Murray Walker welcomes agreement that secures the British Grand Prix at Silverstone — where he commentated on the first F1 World Championship race in 1950

Photo: Motorsport Images

The voice of British motor sport has welcomed the deal struck between F1 and Silverstone to guarantee the future of the British Grand Prix.

Murray Walker, who commentated on Formula 1 for the BBC between 1978 and 2001, said he was “thrilled” that the race had been saved.

“I am absolutely thrilled to hear they’ve struck a deal – hats off to Stuart Pringle [the circuit’s sporting director] and the team at Silverstone. I am delighted the race is being preserved and delighted it will still be at Silverstone. I really didn’t fancy the idea of going to watch a race in the Docklands.” 

Walker, 95, was speaking at the Royal Automobile Club where he was attending an event.

Related content

• Cost caps and more races to come as Silverstone deal breaks F1 revenue model
• Silverstone announces new five-year F1 deal to host British Grand Prix
• 2019 British Grand Prix preview: heat is off for Mercedes

Walker has previously spoken of the special place that Silverstone has in the F1 calendar and his relationship with the circuit. He commentated on the first World Championship Formula 1 race which took place at the circuit in 1950. “Silverstone and I go back a long way together, right back to its beginning in fact,” Murray recalled.

“The British Grand Prix has always been the one nearest to my heart. I am proud to be British. I have always known so many people at Silverstone, the crowd was like no other in terms of friendliness, and the atmosphere there was always fabulous.”

The future of the race was thrown into doubt in 2017 when Silverstone activated a break clause in its contract with F1 which would have made this year’s race the last. The new deal agreed by both parties has now secured the race at Silverstone until 2024.