BRDC International Trophy

For many years it formed the premier non-championship Formula One event in Britain, alongside the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch.

The first Silverstone event was the first to use the former airfield's perimeter roadways rather than the main runways, a circuit layout that persisted for over forty years.

The 1950 event was again held in August, but from 1951 onwards – apart from 1957 – the International Trophy was contested in April or May, near the beginning of the World Championship season.

The timing of the event often attracted many top teams and drivers, allowing them to practise in racing conditions before the season became too serious.

1978 saw the 30th running of the International Trophy, and the last under these rules; with the increasing complexity of F1 cars it simply became too expensive for teams to contest non-championship events.