Defining the limits: Colin Chapman's career behind the wheel
Chapman the designer; Chapman the race team manager; Chapman the business entrepreneur; we are used to these pictures of the charismatic Lotus supremo. But way back at the beginning, he…
Niki Lauda is a legend. There is no other word for it. This is the man who cheated death, was given the last rites and went on to win a…
The one that got away Jacques Laffite: 1983 Monaco Grand Prix "There are a few frustrating races I remember from the Ligier days, especially in 1979 and '80 when we had…
He smiles in a manner that appears more resigned than amused. It’s clear that Ian Ashley has heard the same question in various guises all his professional life. “Ah, the…
X stood for experimental, G for Guinness; same manufacturer, but, as you might have already guessed, radically different mindsets. X had its eye on the midterm future, was – or…
It's March 24 1993, and the team that coincidentally shares its name with that calendar month finally withdraws from the Formula One World Championship, unable to pay for the Ilmor…
One evening, several years ago, and over a degustivo or two, Jenks was reminiscing about the Mille Miglia. "I've often thought," he said, "what fun it would have been to…
The arguments about who is the greatest racing driver of all time have gone on as long as motor racing itself, and, no doubt, they always will. But the truth…
Snetterton, March 30th The Snetterton Motor Racing Club opened the 1963 Formula One season with a 50-lap event on their airfield circuit, and attracted a small entry of factory cars…
Ken Tyrrell is unequivocal on the subject of Patrick Depailler: "He loved being a racing driver more than any other driver I've ever known. He was a boy who was…
On 19 April, 1970, a pair of Lotus 72s made their F1 debuts in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama. Striking and purposeful in the distinctive red, white and gold…
Was Michael Schumacher's F1 comeback in 2010 as big a flop as many people have made it out to be? Certainly on the most basic measures of performance — comparisons…
He had a reputation for not being keen on testing. But there he was pounding round Estoril, in February. At seven days, this was the longest pre-season evaluation Williams, the…
"One of the season's great moments for me came at Monza, during the second day's practice for the Italian Grand Prix. I had already managed a respectable lap time, and…
Seeing it lined up, in the Goodwood paddock at the Revival Meeting, with such as the Dino 246, the 250F and the Mercedes-Benz W196, it struck me again how small is the Lancia D50, how astonishing…
F186 (1986) There have been less successful Ferraris than the F186 (it did score podium finishes) but it was Maranello’s only turbo car to fail to win a race. Stefan Johansson…
When Mateus goes to bed he settles down on the kitchen floor beside the cooker. There are seven people living in two rooms. It is hot and there is no…