The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) is an exclusive invitation-only
members club for
racecar drivers who are judged to have achieved success in the upper levels of
motor sport
Motorsport or motor sport are sporting events, competitions and related activities that primarily involve the use of automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats and powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific terms ''automobile ...
for a number of seasons. Except under exceptional circumstances, members must have been born in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
or
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...
. The BRDC owns and operates
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is a motor racing circuit in England, near the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. It is the home of the British Grand Prix, which it first hosted as the 1948 British Grand Prix. The 1950 British Grand ...
in the United Kingdom.
Early days
The club was founded in April 1928 by
Dr. J. Dudley Benjafield, one of an informal group of British racing drivers known as the "
Bentley Boys". The BRDC began primarily as a socialising club for Benjafield and his fellow drivers, but by the time of its inauguration, its 25 members had devised a set of objectives for the club:
*To promote the interests of motor sport generally.
*To celebrate any specific achievement in motor sport.
*To extend hospitality to racing drivers from overseas.
*To further the interests of British drivers competing abroad.
In 1929, the BRDC became involved in the promotion and organisation of racing events. Its first event was the BRDC 500-Mile Race at
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England, United Kingdom. It opened in 1907 and was the world's first purpose-built 'banked' motor racing circuit as well as one of Britain's first airfields, ...
on 12 October of that year, a race won by a
Bentley 4½ Litre
The Bentley 4½ Litre is a British car based on a rolling chassis built by Bentley Motors. Walter Owen Bentley replaced the Bentley 3 Litre with a more powerful car by increasing its engine displacement to . A racing variant was known as the ...
, unsupercharged, owned and driven by Bentley-dealer Jack Barclay and Le Mans-winner
F.C. Clement. The event was such a success that the 1930 event, scheduled for 4 October, was accorded International status. The Earl of March and
S.C.H. Davis won the event outright in an
Austin Seven.
From June 1935 the BRDC published the monthly magazine ''
Speed
In kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude of the change of its position over time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a non-negative scalar quantity. Intro ...
''. The final issue was April 1939, after which it was incorporated into its rival ''
Motor Sport
Motorsport or motor sport are sporting events, competitions and related activities that primarily involve the use of automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats and powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific terms ''automobile ...
''.
World War II and aftermath
Members who died or were killed during the Second World War included:
Cecil Kimber (a vice-president), The
Earl of Cottenham, A.V. Ebblewhite, Hugh P. McConnell, T.E. Rose Richards, J.P. Wakefield,
[''Motor Sport'', June 1942, Page 125: Obituary.] E.K. Rayson, G.L. Baker, John Carr, Percy Maclure, A.F.P. Fane, B.P.W. Twist,
R.O. Shuttleworth, C.S. Staniland, N.G. Wilson,
H.E. Symons,
R.P. Hichens, J.A. Driskell, and
Lionel Martin.
After the war the club opened a "Le Mans Fund," for the benefit of the
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (English: Automobile Club of the West), sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organ ...
, raising a grand total of £358 and 11 shillings, to assist with the rehabilitation of the facilities at the Le Mans circuit. "It will be remembered that these installations were almost completely destroyed during the war, mainly by Allied bombing."
Membership status
In the modern era full membership status is offered only to those who are judged to have been successful at an international level for a number of seasons. Full membership has been awarded to every British or Commonwealth Formula One World Champion. Associate status is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to motor sport. Honorary membership may be awarded in special cases, such as a notable World Champion who may not otherwise qualify. Membership is only open to British or Commonwealth drivers however Irish drivers who were born in the
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State (6 December 192229 December 1937), also known by its Irish-language, Irish name ( , ), was a State (polity), state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-ye ...
or the
Republic of Ireland
Ireland ( ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland, with a population of about 5.4 million. ...
before 1950 would be considered British by the club and eligible for membership. This rule allowed for
Eddie Jordan to join the club. Once invited to join, prospective members must be proposed and seconded by existing members, then in turn, approved by the existing membership, board of directors and BRDC President.
The BRDC's membership was initially restricted to experienced and successful male drivers, and was by invitation only. When Le Mans-winner
John Duff
John Francis Duff (January 17, 1895 – January 8, 1958) was a Canadian racing driver. He is best known for winning the 1924 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Early life
Duff was born in Jiujiang, China, to Canadian parents from Hamilton, Ontario, who ...
joined the club in 1935 he was proposed and seconded by existing members. However
James Robertson Justice
James Robertson Justice (15 June 1907 – 2 July 1975) was a British actor. He often portrayed pompous authority figures in comedies, including each of the seven films in the ''Doctor'' series. He also co-starred with Gregory Peck in seve ...
was a member of the club, with a limited track record.
In 1946 eligibility was described thus: "It is pointed out that, normally, membership is confined to gentlemen who have competed in an open motor road-racing event or taken a first, second or third place award in a
Brooklands Automobile Racing Club's Meeting. Every candidate must be proposed by one and seconded by another member of the club, to both of whom he is personally known."
Women have been elected Honorary Member of the Club since 1928 (when
Jill Scott was inducted
), however it was not until 1994 that they were able to become Full Members. As a consequence, the
British Women Racing Drivers Club was founded in 1962 by Mary Wheeler.
Race promotion and circuit ownership
In the post-war era, the BRDC expanded its activities, taking over the lease of
Silverstone
Silverstone is a village and civil parish in the West Northamptonshire unitary authority area of Northamptonshire, England. The village is about south-southwest of Towcester and northeast of Brackley, both accessed via the A43 road, A43 main ...
from the
RAC in 1952. In 1966, the club formed a subsidiary company, ''Silverstone Circuits Limited'', responsible for the development of the
British Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix is a Grand Prix motor racing event organised in the United Kingdom by Motorsport UK. First held by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in 1926 British Grand Prix, 1926, the British Grand Prix has been held annually since 1948 ...
and – after its purchase in 1971 – the circuit itself. Aside from the GP, other notable BRDC-organised events at Silverstone included the
BRDC International Trophy.
In recent years, Silverstone and the British GP have become an ongoing contentious issue between the BRDC board and
Bernie Ecclestone
Bernard Charles Ecclestone (born 28 October 1930) is a British business magnate, motorsport executive and former racing driver. Widely known in journalism as the "F1 Supremo", Ecclestone founded the Formula One Group in 1987, controlling the c ...
's
Formula One Management
The Formula One Group is a group of companies responsible for the Promotion (marketing), promotion of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA Formula One World Championship, and the exercising of the sport's commercial rights.
The ...
, with differences of opinion over the costs involved and the state of the circuit's infrastructure.
Also within the remit of the club are:
*The BRDC Marshals' Club.
*BRDC Club Races.
*BRDC 500 Summer Races.
*The BRDC
Walter Hayes
Walter Leopold Arthur Hayes (12 April 1924 – 26 December 2000) was an English journalist, and later public relations executive for Ford Motor Company, Ford.
Hayes was key in developing Ford's Formula One program, by signing Jackie Stewart a ...
Trophy.
Young driver support
The support and development of young British drivers has become an important part of the BRDC's existence, not least with its involvement in the annual
Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award to honour and promote a young driver from a British championship who, in the eyes of the judges, shows the most talent and potential. Among the BRDC's promotional and developmental schemes is the ''Stars of Tomorrow'' karting championship. The BRDC also provides financial backing to selected young British drivers competing in junior formulae.
In 2008, the BRDC announced the creation of its SuperStars program, designed to advise and financially support Britain's most promising young drivers. 1992 BTCC champion
Tim Harvey was appointed Director of the program. The current director is
Andy Meyrick
Andrew James Meyrick (born 4 September 1985) is a British racing driver from Wales who currently competes in the 2024 European Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series for United Autosports.
Racing career
Single seaters
Meyrick made his racing ...
.
2022 BRDC Superstars
Significant people
In the recent past the Club Presidency has been held by former Formula One World Champions
Sir Jackie Stewart and
Damon Hill
Damon Graham Devereux Hill (born 17 September 1960) is an English former racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from to . Hill won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in with Williams, and won 22 Grands Prix acr ...
. , Former F1 Driver
David Coulthard
David Marshall Coulthard (born 27 March 1971) is a British former racing driver and sports broadcasting, broadcaster from Scotland who competed in Formula One from to . Nicknamed "DC", Coulthard was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' ...
is the President of the BRDC, having replaced
Paddy Hopkirk.
The club's current Chairman is Peter Digby, since 2022. The position has recently been held by former touring car driver Stuart Rolt, (from 2005 – 2008 and from 2010 – 2012) and Robert Brooks, Chairman of
Bonhams
Bonhams is a privately owned international auction house and one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. It was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. This brought t ...
auctioneers, from 2008 – 2010.
Presidents of the BRDC
See also
*
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (English: Automobile Club of the West), sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organ ...
*
British Automobile Racing Club
The British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) is one of the biggest organising clubs for auto racing, motor racing in the United Kingdom.
History
The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light Motorcycle, motorbike pow ...
*
British Racing and Sports Car Club
*
British Women Racing Drivers Club
References
External links
Official websiteSilverstone Racing Club
{{BRDC International Trophy
Motorsport organisations in the United Kingdom
Professional associations based in the United Kingdom
1928 establishments in the United Kingdom
Sports organizations established in 1928