Sir Stirling Moss and Jochen Mass were at Brooklands last week to help Mercedes-Benz name its £45m, 155-acre development Mercedes-Benz World.

Wilfried Steffen, president and chief executive officer of DaimlerChrysler UK said: "Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands will become one of the country's premier leisure destinations.

"Both Mercedes and Daimler customers raced their own cars at the inaugural Brooklands meeting in 1907, so the site was a natural choice for us."

The company will bring some continental glamour to Weybridge with the creation of a five star hotel part-owned by racing ace David Coulthard, called the Columbus Brooklands.

New and used cars will be on display in a 21-metre-high building as well as exhibitions detailing Mercedes history and interactive education areas for children.

And 4x4 lovers can get their fix on a special 10-acre test course.

The day's festivities also saw the Lightning Benz roar around Brooklands' famous banking 96 years after it set its first land speed record at the Surrey track.

St George's Hill councillor John Bartlett said: "This is a high quality scheme and it's good for Weybridge. It's a major development for the community."

Mercedes-Benz World is due to open in summer 2006.