The Racing Years

The Racing Years start with 1950; and the first World Driver’s Championship. Stars from before the war were challenged by a new breed of drivers from Europe, Britain and South America. Argentina’s Juan Manual Fangeo, and there were also new cars to take on the Alfa Romeo 158 that had dominated post-war racing. Racing was up and running with classics like the Mille Milia, and La Mans. The former was a celebration in Italian motoring, with everything from Fiats to Ferraris going up against each other; while the latter was a gruelling twenty-four hour road race featuring famous names like Cadillac, Bentley and Jaguar.

Grand Prix in 1951 promised to be a showdown between Alfa Romeo and Ferrari. Sports car racing was going from strength to strength, with Le Mans and the tourist’s trophy as standouts. It all started in January, with a wintery Monte Carlo Rally, the cars travelling from Glasgow to Monte Carlo through the treacherous Alps. The journey took four days and three nights, the winner a Frenchman by the name of Jean Trevoux, driving a Delahaye. Also featuring in 1951 was the Swiss Grand Prix, won in extreme conditions by Juan Manuel Fangio in the Alfa Romeo 159, over Piero Taruffi, in his Ferrari 375.

In 1952 there was a crisis in Grand Prix Racing. Alfa Romeo retired while they were on top. That left Ferrari and BRM as Formula 1 contenders. Race organizers decided that Formula Two offered more entertainment, so by default it became the World Championship Formula. Sports car racing looked forward to the return of a revived Mercedes; ready to take on Jaguar, Ferrari and Talbot at Le Mans.

In Grand Prix there's a fierce struggle between two Italian teams, Ferrari and Maserati. A new driver on the scene, England's Mike Hawthorn, joining Alberto Ascari and Nino Farina at Ferrari. After recovering from his serious accident, Juan Manuel Fangio is back at Maserati. Sports car racing was set for a classic year, the Mille Miglia and Le Mans part of a new Sports Car World Championship.

1954 was a pivotal racing year, with a new Formula 1 using 2.5 liter engines. Mercedes were preparing for their return to Grand Prix racing, and Juan Manuel Fangio was to join when the cars were ready mid-year. Defending world champion Alberto Ascari signed for Lancia. Maserati debuted the 250F while Ferrari managed to introduce no less than four different models.

In Grand Prix racing Juan Manuel Fangio was back to defend his World Championship for Mercedes. Alongside in the W196 was rising British driver Stirling Moss, who proved his ability in 1954 with Maserati. The trident had to search around for a new team leader, and the choice was Frenchman Jean Behra. Ferrari had Nino Farina and Maurice Trintignant under contract. 1955 was a great season.

The racing year is 1956, with Mercedes' withdrawal from motorsport, world champion Juan Manuel Fangio thought of retiring and returning to his motor business and interests in Argentina. In view of the political uncertainties in Argentina, Fangio decided to continue racing. He had fallen out with Maserati and decided his future lay with Ferrari.

1957 saw defending world champion Fangio return to Maserati. He and Enzo Ferrari didn't get on particularly well. The Argentinian decided to continue his career with the Trident, replacing Stirling Moss who had signed with Vanwall. Fangio arrived at the Medina Circuit in early 1957 to try out the latest version of the 250F.

The racing year of 1958 was destined to be a battle between British drivers Mike Hawthorn, Stirling Moss, Peter Collins and Tony Brooks. Ferrari with the Dino 246, and Vanwall with a favoured teams with BRM and Cooper nipping at their heels, and Lotus, a Formula One newcomer.

1959 was a dramatic racing year. In Grand Prix, the front-runners were expected to be Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Tony Brooks, and Roy Salvadori. Mike Hawthorn retired after winning the 1958 World Championship, as had Constructor's Cup winners Vanwall. Of the old guard, only Ferrari remained. Maserati had gone; and, in their place, Cooper, BRM, and Lotus were emerging.

The 1960s dawned with the Formula One scene firmly centered on Britain. Defending World Champion Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss continued their duel in 1960 as Lotus and Cooper became the front-running cars. Ferrari was now the only non-British team. In sports cars, Ferrari was challenged by Porsche, especially in the Targa Florio, though Le Mans was a prancing-horse preserve.

The racing year is 1961. In Grand Prix racing there's a new 1.5 liter formula. Ferrari was well prepared with the distinctive Sharknose 156. Americans Phil Hill and Richie Ginther, and Germany's aristocratic Wolfgang von Trips led the Marinaro team. Porsche stepped up to Formula One with Dan Gurney, Jo Bonnier, and Hans Herrmann. In sports cars it was Italy versus Germany. Ferrari versus Porsche.

It's 1962 and in the racing year British teams BRM and Lotus, and British drivers Graham Hill and Jim Clark, are to the fore. Double World Champion Jack Brabham left Cooper to set up his own team, and John Surtees joined Yeoman Credit Lola. Ferrari had World Champion Phil Hill as their lead driver. In Sports Cars Ferrari faced less opposition than before, with Porsche concentrating on Formula One.

The racing year is 1963. Graham Hill in the BRM and Jim Clark in the Lotus are the main contenders. Clark also tackled the Indianapolis 500. Le Mans continued to be Ferrari's domain, although Ford was taking an interest in sports car racing. The Monte Carlo Rally opened the year, all the contenders had a sprint around the Grand Prix circuit to finish the rally. Some with less success than others.

1964 was the high point of swinging 60's Britain. In racing, that was shown by the number of British drivers and teams taking on the lone Italian Ferrari. The Scuderia turned to John Surtees to lead them back to competitiveness. There was a challenge to Ferrari's sports car supremacy by Ford. The motor sport season opened with the annual Racing Car Show at Olympia in London.

1965, the final year of the 1.5 liter formula. Jim Clark and Lotus had an ambitious program with grand prix racing. Ford was putting the pressure on Ferrari, and were determined to win at Le Mans. The world championship began on New Year's Day in South Africa. Jim Clark led from flag to flag. Only 35 of the 238 crews in the Monte Carlo rally reached the finish, the smallest number for 20 years.

In 1966 there was a return to power in Grand Prix racing. Jack Brabham was best prepared with his Repco engine Brabham's dominating the season. More British drivers tried for the glittering rewards at the Indianapolis 500. And it was Ford's third attempt at Le Mans, would they succeed? All the big names competed in Formula Two races alongside up and coming drivers.

In 1967 Formula One was hotting up. Could Jack Brabham retain his championship or would the new Ford-Cosworth powered Lotus of Jim Clark be a winner? Other drivers, too, were ready to step up. Ford was taking the sledgehammer approach to them all once again. The Formula One season opened with the South African Grand Prix and Team Lotus recruited Graham Hill to join Jim Clark.

1968 was a pivotal year in motor racing. It showed the brutal human cost of the sport with Jim Clark and three other Grand Prix drivers losing their lives during the season. On the sporting side Graham Hill stepped up to the challenge offered by Jackie Stewart in the new Matra. And defending World Champion Denny Hulme, now with McLaren. Le Mans was a Ford GT40 versus Porsche 908 race.

1969, the end of the Swinging 60s. Jackie Stewart was in unstoppable form in his Cosworth-powered Matra. The Scot's challengers were Jochen Rindt, Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill, and new Brabham driver Jacky Ickx. And Ickx featured in the closest-ever finish at Le Mans when his GT40 and the Porsche 908 of Hans Herrmann went head to head in a dramatic race.

The racing year is 1970, and a new decade has dawned with increasing interest and commercial sponsorship of Formula One, and more European and South American drivers taking on the big names, Stewart, Ickx, and Brabham. Jochen Rindt had made his breakthrough with Lotus. In sports car racing the way was clear for Porsche to dominate.

The racing year is 1971. With the loss of Jochen Rindt and the retirement of Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart was in the ascendancy driving his dark blue Tyrrell. New rivals were emerging, Brazil's Emerson Fittipaldi and Sweden's Ronnie Peterson the most notable. Porsche, Matra, and Ferrari fought it out at Le Mans in the final year of the five-liter supercars.

1972 and the rivalry between Lotus' Emerson Fittipaldi, Tyrrell's Jackie Stewart, Ferrari's Jackie Ickx and Clay Regazzoni was at its most intense. The Formula One Championship took in 12 rounds. The ways was open for a famous home win at L'amour. And Can-Am was in its pomp with massively powerful sports cars rumbling stateside.

1973 was Jackie Stewart's final season, and he was determined to go out on a high note. Formula One was growing with 15 races and two new teams, Shadow and Ensign, to replace Matra. Matra was concentrating on back-to-back Lemans wins. And we travel to Kenya for the tough East African Safari Rally. The season opened with the Argentinean Grand Prix.

1974 saw many changes in Formula One. Emerson Fittipaldi left Lotus for McLaren. Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni are at Ferrari. Frank Williams continued his battle to stay in the sport. Jackie Stewart and Francois Cevert have gone, but the racing is as competitive as ever. In sports cars, Matra is trying to make it a hat trick of victories at Le Mans.

1975 and the final season of this series of The Racing Years. Niki Lauda and Ferrari's new 312T combined perfectly. LeMons was dubbed the economy run, but as usual there was plenty of drama as the race unfolded between Mirages and Ligiers. At the Argentinian Grand Prix, reigning world champion Emerson Fittipaldi was joined at MacLaren by Germany's Jochen Mass.