Ayrton Senna died aged 34. In the aftermath of his death, the FIA appointed Ayrton’s friend, Professor Sid Watkins, to improve safety in Formula 1. There has not been a fatality in Formula 1 since. ibid. caption
Fifties’ racing legend Sir Stirling Moss … one man won the hearts and minds of the British public. Racing Legends: Stirling Moss, BBC 2012
Stirling Moss was post-war Britain’s first professional racing driver. ibid.
He moved from team to team – from rallying to racing. ibid.
He has lost teeth, broken his shoulder, both legs, his back, his skull and has been in a coma for thirty-eight days. ibid.
He was invited to drive for the famously manipulative Enzo Ferrari. But at the last minute Ferrari opted for a famous Italian driver instead. ibid.
German giants Mercedes came knocking. ibid.
1955 Aintree Grand Prix: Moss v Fangio. ibid.
1961 Monaco … Stirling trounced the red Italians. ibid.
He was involved in an accident that ended his career. ibid.
Sir Jackie Stewart is a three-time Formula One world champion. His high-profile safety campaign changed the sport for ever. Racing Legends: Jackie Stewart
Jackie raced during a golden era. ibid.
Jackie was signed to BRM as an F1 driver in 1965. ibid.
Spa 1966: a race Jackie was never to finish. ibid.
In 1970 three drivers died in three months. ibid.
One of the greatest racers of all time – Graham Hill. He was charismatic, fearless, a showman and above all, he was a champion. Racing Legends: Graham Hill
An era when disaster is never far away. ibid.
81,657. My hero – John Surtees. Hard working and quietly spoken ... World champion on two wheels and on four. Racing Legends: John Surtees
Aged twenty-seven, and with seven motorcycle world championships to his name, Surtees walked away from the sport to pit himself against the best racing drivers in the world. ibid.
‘My life has been spent chasing time.’ ibid. Surtees raised money for Air Ambulance Trust following death of son Henry
Japan October 1976: two drivers prepare for the race that will decide which one of them becomes world champion. The two men could not be more different. Hunt v Lauda: F1’s Greatest Racing Rivals, BBC 2013
Hunt is better known for his romantic exploits than his driving. ibid.
Reporter: How do you do it?
Hunt: Big balls. ibid.
Their passion for racing is a bond. ibid.
The wild side of ’70s Formula 1 is revealed in this recently discovered footage of an after-race party. ibid.
‘It’s obvious that the Grand Prix represents a great danger’. ibid. Lauda, re Nurburgring Grand Prix
Niki Fights For His Life. ibid. Daily Mail front page
‘Niki is interested in only one thing and that’s Niki.’ ibid. Hunt
cf.
‘I like him.’ ibid. Niki, re Hunt
In my period of driving there was only a one in three chance I was going to live. Jackie Stewart, cited Grand Prix: The Killer Years
’68 was the turning point: because so many people died at the same time ... This wasn’t a war. Jackie Stewart
48,288. The years I raced in were fantastic. There was so much change in the cars. We went from treaded tyres to no wings right through to slicks to enormous wings. Jackie Stewart
He comes and devours Niki Lauda! Ayrton Senna takes second place. On the most dangerous part of the circuit! Galvao Bueno, commentator Monaco 1984
The decision taken by the stewards of the Japanese Grand Prix excludes car number one and its driver Ayrton Senna. FIA press officer, October 1988
Walking away from the dark forces you face in life just doesn’t become an option. Ron Dennis, 1989
Jochen Rindt Dies In 185 mph Crash. News headline cited Grand Prix: The Killer Years
Jo Siffert 160 mph Inferno. Daily Express headline 25th October 1971
Courage Heir Dies In Crash: Racing driver Piers Courage, heir to the Courage brewery fortune, died in a blazing Grand Prix car in Holland yesterday. Daily Mirror headline, cited Grand Prix: The Killer Years
It’s not really about the competition. Your biggest challenge in a race is yourself. You’re often racing against time. You’re frequently running everything through your mind. You’re always competing against preconceived ideas. It’s not really the person next to you that you worry about. Summer Sanders
Racing is a great mania to which one must sacrifice everything, without reticence, without hesitation. Enzo Ferrari
The era of gentleman racing drivers is ended. Enzo Ferrari
Motor racing is like one big family, ultimately, and when you come back to it, that’s really what it feels like. Mario Andretti
If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough. Mario Andretti
You can cut the tension with a cricket stump. Murray Walker, race commentary
You might not think that’s cricket, and it’s not, it’s motor racing. Murray Walker
I’m a car fanatic and each morning I wake up with a smile on my face, whether I’m commentating on the Formula 1 or at Silver Hatch racetrack in Roary the Racing Car. Murray Walker
And that just shows you how important the car is in Formula 1 Racing. Murray Walker
I have always been very calm on the outside. I’m not too stressed now just because I’m in Formula 1. For me, tomorrow will be another day whether I finish first or last. I have to do the maximum and I cannot ask any more from myself. Fernando Alonso
Those who have come into Formula 1 without experiencing cars devoid of electronic aids will find it tough. To control 800 horse power relying just on arm muscles and foot sensitivity can turn out to be a dangerous exercise. Michael Schumacher
What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula 1. There were plenty of years where I had to learn about losing and having bad races. Lewis Hamilton
A lot of people think Formula 1 isn’t a sport because everyone drives a car when they go to work in the morning. But we’re pulling up to six G on a corner or during breaking, which is almost like being a fighter pilot. So we have to do a lot of work on our neck muscles. Jenson Button
To understand the intensity of driving a F1 car, you have to be in it. When you’re driving a 750hp machine at 200mph, the noise and the vibrations are incredible. The G-force when you take big corners is like someone trying to rip your head off. You hit the brakes, and it feels as if the skin is being pulled off your body. Jenson Button
When I do retire, I know for a fact that I’ll never be able to replace the incredible feeling I get when I’m driving an F1 car. Jenson Button
People don’t understand that it was maybe my biggest pleasure to drive an F1 car when it’s wet. Alain Prost
Rallying is one of the most dangerous driving disciplines. Idris Elba: King of Speed II, BBC 2013
In 1982 the top tier [of Rallying] was divided into two classes: Group A for modified road cars and Group B for prototype cars. ibid.
An arms race for ever more powerful machines. ibid.
Guess how much Lewis Hamilton took home last year: £88 million. What Britain Earns with Mary Portas, Channel 4 2016