Paul Fearnley

Contributor

Having spent much of his formative years soaked and sideways in his father’s 1933 Frazer Nash TT Replica, Paul has long been in thrall to old cars and past – and current – motor racing. He joined Motoring News as junior rally reporter in 1990 and went freelance in 2005, having edited Motoring News, F1 Racing and Motor Sport in the meantime.

Latest articles from

Age is no barrier

Age is no barrier

Age was just a number, as Fangio, Farina and Fagioli proved... and Räikkönen Blimey, the Three Fs weren’t exactly a boy band. The pops (sic) combo that dominated the inaugural…

25th October 2018

By Paul Fearnley

He was Ferrari’s future – until Eugenio Castellotti was killed in lap record squabble

Great Read

He was Ferrari's future - until Eugenio Castellotti was killed in lap record squabble

Moss and Jenks exchanged knowing glances across the cockpit of their Mercedes-Benz 300SLR as the car ahead of them weaved from verge to kerb and hurled tuffets of grass and…

10th October 2018

By Paul Fearnley

F1’s comeback kings

F1’s comeback kings

History is on Hamilton’s side in the battle for title number five Sebastian Vettel has a mountain to climb if he’s to beat Lewis Hamilton to a fifth world title.…

27th September 2018

By Paul Fearnley

From ‘Mad Ronald’ to ‘Superswede’: Part 2

From 'Mad Ronald' to 'Superswede': Part 2

Part two of Paul Fearnley looking back on Ronnie Peterson, via his number one mechanic Read part one Keith Leighton was the engineer/fabricator/mechanic whom Ronnie Peterson insisted join him at…

12th September 2018

By Paul Fearnley

From ‘Mad Ronald’ to ‘Superswede’: Part 1

From 'Mad Ronald' to 'Superswede': Part 1

It's 40 years since Ronnie Peterson's untimely death. Paul Fearnley speaks to a man who possibly knew 'Superswede' best Read part two Keith Leighton was the engineer/fabricator/mechanic whom Ronnie Peterson…

12th September 2018

By Paul Fearnley

Amon’s Gold Cup

Amon's Gold Cup

Stewart took the honours but this was Chris Amon's day – the 1968 Oulton Park Gold Cup Oulton Park’s 15th International Gold Cup was my first Formula 1 experience. Apparently.…

21st August 2018

By Paul Fearnley

Defiance and drama: Dutch Grands Prix

Defiance and drama: Dutch Grands Prix

The Netherlands hasn't hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix since 1985, but the tides may soon be turning to form a sea of orange Not since Niki Lauda’s last show…

2nd August 2018

By Paul Fearnley

Uncomfortable strings

Uncomfortable strings

How Britain's pre-war superstar met conflict and chaos, winning in Nazi Germany

By Paul Fearnley

Ferrari’s youth brigade

Ferrari's youth brigade

Amon, Hawthorn, Lauda, Rodríguez... Leclerc? Ferrari has championed youth, but not for decades Louis Chiron was approaching 56 years of age when Lancia invited him to drive one of its…

By Paul Fearnley

Stirling Moss’ victory at the 1955 British Grand Prix

Stirling Moss' victory at the 1955 British Grand Prix

A series taken from the 162-page Motor Sport special 100 Greatest Grands Prix If the young Englishman were to be helped by his inestimable number one Juan Fangio, he would…

By Paul Fearnley

1956 British Grand Prix: Britain makes its move

1956 British Grand Prix: Britain makes its move

It arrived finally on 20 July 1957, at Aintree. Stirling Moss, having commandeered a Vanwall from injured team-mate Tony Brooks, crossed the line 26 seconds ahead of Luigi Musso’s Ferrari…

By Paul Fearnley

Watch: 1969 British Grand Prix

Watch: 1969 British Grand Prix

In the latest issue, we celebrate Silverstone's 70th anniversary as Lewis Hamilton, Murray Walker, Nigel Mansell and Jackie Stewart reveal their favourite moments from the home of British racing. Pick…

By Paul Fearnley

Articles from the archive

Villeneuve & Pironi: 'It's war. Absolutely war.' - Left

Villeneuve & Pironi: 'It's war. Absolutely war.' - Right

Villeneuve & Pironi: 'It's war. Absolutely war.'

A tenth. A lifetime. Ferrari tech chief Mauro Forghieri leaned in, shouted. Something. But his ‘innocent believer’ was in another, altogether darker place. Bad-news ticker tape discarded, arms folded, jaw…

By Paul Fearnley

Editorial, July 2001 - Left

Editorial, July 2001

Whenever Ferrari got on the blower to Cliff Allison to invite him over to test, Brough's finest would jump in his car, drive to Darlington, climb aboard the Kings Cross…

July 2001 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Second to none - Left

Second to none - Right

Second to none

F1 success was slow to come, but in F2 the spectacular Jochen Rindt set the benchmark – even for Clark and Stewart By Paul Fearnley It was the ‘Summer of Shove’…

June 2008 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Triumph the red devil - Left

Triumph the red devil

By Brendan Lynch ISBN 0-9513 668-1-5 Published by Portobello Publishing, £14.95 A few tome truths: never judge a book by its cover — or size and weight. This unprepossessing book…

March 2003 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Old Glory's Goodwood - Left

Old Glory's Goodwood - Right

Old Glory's Goodwood

American cars and drivers played a small but intriguing role in the history of the circuit. Paul Fearnley picks out the transatlantic highlights — and lowlights Goodwood is quintessentially British;…

September 2003 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Editorial, November 2001 - Left

Editorial, November 2001

The omens were not good. Rockingham Motor Speedway looked half-built for its May debut, played a desperate game of catch-up over summer, and then, when its much-heralded ChampCar spectacular arrived,…

November 2001 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Bad vibrations - Left

Bad vibrations - Right

Bad vibrations

Cosworth was F1’s buzzword – but in sportscars its DFV was a flop, despite the efforts of a famously successful team. Four members of JWA explain why – and how…

July 2007 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Driving John Surtees' finest F1 car: The TS9B - Left

Driving John Surtees' finest F1 car: The TS9B - Right

Great Read

Driving John Surtees' finest F1 car: The TS9B

John Surtees was always destined to become a constructor. At least that's how it appeared from the outside. For he absolutely knew his own mind – how a team ought…

November 2003 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Teo Fabi:

Teo Fabi:

Great Read

Teo Fabi: "He Didn't Need a Kiss and a Cuddle"

Only four Indianapolis 500 rookies in 100 years have started from pole: Teo Fabi in 1983 is one. Prematurely balding and softly spoken, his puppy-ish face often apparently bemused, occasionally…

By Paul Fearnley

But then, as is his way, forthright Frank Gardner threw this into the melting pot:

But then, as is his way, forthright Frank Gardner threw this into the melting pot: "The fastest driver I ever sat with was Pete Ryan."

Forty years ago, Canada held its inagural Grand Prix. Stirling Moss took part, but the race was won by a 21-year-old hero. Less than 12 months later, Peter Ryan was…

June 2001 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Driving Fangio’s favourite Maserati 250F car round the Nürburgring

Great Read

Driving Fangio's favourite Maserati 250F car round the Nürburgring

You are Peter Collins. Young, handsome, living a glamorous life with a film star wife — and quick. You have heaps of respect for Fangio, but today, it would seem,…

December 2002 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

Editorial, August 2002 - Left

Editorial, August 2002

Bridgestone did for Michelin at a drizzly Silverstone, further enhancing Ferrari's sizeable performance advantage. Superbrain Ross Brawn made the right calls. Superstar Michael Schumacher did the rest Ta da! Win…

August 2002 Issue

By Paul Fearnley

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