British Grand Prix preview

08th July 2010

Formula One is getting its bus pass in style! It was 60 years ago that Silverstone hosted the very first round of the inaugural FIA World Championship for Drivers. Now, the converted WWII air base, set in rural Northamptonshire, is all set to celebrate this significant milestone in F1 history.

First up is this weekend’s British Grand Prix, followed two weeks later by the Silverstone Classic – the world’s biggest classic racing festival, including six races for historic grand prix cars dating from the late Forties to early Eighties.

For our own special diamond anniversary tribute, Auto Express joined forces with the BBC’s F1 team to stage an exclusive 60th birthday commemorative race.

We’ve been given special permission from F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone to run on Silverstone’s new Arena circuit, only a few days before this Sunday’s big showdown. In the blood-red corner, we have one of the legendary Alfa Romeo 158s. The Alfettas, as they were also known, dominated that opening race, held in front of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1950.

In the blue corner, we have last year’s British GP-winning Red Bull RB5 racer. From the BBC, we have anchorman Jake Humphrey, plus some eager camera crews.

Although some of the cars from that very first world championship race survive, sadly none of the drivers is still with us.

So for our party at Silverstone we are joined by Red Bull’s promising young test driver and reigning British F3 champion Daniel Ricciardo, as well as veteran racer Willie Green – one of the few men trusted to drive the priceless 158.

As with many early racers, the Alfa has a baffling back-to-front three-pedal layout, with the throttle in the middle and brake on the right. Meanwhile, with its big fat tyres, space age carbon fibre survival cell, rear-mounted 2.4-litre Renault V8 engine, seven-speed paddleshift transmission, wind tunnel-honed aerodynamics and colourful branding, the state-of-the-art Red Bull has a wildly different appearance. While it’s all laptops and telemetry in the blue corner, it’s back to hammers and spanners in the Alfa camp. Yet in its day, the amazing 158 was every bit as cutting- edge. Originally the brainchild of a youthful Enzo Ferrari when he was running Alfa Romeo’s race team in the Thirties, the Alfetta is undoubtedly the most successful F1 car in grand prix history. It won 47 races from 54 entered. No surprise, then, that the 158 is also possibly the most valuable competition car on the planet. Ten million pounds? £20million? Perhaps even more…

Despite its pre-war birth, the Alfetta was still the dominant force in 1950. Between them, drivers Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina (F1’s first world champion) and Juan Manuel Fangio won every grand prix in the opening season with the untouchable Italian cars finishing first, second and third at the Silverstone season opener, a massive two laps clear of the opposition. The 158 we have at Silverstone was raced by Fangio in that curtain-raiser and is the only one of the four remaining examples that still performs today. And what an amazing car it is.

Its 1.5-litre straight-eight engine (hence 158) is phenomenal. Thanks to a twin-supercharger, it produces more than 400bhp, with a top speed of 180mph. Not quite so impressive, though, is its 1.0mpg thirst for methanol. In comparison, the 5.0mpg Red Bull seems positively frugal! Unsurprisingly, it’s the Alfa’s lack of driver safety that really amazes Ricciardo. “It’s like forgetting to put your clothes on – you feel naked and exposed!” he says. “I don’t think I’ve got the guts to drive it at 180mph. Huge respect to those guys, they really put it all on the line. It’s the corduroy seat that makes me laugh most, though.” Green agrees: “It’s like sitting in an armchair. The Alfa is a big heavy car, but it’s certainly stunning and I’m always very honoured to be driving it.” But back to the race. The cars are lined up on the grid and Jake is armed with green and chequered flags. In deference to its age, the 158 is given a 30-second head start around the 3.667-mile track. The Red Bull is then unleashed to give chase. To find out which car won, tune into the BBC’s F1 coverage this weekend!

n A few grandstand seats are still available for the British GP. Call 0844 375 0740 or visit www.silverstone.co.uk. For the Silverstone Classic, call 0871 231 0849 or visit www.silverstoneclassic.com.