Racing History

Circuit de Catalunya Spanish Grand Prix, June 2 1996 It had been a fairly quiet weekend, hitherto – if you discount serial backmarker Forti making a fuss about a new…

Onofre Marimón was killed during practice for the 1954 German Grand Prix. Seven years after the event his compatriot Juan Manuel Fangio wrote: “No death on the track, I think,…

In the May issue of Motor Sport, we featured two milestones in Ayrton Senna’s career: his first Formula 1 test with Williams at Donington in 1983 and his great victory…

It’s difficult to think of two countries with less climatic, cultural and economic crossover than mañana Mexico and like-clockwork Switzerland. They’re chilli peppers and Emmental. But Pedro and Jo –…

They don’t make them quite like ‘Quick Vic’ Elford these days. Sure, rally master Sébastien Loeb can turn his hand to the circuits and win in sports cars. But he’ll…

Races had always been against the clock. Practice was a more leisurely pursuit: a chance to (re)acquaint and rehearse and, hopefully, to fine-tune and, at worst, rebuild. Until the Monaco…

‘Pay drivers’ have been a hot topic among motor sport fans for decades, perhaps now more than ever. But the notion that money equals an easy route to Formula 1…

There were definitely more plus points than negatives about being a student, from what I remember. The biggest downside, of course, was a severe lack of cash and correspondingly, the…

You knew where you were with Luigi Fagioli: in his bad books – unless, that is, you were helping to ensure he was winning. Because of his generally grumpy demeanour,…

Much play was made of the Melbourne podium because Kimi Räikkönen, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel were/are most people’s pre-season title picks – albeit not necessarily in that order. But…

Tomorrow five Formula 1 greenhorns will venture out on a ‘green’ parkland track Down Under to begin their Grand Prix careers for real. From sim to sink or swim. Messrs…

Like most of us I am waiting for Ron Howard’s Niki Lauda biopic Rush with a mixture of heady anticipation and just a little nervousness. Howard is a usually safe pair…

In less than two weeks, Formula 1 heads back to Australia for the first round of the World Championship. With that in mind – as well as Nigel Roebuck's new…

By 1979, ground effects had become essential in Formula 1 design, thanks to Colin Chapman. But Lotus, having won 13 Grands Prix over the last two seasons, were on the…

1961 was Ferrari's year. Between eventual world champion Phil Hill and team-mate Wolfgang von Trips, the factory won half of the season's Grands Prix, with rookie Giancarlo Baghetti winning his…

They’ve dug it up to make room for the 2016 Olympics – and I expect I will be sad in the same way that I have come to miss Hockenheim’s…

Last week Paul Fearnley offered some warm reminiscences about the 1973 motor racing season. For my part, that year has an equally strong hold on my heart and mind because…