52nd, Mercedes, Auto Union Dominance at Donington: Rosemeyer Seizes Lasting Victory

Modern racing is still capable of throwing up surprises now and again, and ground-breaking designs like the DeltaWing still trickle through. But what’s missing is the shock of seeing something truly monstrous take to the circuit for the first time.

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In 1937 that sight is exactly what greeted British fans in the peaceful Leicestershire countryside.

The powerful and mysterious cars driven by highly strung, heroic drivers had been tearing across the Continent for a few years but after practice on their first trip to British shores, there was little doubt of their superiority. Four Mercedes and three Auto Unions filled the first two rows on the grid. The best of the German bunch, Manfred von Brauchitsch, was over 14 seconds quicker than the best of the rest, Prince Bira in his Maserati.