Grand National Golf Club

Aintree Motor Track

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Aside from the world famous Grand National racecourse and the golf course, Aintree also boasts a great motor track circuit which is still used to this day.

Originally built in 1954, it was dubbed the ‘Goodwood of the North’ and was the first UK purpose built Grand Prix Circuit. It had two circuits which can be combined as one. The Grand Prix Circuit, which runs on the racecourse side of Melling Road, joins the Club Circuit, which is based on the other side of Melling Road, around the Golf Course and is the circuit which is still used today.

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Over the course of ten years, the British Grand Prix would be held five times (alternating with Silverstone) before its final race over the Grand Prix circuit in 1964. Stirling Moss was the most famous winner of the race after his victory in the first ever Grand Prix in 1955. This would also be his first ever F1 victory and the first British driver to win the British Grand Prix.

He would then repeat the feat two years later, sharing the victory with Tony Brooks. It was this Grand Prix in 1957 where the Grand Prix track was at its peak. The race was named the European Grand Prix for that year only and was the premier event in the F1 calendar for 1957. It hosted a staggering 150,000 spectators, a feat which hasn’t been seen since.

Unfortunately, after Jack Brabham won the final race over the Grand Prix circuit in a non-championship Grand Prix in 1964, the track would be shortened to just the ‘Club Circuit’ and top-tier motor-racing, specifically the British Grand Prix, would move to Brands Hatch and Silverstone.

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Since 1984, the ‘Club Circuit’ has remained active and been used by the Liverpool Motor Club for car sprint days and the Aintree Motorcycle Racing Club, which is specifically for Motorbikes, which have six events over the course of the summer. Charity events are also held over the year with Sporting Bears giving rides in fantastic cars to people who are looking for their ‘dream’ ride. Greenpower Electric Car Races for Schools are also held once a year around the circuit.

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Key Events In Motor Sport at Aintree

- 1954 - Aintree Motor circuit is the first UK purpose built Grand Prix circuit.

- 1954 - The first ever race at Aintree was the Aintree 200. The race was won by Sterling Moss

- 1955 - First ever F1 British Grand Prix takes place. Sterling Moss wins his first ever Grand Prix and becomes the first British driver to win the British GP.

- 1957 - Alternating with Silverstone, the second British Grand Prix is held. Sterling Moss and his teammate Tony Brooks shared the victory. This GP hosted over 150,000 spectators.

- 1959 - Jack Brabham wins the British Grand Prix in a Cooper-Climax car.

- 1961 - Wolfgang Von Trips in his Ferarri, wins the British GP. It would be the Austrian's final victory before being killed two months later at Monza in a crash.

- 1962 - Jim Clark wins the final British GP in his Lotus.

- 1963 - Jim Clark sets the track record for the Grand Prix circuit in a Aintree 200 race with a time of 1:51.8

- 1964 - The final ever race is held on the Grand Prix circuit.

- 1980 - The 108 Car Club bring rallying back to the Club Circuit.

- 1982 - The Motor Cycle Race Club start holding events each year.

- 1985 - Sprinting was reintroduced and two sprints were held for the British Sprint Championship each year till 1991.

- 2004 - The Aintree Motorsport Festival was held to celbrate 50 years of the Aintree circuit.

- 2010 - Nick Algar sets a record time on the Club circuit for a sprint of 36.03 seconds

- 2026 - Motor Cycle events and Car Sprints days are held throughout the summer.