1949 BRDC International Trophy

{{Infobox Grand Prix race report

|Type = GP

|image = Silverstone Circuit 1949 to 1951.png

|image_size = 300px

|caption =

|Official name = Daily Express International Trophy

|GP_Suffix = Trophy

|Grand Prix = BRDC International

|Caption = Silverstone Circuit in 1949

|Country = UK

|Location = Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire

|Date = 20 August

|Year = 1949

|Course = Permanent racing facility

|Course_mi = 2.889

|Course_km = 4.649

|Distance_laps = Final: 30 laps. 2 x Heats: 20

|Distance_mi =

|Distance_km =

|Weather =

|Pole_Driver = Alberto Ascari (Heat 1)
{{flagicon|SUI}} Emmanuel de Graffenried (Heat 2)

|Pole_Country = Italy

|Pole_Team = Ferrari
Maserati

|Pole_Time = 1:56.0 (Heat 1)
1:55.0 (Heat 2)

|Fast_Driver = n/a

|Fast_Team =

|Fast_Time =

|Fast_Country =

|First_Driver = Alberto Ascari

|First_Country = Italy

|First_Team = Ferrari

|Second_Driver = Giuseppe Farina

|Second_Country = Italy

|Second_Team = Ferrari

|Third_Driver = Luigi Villoresi

|Third_Country = Italy

|Third_Team = Ferrari

}}

The first BRDC International Trophy meeting, formally titled the Daily Express International Trophy, was held on 20 August 1949 at the Silverstone Circuit, England.{{cite journal|title= Motor Racing Gala at Silverstone |year= 1949 |volume= 96 |issue= 2485 |pages= 3–4 |journal= The Motor }} It was the first race meeting to only use the former airfield's perimeter roadways, rather than the main runways. The event was held over two heats of 20 laps and one final of 30 laps of the Grand Prix circuit. The final was won by Italian Alberto Ascari, who would go on to win the World Championship of Drivers twice. In addition to the main Formula One-regulation competition, the meeting also contained events for 500 cc racing cars and production cars.{{cite journal|title= Racing at Silverstone |journal= The Austin Magazine |date= July 1949 |volume= 22 |pages= 624–625 }} The race meeting was attended by over 100,000 people, but was marred by the death of St. John Horsfall in an accident on the 13th lap of the final race.{{cite news|title= In the World of Sport: Athletics, Car Racing, Golf and Angling |journal= The Illustrated London News |date= August 27, 1949 |page= 304 |volume= 215 |issue= 5750–5762 }}