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Wednesday 16 July 2014

Part 4 - The German Grand Prix - DID YOU KNOW [FACTS]

On This Day In Formula One - 16 July

1928

Jim Rathmann, born on this day in Alhambra, California, drove in all but one of the 11 Indianapolis 500s between 1950 and 1960 which counted towards the FIA World Championship, winning the last one and also finishing second on three occasions. He also participated in the two runnings of the Race of Two Worlds at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy, winning the 1958 event. He had six victories in addition to his Indy 500 win.

1955

Juan Manuel Fangio beats Sir Stirling Moss by three feet at the Nurburgring.

The British Grand Prix might have been staged in the shadow of the previous month's Le Mans tragedy, which had led to the cancellation of the French GP scheduled for July 3, but it was nonetheless a classic race dominated by Mercedes. The venue was moved from Silverstone to Aintree and a 150,000 crowd saw an epic battle between Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio, the pair swapping the lead and racing nose-to-tail lap after lap. At the finish Moss was ahead by 0.2 seconds to secure his maiden F1 win. Coming out of the final corner just ahead, the Guardian reported Moss "waved Fangio through … Fangio drew alongside him as they approached the chequered flag and then, it seemed, hung back to let Moss cross the line first … it was a sporting gesture and fair". Fangio always denied he had allowed his young team-mate to take the win.

1960

This British Grand Prix was memorable for the searing pace set by Graham Hill's BRM for much of the race, the moustachioed Londoner leading until a few laps from the finish when he spun off while lapping some slower cars under pressure from the wily Jack Brabham, who was thus able to score another good win for Cooper. Not only did this race showcase Hill's rising star, it did much the same for the brilliant John Surtees who finished a magnificent second on his Grand Prix debut, bringing his Lotus 18 past the chequered flag ahead of his more seasoned team-mate Innes Ireland.

1966

Strikes in Italy meant the Ferraris missed the British Grand Prix and saw the field filled by some quirky local entries. On a drying track, Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme secured a 1-2 for Brabham's eponymous team, while Jim Clark put in a brilliant drive after having to pit without brakes, fighting back to take fourth.

1977

James Hunt driving the McLaren M26 at the 1977 British Grand Prix.

Defending champion James Hunt appeared to have his work seriously cut out if he was to do well at the British Grand Prix, not least because he was driving the tricky McLaren M26 rather than the user-friendly M23 which had carried him to the previous year's title crown. Sure enough, in the opening stages John Watson had the legs of him at the wheel of Bernie Ecclestone's flat-12 Alfa-engined Brabham BT45, but this fine performance from the Ulsterman was blighted by a fuel pick-up problem, allowing Hunt to romp home ahead of Niki Lauda's brake-troubled Ferrari.

1978

Lotus' early-season domination ended with a trio of mechanical failures at the British Grand Prix, and a large Silverstone crowd were further disappointed when James Hunt spun off early on, but it allowed Carlos Reutemann to take the win less than two seconds ahead of Niki Lauda.

1983

Alain Prost did not manage to win the 1983 world championship, but his pace and fitness at the wheel of the works Renault RE40 in torrid conditions at Silverstone saw him see off an early challenge from the Ferraris of Patrick Tambay and Rene Arnoux as well as the Brabham-BMW of Nelson Piquet to take one of his most memorable victories. Nigel Mansell was also one of the stars of the show, demonstrating great determination to finish fourth in the promising new Lotus 94T on its debut outing.

1995

A collision Michael Schumacher & Damon Hill ended there race prematurely.

A collision between Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher as they contested the lead prematurely ended the British Grand Prix for them both and allowed Schumacher's Benetton team-mate Johnny Herbert to take the first of his three career wins . Hill had led but a two-stop strategy left him behind Schumacher, and when he tried an ambitious overtake on the 46th lap Schumacher cut him off. Most experts blamed Hill, and the pair did not hold back post race. "It was a stupid overtaking manoeuvre," fumed Schumacher. "I know Damon wanted to win his home grand prix badly, but it was crazy." Hill was having none of it, merely admitting: "Michael is a bit harder to pass than that."

2000

No end of controversy at the Austrian Grand Prix which was eventually won by Mika Hakkinen in a McLaren. A six-car collision on the first lap forced the retirements of championship leader Michael Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jarno Trulli, and then McLaren were docked ten points because an FIA seal was missing from Hakkinen's car.

2006

Michael Schumacher wins the 2006 French Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher became the first driver in F1 history to win the same grand prix - in this case the French - on eight different occasions, and such was his dominance he also achieved his 22nd career hat trick (pole position, win and& fastest lap at the same race), also a record.

[Information By - ESPNF1.com]

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Part 3 - The German Grand Prix - DID YOU KNOW [FACTS]

'Home Grown Hero' - Jake Davis

This fantastic weekly F1 Toon was designed and created by Jake Davis Creative. Prints are available in sizes A4, A3 and A2. Commissions are also available. If you would like to order a PRINT of this fantastic F1 Toon feel free to contact him via:

E-mail - davisjake@hotmail.co.uk

Twitter - @JakeDDCreative

Part 2 - The German Grand Prix - DID YOU KNOW [FACTS]

On This Day in Formula One - 15 July

Prince Bira mood after winning the Road Racing Club's Imperial Trophy Race at Crystal Palace

1914

The birth in Bangkok of Prince Bira, one of the most colourful drivers whose playboy lifestyle ensured he was never far from the headlines either side of the war. A car fanatic from an early age, when at school in England he made it his ambition to become a racing driver. He eventually graduated to a mighty ERA, but his career was interrupted by the Second World War, after which he won various Formula Two races before making his Formula One debut in 1950 for Maserati, finishing fifth at Monaco and then fourth in the Swiss Grand Prix. Running in Maserati, then Gordini, then Connaught, then Maserati again, 'B Bira' raced on until the start of 1955 when he retired.

1961

Ferrari dominated the British Grand Prix with Taffy Von Trips leading home Phil Hill and Ritchie Ginther. The race, which started in the rain and ended in blazing sunshine, was eventful for Stirling Moss who retired, took over Jack Fairman's four-wheel-drive Ferguson only to then be disqualified for having received a push start.

1967

Jim Clark wins the 1967 British Grand Prix

Jim Clark kick-started his faltering season with victory in the British Grand Prix. Lotus had the fastest car but struggled with transmission problems - both cars had retired while running 1-2 in the French Grand Prix a fortnight earlier - but as Clark and Graham Hill dominated all seemed to be right at Silverstone. Hill led up to the 55th lap when his car suffered from a rear suspension issues and then engine failure, but Clark held on.

1972

Emerson Fittipaldi wins the 1972 British Grand Prix

Emerson Fittipaldi won an eventful British Grand Prix. Jackie Icyx led early on before retiring with oil pressure problems, while Ronnie Peterson appeared set to take fourth place when his engine cut out and he crashed into the abandoned cars of Graham Hill and Francois Cevert.

1990

Alain Prost secured his third successive win to move ahead of Ayrton Senna in the drivers' championship. The early battle had been between Senna and Nigel Mansell as the pair swapped the lead, but mechanical problems took their toll on Mansell while Senna spun off, allowing Prost to cruise home. A fuming Mansell, who eventually had to retire on the 56th lap, said afterwards that he was "much quicker than anyone else … I'm bound to wonder why these problems don't happen to the other guys". He then announced his retirement - "I'm not making an excuse, just a statement … I don't want to burst into tears" - but soon changed his mind.

2001

In his period of dominance, the British Grand Prix was a rare failure for Michael Schumacher as he failed to win despite taking pole, the victory going to Mike Hakkinen. For Heinz-Harald Frentzen it marked the end of his time with Jordan who sacked him following a disappointing season.

[Information By - ESPNF1.com]

Monday 14 July 2014

Part 1 - The German Grand Prix - DID YOU KNOW [FACTS]

On This Day in Formula One - 14 July

1951

The British Grand Prix was supposed to be about the long-awaited appearance of the BRMs, but they had to settle for fifth and seventh. "The cars showed up exceedingly well," enthused the Guardian. "Their only untoward behaviour was a tendency to roast the driver … both had to receive first-aid treatment for burns to their arms and legs." The writer also noted one other issue: "The engine needs to be permitted to develop full power without the risk of blowing up." The race was won by Froilan Gonzalez in a Ferrari, the first time an Alfa Romeo had failed to win a championship event.

1956

The death of two one-race Formula One drivers - Bill Whitehouse and Herbert MacKay-Fraser - came during an F2 race at Reims. Whitehouse died when his borrowed Cooper-Climax left the track after a tyre burst, somersaulted and exploded in flames, while later on MacKay-Fraser lost control of his Lotus at high speed and was killed on impact.

1956

Fangio wins the 1956 British Grand Prix

Juan-Manuel Fangio won the British Grand Prix but it wasn't one of his most memorable successes. An early spin put him back down the field but he kept going as a steam of drivers ahead of him were forced to retire. Tony Brooks had a lucky escape when his BRM overturned and caught fire; he was thrown clear and was fortunate to avoid serious injury.

1973

Paul Revson secured his debut F1 win at the British Grand Prix in a race which saw first-lap chaos following a series of accidents. It started when Niki Lauda was rear-ended by Jack Oliver, and at the end of the lap Jodi Scheckter lost control of his McLaren, hit the pitwall, and spun back into the middle of the track where it set in play a nine-car pile-up. Andrea de Adamich was the most seriously hurt, and it took half-an-hour to extract him from his Brabham and another hour before the race could be restarted with a reduced 19-car field.

1979

Clay Regazzoni claims first win for Sir Frank Williams.

Clay Regazzoni, the oldest man in the field, gave Frank Williams his first grand prix win, and a home one at that. Alan Jones had led early on before his engine overheated. Regazzoni's podium antics were subdued, standing back as Rene Arnoux and Jean-Pierre Jarier splashed around the champagne - the team's Saudi Arabian sponsors insisted there could be no association with alcohol and so he resorted to lemonade.

1991

Mansell gives Senna lift back to the paddock

All the talk ahead of the British Grand Prix had been about Nigel Mansell, who was second behind Ayrton Senna in the drivers' championship, and the excitement heightened when he took pole. He made a poor start to allow Senna into the lead, but straight away overtook his rival and went on to secure a win which left the 150,000 crowd delighted. "For the last two laps I was so terrified I was going to be left without gears," Mansell admitted after his gearbox started misbehaving. Senna ran out of fuel on the last lap but was saved a long walk back to the pits when Mansell stopped on his victory lap to pick him up.

1996

Another British success was anticipated when Damon Hill took pole; like Mansell, he too made a poor start but did not battle back, spinning off as he tried to pass Mike Hakkinen. For the third consecutive race, Ferrari drivers Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine were both forced to retire with technical issues in the first six laps - Schumacher with hydraulic problems and Irvine with an engine fadeout.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]