WHAT:
Purpose Built Motor Racing Circuit
WHERE:
Brooklands Circuit, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0SL, UK
LOCATION:
WHEN:
Built 1906 – Opened 1907 – First Official Event 28-29 June 1907
WHO:
Hugh Fortescue Locke-King & Ethel Locke-King
DETAILS:
Brooklands was a 2.75-mile (4.43 km) motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge, Surrey, England. Opened in 1907, it was the world’s first purpose-built banked motor racing circuit, designed to accommodate the increasing speeds of early 20th-century automobiles. The track featured steep banking and long straights, allowing for high-speed racing and record-breaking attempts, making it a hub of motorsport innovation.
In addition to motorsport, Brooklands quickly became one of Britain’s first airfields and evolved into the largest aircraft manufacturing centre in the country by 1918. It played a key role in aviation history, producing both military aircraft and civil airliners. Throughout both World Wars, Brooklands was instrumental in aircraft development, hosting testing, training, and manufacturing efforts.
The circuit hosted its final race in August 1939, as the outbreak of World War II saw the site repurposed for war production. Post-war, much of the track was dismantled, but aviation and motoring heritage remain deeply rooted in the area. Today, part of the original circuit is preserved as Brooklands Museum, a major destination for aviation and motorsport enthusiasts. The museum showcases historic aircraft, vintage racing cars, and exhibits on Brooklands’ pioneering contributions to motorsport and aerospace. The site also hosts vintage car, motorcycle, and transport-related events, keeping the spirit of Brooklands alive for future generations.
LINKS:
Brooklands Historic Triple – Three World Firsts
Brooklands will be marking their 120th year in 2027 and will celebrate by unveiling a World Origin Site plaque for the World’s First Purpose Built Motor Racing Circuit. Before that will be plaques for the World’s First Ground to Air Communication, successfully transmitted 110 years ago in 1915 and the World’s First Airline Ticket Office from 1911 when you could be some of the first paying passengers to sample a test flight around the Surrey skies.
