000)
- British Formula 3 International Series (1971–2014)
- British Superbike Championship (1998–2023)
- FIA World Endurance Championship 4 Hours of Silverstone (2019)
- FIA World Rallycross Championship World RX of Great Britain (2018–2019)
- Formula One 70th Anniversary Grand Prix (2020)
- GP2 Series Silverstone GP2 round (2005–2016)
- Superbike World Championship (2002–2007, 2010–2013)
- World Sportscar Championship (1976–1988, 1990–1992)
- World Touring Car Championship FIA WTCC Race of UK (1987, 2005)
Lap Records
Max Verstappen set the official race lap record for the current Grand Prix track layout. He achieved a time of 1:27.097 in his Red Bull Racing RB16 during the 2020 British Grand Prix. This current layout has been used since 2011. The diagram on the right shows how the circuit has changed over the years.
Official lap records are set during a race. Qualifying laps are usually faster, but they don't count as official race records.
| Category | Driver | Vehicle | Time | Event |
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| Grand Prix Circuit (2011–present): 5.891 km (3.661 mi.) | ||||
| Formula One | Max Verstappen |
Red Bull Racing RB16 | 1:27.097 | 2020 British Grand Prix |
| Motorcycle Circuit (2010–present): 5.900 km (3.666 mi.) | ||||
| MotoGP | Aleix Espargaró |
Aprilia RS-GP24 | 1:58.895 | 2024 British motorcycle Grand Prix |
| National Circuit (1997–present): 2.639 km (1.640 mi.) | ||||
| BOSS GP/F1 | Scott Mansell |
Benetton B197 | 0:47.404 | 2004 Silverstone EuroBOSS round |
Images for kids
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Piers Courage in his Brabham-Cosworth BT26A at the 1969 British Grand Prix.
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Niki Lauda driving the Ferrari 312T at Silverstone in 1975.
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Jochen Mass in a Martini Racing Porsche 935 during the 1976 Silverstone Six-Hours.
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John Watson's 1981 British Grand Prix winning McLaren.
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Keke Rosberg in the Williams FW10 during qualifying for the 1985 British Grand Prix.
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Nigel Mansell giving Ayrton Senna a lift after the 1991 British Grand Prix.
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Johnny Herbert winning the 1995 British Grand Prix.
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Kimi Räikkönen driving his Ferrari to victory in the 2007 British Grand Prix.
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Allan McNish driving the Audi R10 during the 2008 Le Mans Series race.
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Cal Crutchlow on his way to a double win at the 2010 World Superbike event.
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The Toyota TS030 Hybrid on its way to third place in the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship race.
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Lewis Hamilton at the 2024 British Grand Prix, where he won a record ninth time.
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See also
In Spanish: Circuito de Silverstone para niños
