[1][2] Inaugurated in 1961 as a qualifying round of the Speedway World Championship it was open to riders from Britain and the British dominions.

[3] It was initially dominated by riders from New Zealand such as Barry Briggs and Ivan Mauger because of the British Final forming part of the World Speedway championship qualifying rounds.

Countries such as Australia and New Zealand then held their own World Individual Speedway championship qualifying rounds.

In the first dozen finals, it was only won twice by a British born rider, both times by Peter Craven.

[5] Australians Rory Schlein and Jason Crump rode under an ACU (British) licence.