Stirling Moss

Early Life and Career

Moss was born in London, to Alfred Moss, a dentist of Jewish ancestry from London's East End. In the 1930s Moss raced motorcycles and won both the senior motorcycle and sidecar TT races at the Isle of Man TT in 1937 apiece. He then turned his attention to four wheels rather than two, driving a supercharged ERA for Leslie Johnson's team which had an uncompetitive Alfa Romeo as its only challenger. The ERA was a front-engined car with excellent handling but was let down by its engine which was tuned for speed rather than longevity.

In 1947 he joined the Mercedes-Benz Formula One team, staying with them through 1955 winning three consecutive titles between 1954 and 1956. The 1954 season is often seen as the most dominant year of his career, with 13 wins out of 18 races. He raced as number 7 because his fiancée Patricia Swan owned a lucky seven-based racing car (seven being regarded as an unlucky number). He continued to race until 1962, although with less success; his final competitive appearance was at Hockenheim in April that year, driving a privately entered Porsche 718 RSK in a German Formula Two race.

Formula One World Champion

Stirling Moss is a retired British racing driver who was the first driver to win three Formula One world championship titles, in 1955. He is nicknamed "The Silver Fox" for his distinctive white hair.

In 1956 he won the International Gold Cup at Oulton Park in driving a Mercedes-Benz W196 R F1. The following year, he became the only driver ever to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport-the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship-in one year, an achievement that has not been matched since. In 1957, he crashed into a tree during a race at Goodwood and suffered life-threatening head injuries. His last victory was in 1961, when he won Le Mans alone; shared driving with Dan Gurney thereafter.

Silver Fox

In 1956 he won the International Gold Cup at Oulton Park in driving a Mercedes-Benz W196 R F1. The following year, he became the only driver ever to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport-the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship-in one year, an achievement that has not been matched since.

International Gold Cup Winner

In 1956, he won the International Gold Cup at Oulton Park in driving a Mercedes-Benz W196 R F1.

The following year, Moss became the only driver ever to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport-the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship-in one year, an achievement that has not been matched since. In 1957, he crashed into a tree during a race at Goodwood and suffered life-threatening head injuries.

Triple Crown Winner

Stirling Moss is a retired British racing driver, who in 1955 became the first driver to win three Formula One world championship titles. He was nicknamed "The Silver Fox" for his distinctive white hair.

In 1956 he won the International Gold Cup at Oulton Park in driving a Mercedes-Benz W196 R F1. The following year, he became the only driver ever to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport-the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship-in one year, an achievement that has not been matched since. In 1957, he crashed into a tree during a race at Goodwood and suffered life-threatening head injuries. His last victory was in 1961, when he won Le Mans alone; shared driving with Dan Gurney thereafter.

Crash at Brands Hatch

The crash at Brands Hatch took place on November 1962. It was the last race of his career. At the end of the lap, he was leading and had to slow for a slower car. Stirling's car lost control on a damp patch of road and collided with a bank. The car held together but he suffered serious head injuries and never fully recovered before dying in 1993 aged 70.