August marks the 40th anniversary of the Birmingham Superprix, a unique chapter in British motorsport history that remains legendary among local residents and racing fans alike.
For five consecutive years, from 1986 to 1990, the event was held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, transforming Birmingham’s city streets into a roaring racetrack. What set the Superprix apart was its exclusivity: Birmingham was the only UK mainland city legally permitted to host racing on public roads.
The origins of this extraordinary race trace back to 1966 when local businessman and racer Martin Hone, alongside city councillor Peter Barwell, envisioned a Monaco-style street race right in the heart of Birmingham. The city council aimed to create a spectacular public relations event to promote Birmingham—then vying for the Olympic Games—and ignite local enthusiasm for motorsport.
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Over nearly two decades, Hone cultivated excitement through massive motoring festivals and thrilling high-speed demonstrations on city streets. Notably, in 1976, Patrick Nève even drove a Formula 1 Brabham around the Bullring, teasing what could be achieved.
However, a significant obstacle existed: British law prohibited closing public highways for racing or overriding speed limits.
The breakthrough came when Birmingham pushed the Birmingham Road Race Bill through Parliament, receiving Royal Assent in October 1985. This special Act uniquely authorized Birmingham to legally convert its streets into a racing circuit.
The inaugural race in August 1986 was the culmination of years of dreaming and planning. The 2.5-mile circuit focused on Bristol Street and Belgrave Middleway, with the local Bristol Street Motors dealership famously clearing its forecourt to become the official pit lane. Although sunny weather was forecasted, the event was battered by the tail end of Hurricane Charley, bringing relentless rain that turned the streets into hazardous, slippery terrain.
The race quickly descended into chaos. Street furniture, uneven manhole covers, and bumps sent cars careening unpredictably while near-zero visibility hampered drivers. On lap 21, British driver Andrew Gilbert-Scott crashed into a stalled car driven earlier by Alain Ferté, blocking the track and triggering a red flag that stopped the race prematurely. Spanish driver Luis Pérez-Sala was declared the winner, but with the race cut short, drivers earned only half points.
Despite a disastrous start, the Superprix’s following years—1987 through 1989—enjoyed better weather and tremendous local support. Crowds exceeding 80,000 lined the streets, eager to watch Formula 3000 cars race through Birmingham. Future F1 stars like Jean Alesi and Heinz-Harald Frentzen thrilled the masses, leaving vivid memories and legendary moments.
The fifth and final race in August 1990 was won by Belgian driver Éric van de Poele. It also marked the last motor race ever held on Birmingham’s streets. Several factors led to the Superprix’s demise. Massive infrastructure costs, including erecting and dismantling miles of barriers, grandstands, and protective fences, accumulated losses exceeding £1.6 million by 1989. Moreover, extended road closures disrupted local businesses, especially on Bristol Street, damaging regular trade amid prolonged construction efforts.
In late 1990, Birmingham City Council sought private investors to sustain the race but found no takers willing to shoulder the financial risk. Consequently, the Superprix was quietly canceled.
Today, the streets of Birmingham bear almost no physical trace of this international motorsport milestone. Concrete barriers are gone, the flowerbeds once spelling ‘SUPERPRIX’ have been replaced by paving, and Monaco House—the race media center—has been demolished.
Yet, for many Brummies, the memory endures—a testament to the daring ambition that brought high-speed racing to an industrious city centre. Decades later, when London explored hosting Formula E street races, Birmingham’s pioneering legal and logistical framework from the 1980s served as an invaluable point of reference.