Ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Aintree Racecourse, part of Jockey Club Venues, proudly welcomed the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team back to the site of one of its most iconic victories, Sir Stirling Moss’s legendary win at the 1955 British Grand Prix.
To honour the 70th anniversary, the team returned to Aintree with the Mercedes W196, the same car Moss drove to victory seven decades ago with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One driver George Russell behind the wheel.
“Mercedes has such an incredible history in Formula One, so it felt right to bring the famous W196 back to Aintree,” said a Mercedes spokesperson. “While the sport has evolved in so many ways, the drive for innovation and the will to win that defined Mercedes back then still defines us today.”
The 1955 race at Aintree was a landmark moment in British motorsport, with Moss beating teammate Juan Manuel Fangio in a thrilling head-to-head battle. It marked the first time a British driver had won the British Grand Prix.
“Sir Stirling Moss was the greatest British driver of his era,” added the spokesperson. “That victory at Aintree was one of his finest hours, and it began a legacy carried forward by legends like Clark, Stewart, Hunt, Mansell and Hamilton. For George, as the latest Brit racing for Mercedes and aiming for home glory, it’s a legacy he’s proud to be part of.”
The commemorative shoot at Aintree Racecourse drew inspiration from archive race footage, with the Mercedes team recreating camera angles from the 1955 Grand Prix. George Russell was also dressed in replica items that Sir Stirling would have worn in his day, including a 1950s-style helmet and goggles.
Discussing the shoot, the spokesperson said: “Aintree Racecourse couldn't have been more supportive. They helped us bring this vision to life and recreate the sights and sounds of that unforgettable day in 1955.”
Also reflecting on the day, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One driver George Russell said: "I am speechless after driving the W196. The sensation driving this car is indescribable. The speed, the noise, the look - it's incredible. I can't believe that Sir Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio were racing this car 70 years ago. To bring the car that Fangio raced here at Aintree in the 1955 British Grand Prix back to the track is so awesome. It was a privilege to be entrusted to get behind the wheel. I want to say a massive thank you to everyone at Aintree, the Aintree Circuit Club and Mercedes-Benz Classic for making this happen."
With 15 venues across the UK Jockey Club Venues has a wide variety of flexible spaces suitable for filming. Each venue has acres of outdoor green spaces and parkland with plenty of free parking for vehicles, unit bases and crews.
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