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Silverstone: the defining moments from 50 British grand prixs

By Tom Clarkson Motoring Issues 03 July 2014 11:00 1948 Silverstone’s transformation from a World War II bomber station into a race circuit began in August 1948, when the Royal Automobile Club took out a one-year lease on RAF Silverstone. Under the stewardship of local farmer James Wilson Brown, the RAC International Grand Prix was staged on 2 October, using similar regulations to those that shaped pre-war grand prix racing. The track layout comprised the airbase’s perimeter roads, with straw bales and ropes protecting the piggery and the crops in the middle of the circuit.

Porsche 918 Spyder stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

Porsche stunned the world when it unveiled the 918 Spyder as a massive surprise at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Finally, three years later, it gets its full production debut at the 2013 Frankfurt IAA Motor Show. Combining a race-spec petrol V8 with twin electric motors, the 918 trades lightweight purity for enormous all-wheel drive performance and astonishingly low fuel consumption.

2012 Mini roadster revealed

Mini has revealed the definitive production version of its 2012 roadster. Sister car to the recently introduced coupe, alongside which it will be built at Mini's Oxford plant in England, the compact two-seater arrives a little more than two years after it was first shown in lightly veiled concept car guise at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. Rival to the enduring Mazda Miata, the Mini roadster is planned to make its public debut at the Detroit auto show in January prior to going on sale in North America in mid-2012.