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About Graham Hill - |
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Graham Hill was horn on the 15th of February 1929. Unlike many of his fellow drivers, Hill's motor racing career was slow to start. So slow that he had not driven a car until the age of 24. Subscribe to our free RSS Feed and get all the latest Formula 1 information. |
A Thirst For Formula 1Even when he stepped into his first racing car at Brands Hatch it was hard to believe this introduction into the racing world would culminate in two World Championships in 1962 and 1968, and the Indianapolis 500 championship of 1966, his rookie year at The Brickyard. Never the less, this experience made him determined that racing was for him. An Opportunity Into Formula 1Whilst working as a mechanic he met Lotus boss Colin Chapman and got an opportunity to drive a Jaguar in 1955. This lead onto a test drive for Lotus, which accumulated in producing the second-fastest speed, which delighted Chapman. As a result Chapman gave Hill his first crack in Formula One in 1958 at the Monaco Grand Prix. Formula 1 DriveHowever it was not until he was with BRM two years later that he won his first F1 Grand Prix in Holland which set him on the road to serious success. During this year Graham Hill won three other races at the German, Italian and South African to help him claim his first World Championship Title. For the next three seasons, Graham Hill finished second to fellow drivers Jim Clark and John Surtees. Indy 500At the Indianapolis 500 championship Graham Hill drove cautiously and expertly, passing one car after another in his Lotus-Ford to claim this impressive win. However, this victory was slightly overshadowed by an 11-car crash at the start which resulted in the number of competing cars being reduced to 22. Graham's Return To Formula 1On his return with Chapman in 1968, Hill won three more Grand Prix at the Spanish, Monaco, and Mexican races to secure himself a second World Championship. However, this success was overshadowed by the death of his rival Jim Clark during a minor league F2 race at Hockenheim in April. The Beginning Of The EndIn 1969, at the age of 40, Graham Hill scored what would be his final F1 success by winning the prestige Monaco Grand Prix race before breaking both legs when he was flung from his car in the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Months of pain and a four and a-half hour operation in London followed. Despite this injury and to the amazement of many, Hill did return to score a Championship point's in the 1970 season. But to those around him it was clear that his best had past. The next couple of years saw Hill fight to sustain his F1 reputation by first switching teams and then by starting his own team in 1973. Even with high hopes 1973 and 1974 brought little success. Finally, on failing to qualify at Monaco in 1975, he got the message. At the British Grand Prix he announced that he was retiring from the cockpit to concentrate on furthering the career of his brilliant new signing, Tony Brise. |
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