House prices outpace Grand Prix winners

House prices have accelerated faster than British Grand Prix winners with the price of a home increasing a hundred fold since Stirling Moss first won the race in 1955. As Silverstone prepares to play host to the British Grand Prix this weekend, research by estate agents emoov shows the price of an average house has increased from £1,928 in 1955 to more than £188,000 today. By comparison, average speeds around the Grand Prix track have only increased by 20% in the last six decades. British drivers have won the Formula One race 22 times since Moss’s victory in the 50s and house prices during this time dropped for just three winners falling £2,811 in 1991 when Nigel Mansel won his last Grand Prix, and again in 1994 and 1995 when Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert took the trophy. David Coulthard turned this around in 1999, by which time the average UK house price had jumped some £20,000 in four years to just over £71,000. Founder and CEO of eMoov.co.uk, Russell Quirk commented: “Things have changed dramatically in the UK since Stirling Moss first made the podium in 1955. It really is mind-boggling to think a property back then was under £2,000. Of course this was the equivalent to about £50,000 in today’s money, but still a darn site cheaper none the less.” Click on the graphic for a full-screen version showing how the British property market has changed over the years when a Brit has won the race. nadia.elghamry@estatesgazette.com British Grand Prix Winner (first wins only) Year Winner Av House Price % change in house price to 2015 1955 Stirling Moss £1,928 9680% 1958 Peter Colins £2,056 9071% 1962 Jim Clark £2,617 7105% 1969 Jackie Stweart £4,222 4366% 1977 James Hunt £12,805 1373% 1981 John Watson £23,945 687% 1986 Nigel Mansel £37,627 401% 1994 Damon Hill £51,633 265% 1995 Johnny Herbert £51,254 268% 1999 David Coulthard £71,122 165% 2008 Lewis Hamilton £168,973 12% 2015 TBC £188,566