The new motor-racing circuit at Aintree, near Liverpool, opened to a wet but successful International meeting organised by the BARC for the Daily Telegraph on May 29th. The circuit is, with Silverstone, the longest in this country, having a lap distance of exactly three miles. It possesses long straights and a series of interesting bends, is smooth and well surfaced, and the huge and elaborate horse-race grandstands ensure an excellent view. A good deal of mud got conveyed to the course, which, like airfield circuits, lacks definition at the corners. With more bunting and a band it could resemble a continental venue.

The BARC revived its classic 200-Mile Race, but opened it to Formule Libre racing cars, and ran it as two 50-mile heats and a 100-mile final, probably thinking 150 miles was enough for the average English racing car. Continental drivers who braved the dismal “Manchester weather” which enveloped Aintree for practice and the race numbered Jean Behra, André Pilette (Gordinis), P Etancelin (Talbot), Prince Bira (Maserati) and the American driver Carroll Shelby (Aston Martin).

The official figure for attendance is 25,000, and the prevailing enthusiasm was reflected by the dripping umbrellas of spectators who stuck it out on the top of the stands and in the enclosures. They were rewarded by seeing Stirling Moss drive in truly professional style to retrieve lost fortune, his new Maserati winning the Aintree International 200 race and his Beart-tuned Cooper-Norton dominating the 500cc event. Duncan Hamilton took sports car honours in his Type C Jaguar from the brilliant American Shelby in his Aston Martin DB3S and Jimmy Stewart in the ex-Le Mans-winning Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar.