ambassadors
While the 24 Hours of Le Mans was taking place on 17 and 18 June, Motul was also involved in another event linked with motorsports' heritage. In Surrey, England, the Brooklands Double Twelve Motorsport Festival was celebrating the 110th anniversary of Great Britain's first genuine car circuit and the reopening of its straight. The latter had indeed been obstructed since 1940 by a hangar where 2500 Wellington bomber aircraft were to be built.
Enthusiastic about this renaissance, Motul wanted to become a partner of the meet and of Brooklands Museum. The name 'Double Twelve' derives from a twice twelve hours event organised at Brooklands from 1929 to 1931. And at the museum you can admire gems of cars, motorcycles and planes, including … a Concorde!
A few days after the opening of the Brooklands Circuit, a 24 Hours world record was established in June 1907 by Selwyn Francis Edge. Alone at the wheel of his Napier, he covered 1581 miles (2544 km) at the average speed of 66 miles per hour (106 km/h). In 1926 and 1927, Brooklands hosted the first British Grand Prix.
90 years later, the Brooklands Double Twelve was a huge success, with a track featuring a restored original finishing straight. Concours d'élégance, parades, and speed and handling events delighted the public under a radiant sun. Among the hundred or so vehicles present were the recently restored Suzukis with which Barry Sheene became 1976 and 1977 World Champion.
