Brooklands

Isn't this beautiful? It's the Napier-Railton, an aero-engined racing car built in 1933. It was driven by John Cobb at Brooklands, where it holds the all-time lap record at 143.44 mph, set in 1935.

Brooklands, near Weybridge in Surrey, was the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, completed in 1907. It was commandered for military purposes during the Second World War, and Barnes Wallis had his office there. After the war it was never used as a race track again.

I was at Brooklands today for the annual meeting of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and we had a fascinating tour afterwards.