Mercurial British racing legend, Sir Stirling Moss passed away earlier today in London, UK. He was 90-years old. In a career spanning 14-years, Moss raced across different disciplines and won 212 races of the 529 races he participated in. He was often described as 'the greatest driver never to win the World Championship'. Let’s take a closer look at his illustrious career, arch rivals and some of his best race victories.
Sir Stirling Moss started his career in 1948, but his first major victory came at the 1950 RAC Tourist Trophy on the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland, on his 21st birthday in a Jaguar XK120. At the peak of his career, Moss would compete in as many as 62 races annually and drove for 84 different carmakers in his racing career.
Over the course of his career, Sir Stirling Moss raced against some of the top racing drivers of his era, with the most prominent one being five-time Formula One champion - Juan Manuel Fangio. Fangio was Stirling Moss’s teammate and arch rival at Mercedes-Benz, and according to him, also his friend and mentor. Other than that, he also raced against Ferrari’s Alberto Ascari and Mike Hawthorn.
Stirling Moss was also one of the fiercest drivers in racing history and was known for his high-risk antiques. Listed below are some of his best races.
1955 Mille Miglia
One of Moss’s most famous wins was Italy’s thousand-mile 1955 Mille Miglia road race. It is described as the 'most iconic single day's drive in motor racing history.' Moss completed the race in ten hours and seven minutes.
1956 Italian Grand Prix
Another of Moss’s famous wins came at the 1956 Italian Grand Prix. After Mercedes-Benz withdrew from the 1956 season, Moss went to Maserati as their chief driver. Having started the race by sitting calmly behind the Ferrari quartet of Fangio, Eugenio Castellotti, Luigi Musso and Peter Collins, Moss emerged as the winner at the fag-end of the race.
1958 Argentina Grand Prix
With Vanwall unable to send its cars for the Argentinian GP, Sterling Moss took the Cooper-Climax race car entered by his friend Rob Walker. Although the two-litre Formula Two car was underpowered compared to the rivals, the rear-engine car was light and agile. With a patch on one eye as a result of an injury caused by his wife, Moss drove the car without lapping it or even getting a tyre-change, to win the race by outclassing the Ferrari’s and the Maserati’s.
1959 Nürburgring 1000 KMS
Moss’s most remarkable long-distance race victory came at the 1959 Nürburgring 1000 KMS. Driving the Martin DBR1, Moss drove the 25.95km track for three hours straight and managed a lead of five minutes over the rival Ferrari’s. As he swapped places with his co-driver, Jack Fairman, the Aston Martin spun into a ditch and fell behind the leaders by over a minute. Stirling Moss took over the car and drove past the Ferrari’s of Phil Hill and Tony Brooks to cross the finish line with a 21-second advantage.
1961 Monaco Grand Prix
According to Moss, the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix was “probably his greatest drive in a Formula One race.” Stirling Moss drove a four-cylinder Lotus 18, which was underpowered compared to the rivals. On lap 17, he overtook two Ferrari’s and held them off for the rest 83 laps, while displaying his breathtaking skills, and precision to win the race.
