Birmingham Superprix

The track with 1990 corner names. The layout was the same for previous meetings (1986–1989).

### Last race

1989 European Grand Prix

**Birmingham Superprix** was a motor racing meeting held on a street circuit in Birmingham, England, from 1986 to 1990. It hosted the European Grand Prix for two seasons in 1988 and 1989.

## History

While the first race did not take place until 1986, the concept of holding a race through the streets of Britain's second city was initially proposed more than two decades before. Two persons who would go on to play important roles in the history of the Birmingham Superprix had both entertained the idea of high-powered racing vehicles competing for glory in the city centre, much like they did at classic events across Europe.

The first was Peter Barwell, a Birmingham City Councillor. He believes that the concept initially occurred to him in 1961, while he was watching the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Whatever the veracity of this allegation, he went on to become a prominent and substantial backer of efforts to establish the race in his hometown. Martin Hone, a businessman and music club owner who was once a notable sportscar racer, was also a crucial figure. After establishing the Opposite Lock Club as one of the city's best nightclubs in the 1960s, he was invited to one of Birmingham City Council's sub-committees to consider ways to improve the city's reputation. Sensing an opportunity, he addressed the assembled councillors: "As a city internationally known for car manufacturing but with few 'firsts' to its name, how about I organise the first-ever street race in Britain?" It's fair to say that the suggestion was met with scepticism, not least because of the obvious roadblocks to implementation. Putting aside the not-insignificant obstacle of financing such a venture, there was also the sticky matter of a road race being illegal at the time, thanks to an Act of Parliament established as recently as 1960 that prohibited any form of motorsports on public highways.

Getting a race off the ground would thus necessitate not only cross-party support among the City Council (and, later, the newly formed County Council), but also that of Parliament, as new laws would be required to allow racing to resume on public roads. Everything looked farfetched. Hone, on the other hand, persisted with tenacity. While countless discussions with councillors went on behind the scenes with little support, he continued to press famous members of the motor racing community for their support. Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, and Jackie Stewart were among those who provided endorsements. Hone then had a stroke of luck when Councillor John Silk, chair of the City Council's General Purpose Committee's Entertainment Sub-Committee, proposed the concept of a festival to promote the city in August 1970. Hone proposed a motoring pageant to commemorate Birmingham's significant motor industry legacy, and the council agreed, appointing him as Festival Liaison Officer. It was the first big turning point, contributing to Hone's credibility.

The 14-day Birmingham Motoring event featured a veteran car run and themed vehicle exhibitions on a 2.1 mi (3.4 km) loop around the ring road. The event concluded with a procession glorifying Grand Prix racing, led by Stirling Moss in a Lotus 18. The automobiles meandered around at little more than 30 mph (48 km/h); any quicker and they would have exceeded the still-in-force speed limit! The public adored it, as did several council members, including Lord Mayor Neville Bosworth. Following that, Hone and Barwell became more serious about discussing a genuine race, and Barwell wrote to John Silk to formally present the concept to the council, which received an initial positive reaction. Hone's research, including a trip to the Spanish Grand Prix in Montjuïc Park, resulted in the presentation of a lengthy white paper, which was welcomed with dread in the council chamber, with members fearing a gigantic expense would be imposed on them. For every step ahead, the race appeared to take two steps back.

And so it continued for several years more. Further demonstration events using modern Formula One vehicles, as well as celebrity names such as Moss, Jody Scheckter, James Hunt, and Derek Bell, were organised in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with each event gaining traction. Eventually, the authorities were persuaded sufficiently that new road racing law could be brought to Parliament in 1986, only for it to be thrown out without discussion since it was bundled with provisions governing municipal trading that MPs did not approve of.

Nonetheless, Hone remained undaunted, and in 1976 arranged for Patrick Nève to perform another demonstration lap around the Bull Ring in a works Brabham–Alfa Romeo BT45. The event was nothing more than a PR stunt, but because it was the height of 'Hunt-mania', the demand for any F1 association prompted the BBC's *Nationwide* show to cover it. Neve discovered he couldn't keep the Brabham under 30mph, but was fortunate that West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable William Donaldson was willing to turn a blind eye… Parliament passed the Birmingham Road Racing Bill in November 1984, providing the incentive for a legitimate event. The reality of high-speed racing returning to the nation's streets was right around the corner. However, a 'sunset clause' was agreed with the bill's opponents, requiring the race to produce a profit within five years or be cancelled. Other criteria included conducting the event as a two-day affair over August Bank Holiday weekend, with severe restrictions on the number of days before and after that barriers might be erected.

After some additional legislative manoeuvring, the Bill was finally granted Royal Assent in October 1984, becoming the rather officiously titled Birmingham City Council Act 1985. The race was now on, and it would be known as the Birmingham Superprix because it was not an F1 race and could not use the more familiar Grand Prix brand. Much to Hone's surprise, the city council decided to put the contract for organising and promoting the first race out to bidders. Despite his years of experience planning events in Birmingham (and another street race in Dubai), Hone was unsuccessful and was forced to watch his 'baby' be born by foster parents.

On Sunday, August 24, 1986, CSS and the British Racing and Sports Car Club hosted the inaugural Birmingham Superprix, a round of the FIA Formula 3000 Championship. The course was centred on Bristol Street, running down the Belgrave Middleway to a hairpin formed by a roundabout before returning up the other side of the carriageway to a sweeping right hand bend onto Pershore Street, and then returning to Bristol via Pershore Street and Bromsgrove Street. The neighbouring Ford dealership was conveniently positioned to provide a basic pit lane and garage area, as well as a spacious room in the back for maintenance. However, the major paddock area was placed in a multi-story parking park on Pershore Street, offering a tiny comparison with Monaco! To deter racier locals from attempting to loop the circuit in road cars at speeds exceeding the limit, the course was purposefully engineered to run anti-clockwise, opposing the natural direction of traffic flow.

To generate revenue from the race, all naming rights to the corners were sold to sponsors, which meant that, with a few exceptions, they frequently changed from year to year. Birmingham City Council achieved an early coup by gaining title sponsorship for the race from car parts business Halfords, which paid £70,000 for the privilege and had first say on which corner to name. They chose the hairpin, assuming that as one of the most prominent and slowest turns, they would receive more TV coverage and airtime. Ferodo was also a consistent sponsor over the course of the five races, but British Telecom, Pye, Zenith Data Systems, and Cavendish Finance were among others who lent their names at least once. The sole non-sponsored name on the circuit (aside from the street names) was the uphill approach to Halfords Corner, dubbed Peter Barwell Hill after the councilman who championed the race's cause. Unfortunately, there was no corresponding appreciation for Martin Hone's diligent work.

Proceedings got off to a shaky start when all of the fences had to be checked after rumours spread that locals had removed some of the bolts. It was also revealed that others had been installed wrongly, with the metal railings overlapping in the wrong direction. A two-and-three-quarters-hour delay ensued, during which the F3000 drivers played an improvised 'Italy vs the Rest of the World' football match in the pits, much to the amusement of the otherwise bored fans in the grandstands across. Finally, at 11.45 a.m., racing engines began to rev up, and it became clear that, after years of wrangling and months of meticulous planning, the Superprix was finally underway. John Nielsen had the distinction of driving the first full lap of the new course at high speed in his Ralt-Honda. His average speed of 105.5 mph (170 km/h) demonstrated that the Birmingham course was fast for a street course, and that, while it had the usual lumps and bumps associated with such circuits (particularly on the change of camber on entry to the Halfords Corner), success required both finesse and straight line speed.

Alain Ferté's March chassis was written off after colliding with a loose manhole cover, whereas Roberto Moreno spun in one of the corners and passed through the wholesale market's open gates unscathed. It was fortunate that, while designing the circuit, city engineers had anticipated this very circumstance and built the gates where there had previously been a brick wall… With these little concerns aside, the first day went successfully in dry weather. The same could not be true for race day, when authorities were forced to deal with a heavy downpour caused by the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, a highly unwelcome visitor to the Midlands. When the race eventually started, there was unavoidable bloodshed and a battle-scarred Luis Perez Sala was declared the winner (minus his nosecone) after Andrew Gilbert-Scott's Lola hit another crashed car and blocked the track. The race was abandoned after 24 of the scheduled 51 laps, and half-points were awarded.

This section is incomplete. If you'd like to help, please add the relevant information.
## Event history

The following is a list of Formula One World Championship events held at the Birmingham Superprix:

## External links

* 1976 report from BBC Nationwide
* Profile at RacingCircuits.info