WORLD WIDE ENTERTAINMENT SYNOPSES THE RACING YEARS Episode 1: 1950 The Racing Years start with 1950; and the first World Driver s Championship. Stars from before the war were challenged by a new breed of drivers from Europe, Britain and South America. Argentina s Juan Manual Fangeo, and there were also new cars to take on the Alfa Romeo 158 that had dominated post-war racing. Racing was up and running with classics like the Mille Milia, and La Mans. The former was a celebration in Italian motoring, with everything from Fiats to Ferraris going up against each other; while the latter was a gruelling twenty-four hour road race featuring famous names like Cadillac, Bentley and Jaguar. Episode 2: 1951 Grand Prix in 1951 promised to be a showdown between Alfa Romeo and Ferrari. Sports car racing was going from strength to strength, with La Mans and the tourist s trophy as standouts. It all started in January, with a wintery Monte Carlo Rally, the cars travelling from Glasgow to Monte Carlo through the treacherous Alps. The journey took four days and three nights, the winner a Frenchman by the name of Jean Trevoux, driving a Delahaye. Also featuring in 1951 was the Swiss Grand Prix, won in extreme conditions by Juan Manuel Fangio in the Alfa Romeo 159, over Piero Taruffi, in his Ferrari 375. Episode 3: 1952 In 1952 there was a crisis in Grand Prix racing with Alfa Romeo retiring while they were on top. That left Ferrari and the unreliable VRN as Formula One contenders. As a result, race organisers decided Formula Two provided more entertainment and would become the World Championship Formula race instead. Farina and Fangio had to find new teams. Fangio signed up to drive the Motorati while Farina made the move to Ferrari. Episode 4: 1953 The year is 1953, and the Grand Prix was a fierce struggle between two Italian teams Ferrari and Maserati. Alberto Ascari won the Argentinian Grand Prix but tragedy struck when Nino Farina lost control of his Ferrari, driving into the crowd and killing seven people. At the Mille Miglia in April, it was Fangio s turn to run into trouble, with the car s steering failing, a damaged track rod meaning he only had control of one front wheel. Thankfully, he was able to stop safely, the winner Giannino Marzotto/Marco Crosara in their Ferrari MM Spider. Episode 5: 1954 The year 1954 was a pivotal one for racing enthusiasts, with a new Formula One created, using 2.5 litre engines. Maserati debut the 250F, while Ferrari managed to introduce no less than four different models. Fangio drove a Maserati 250F in the Argentinian Grand Prix, winning a chaotic, rain-hit event from Nino Farina. The difference in the cars most commonly used in this era was that the Ferrari had the straight line speed, while the Jaguar had the best braking and road-holding capabilities. Episode 6: 1955 1955 was a pivotal year for racing. In Grand Prix racing, Fangio was back to defend his world title for Mercedes. Alongside, in the W196 was up-and-coming British driver Sterling Moss. 1955 was also one of the great seasons in sports car racing, with the World Championship decided over six races. Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin were all contenders, but the dominant team was Mercedes Benz, with their 3ltre 300SLR a direct descendant of the W196 of previous years.
Episode 7: 1956 With Mercedes s withdrawal from motor sport, world champion Juan Manuel Fangio thought of retiring and returning to his motor business and interests in Argentina. But because of political uncertainties in his home country, Fangio decided to press on with his racing career. After a fall-out with Maserati, he found a new partnership with Ferrari. The International trophy at Silverstone showed off some of the new contenders from Britain, including Banwall and BRM. After a tragedy at Le Mons in 1955, changes were made to the circuit to make it safer. Episode 8: 1957 The racing year of 1957 saw Fangio return to Maserati. He and Enzo Ferrari didn t get on particularly well, so the Argentinian made the decision to continue his career with the Trident. The season opened with Fangio finishing in first place at the Argentinian Grand Prix; Jean Behra and Carlos Menditenguy in second and third place. At the Mille Miglia, tragedy struck when Divetago and Nelson sent their Ferrari hurtling into the crowd, killing themselves and ten other people. The cause of the accident was said to be a burst tyre. Episode 9: 1958 The racing year of 1958 was destined to be a battle between British drivers Mike Hawthorn, Sterling Moss, Peter Collins and Tony Brooks. Moss and Hawthorn in particular, featured heavily in many of the year s most prestigious races, including the Grand Prix of Holland and Monaco; Moss winning the latter. The Indianapolis 500 was host to a tragic crash when Ed Elisian and Dick Raffman s cars collided, causing a 15 car pile-up. Fan favourite Pat O Connor s car hit another, flipped upside down and burst into flames, killing him instantly. Episode 10: 1959 1959 was a time of change in racing, with Mike Hawthorn retiring after winning the 1958 World Championship. Of the old guard, only Ferrari remained. Maserati had also gone, and so the new contenders were Lotus, Cooper and VRN. Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham were both driving Coopers, with Moss winning the New Zealand Grand Prix, ahead of Brabham and McLaren. In England, however, sad news emerged. Mike Hawthorn was killed in a car wreck on the Guildford Bypass, just 60 hours after being honoured by the National Sporting Club. Episode 11: 1960 The 1960 s dawned with the Formula One scene firmly centred on Britain. Defending world champion Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss continued their duel, as Lotus and Cooper became the front-running cars. Ferrari was now the only non-british team. In racing as in cricket, Australia, New Zealand and England were in competition, this time for the New Zealand Grand Prix, with Aussie Brabham taking out top honours. Meanwhile, Mercedes 220SE s dominated the Monte Carlo Rally, taking the first three places despite the tricky, icy terrain. Episode 12: 1961 The racing year is 1961, and Grand Prix racing there was a new 1.5 litre formula. Ferrari was well prepared, with its shark-nosed 156. However, the Germans had the formula sewn up, with no less than three drivers leading the field. In sports car racing, once again, it was Italy versus Germany, Ferrari versus Porsche. Setting the pace were Mexican brothers Pedro and Riccardo Rodriguez, in their Ferrari Testarosa. But they were passed by the Ferrari 250 team Genebien and Hill; and finished second overall.
Episode 13: 1962 It s 1962, and duel world-champion Jack Brabham left Cooper to set up his own team. Ferrari had world champion Phil Hill as their lead driver. In 962, the world sports car championship was discontinued, replaced by the International Championship for GT racers, which was awarded in three engine capacity classes. Meanwhile, at the Glover Trophy in the UK, Stirling Moss suffered a horrific accident while travelling at 105 mph, and spent six weeks in a coma. When he was finally well enough to speak to the press, he announced his retirement. Episode 14: 1963 Le Mons continued to be Ferrari s domain, yet Ford was taking an interest in sports car racing. In Formula One, the Brits were in charge at home, winning the first four places at the International Trophy in Silverstone, England. The Monaco Grand Prix began the World Championship series, with Jim Clark taking pole position but suffering from jammed gears, conceding defeat to team mate Graham Hill. The Belgian Grand Prix in July was marred by gearbox and electrical problems for many of the competitors, driving rain not making things any easier. Episode 15: 1964 1964 was the high point of 1960 s swinging Britain. In racing that was evident by the number of British drivers in teams taking on the lone Italian Ferrari. There was a challenge to Ferrari s long-running sports car supremacy by Ford, promising a bumper year in racing. The Monaco Grand Prix was won by Graham Hill in his BRM P261, from an unbeatable position a full lap ahead of team mate Richard Ginther. It was almost a clean sweep for Ferrari in the Grand Prix de Spa in Belgium, the Italian giant taking out five of the first six places. Tragically, the only thing Lotus took out was a member of the crowd, when rising star Jackie Eaps car left the track and hurtled through the barriers. Episode 16: 1965 The World Championship began on New Years Day in South Africa. Jim Clark led from flag to flag, shadowed by new team mate Mike Spence for most of the race, until Spence spun on lap 60 and dropped back to forth place. At the Monte Carlo Rally only 35 of the 238 crews finished the race, the smallest number in twenty years. This was no doubt due to the blinding snowstorm which made the way treacherous on the final night of the rally in South East France. Bad weather also marred the occasion for the Sebring 12 hour race, rain falling so heavily the track was flooded. Episode 17 1966 In 1966 there was a return to power of Grand Prix racing. Jack Brabham was best prepared, with his Repco engine Brabhams dominating the season. The Monza 1000 was held in pouring rain. Despite this, Ferrari was king at it s home ground. Second were Ford, one lap behind. The Silverstone in England brought out Ferrari s competitive edge, but in the end it was Brabham s Repco V8 that took out the honours. The Monaco GP was won by Jackie Stewart in his BRM, but overall it was Brabham s year and Ferrari would have to regroup in time for the next season. Episode 18 1967 Formula One was hotting up. Could Jack Brabham retain the championship or would the new Ford-Cosworth powered Lotus be the winner? The season opened with the South African GP, Pedro Rodriguez taking first place after Brabham had to bow out, citing engine trouble. Mini Cooper took out the Monte Carlo Rally, and the Monaco GP was won by Denny Hulme in his Repco Brabham, but it was the sudden death of Lorenzo Bandini in a fiery crash that, tragically, made the headlines.
Episode 19: 1968 1968 was a year which showed the brutal human cost of the sport, with Jim Clark and three others losing their lives doing what they loved. On the sporting side, the year began with the South African GP, which was won by Clark. It being his 25 th win he broke Fangio s record of 24. The Australian GP at Sandown saw many top names compete, but turned out to be Jim Clark s last win before dying tragically in a minor Formula Two race in Germany. Episode 20: 1969 The end of the swinging sixties saw the emergence of the GT 40 s as ideal long distance racers. The Formula One championship began with the South African GP, and there was much shifting going on behind the scenes, with drivers moving from team to team, forging new alliances with former rivals. Formula Two saw the mingling of up and coming drivers with seasoned professionals, and allowed the younger set a chance to test themselves out on the best of the best, in readiness for an introduction to Formula One racing. Episode 21: 1970 The year 1970 saw increasing interest from corporations in sponsoring Formula One. Pedro Rodriguez put on one of the best wet weather driving displays experts say they d ever seen, while driving at Daytona in his Porsche 917K. Jack Brabham arrived at the Monaco GP in a determined mood, and almost won the race but for a problem with his brakes locking on the final hairpin turn. June 2 nd saw the tragic loss of popular driver Bruce McLaren. He won three GP s in his career, and lent his name to the successful company that continues to this day. Episode 22: 1971 The second round of the sports car championship was the Daytona 24hr race was won by Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver in their Porsche 917K, while at the South African GP the pair had to withdraw, as the body work on their car began to melt from the extreme heat! Drivers everywhere had problems due to the temperature, Mario Andretti the only competitor able to finish the race without incident, winning the title almost by default. Episode 23: 1972 1972 and the rivalry between Lotus, Tyrrell and Ferrari was at its most intense. Jackie Stewart kicked things off, winning the Argentine GP in his Tyrrell 603, Ickk in his Ferrari coming third. Round two was the South African GP, where Stewart suffered gearbox failure and was out, leaving Lotus and McLaren to fight it out; the latter taking the honors. Emerson Fittipaldi bounced back in his Lotus 720 to win the Spanish GP from Jacky Ickk and Clay Regazzoni, for Ferrari. However, in a very wet Monaco GP, all three teams were undone by Frenchman Jean Pierre Beltoise in his BRM P1608. Conditions were so bad that the finishing speed 100kmph - was the slowest at Monaco for twenty years. Episode 24: 1973 1973 was Jackie Stewart s final year, and he was determined to go out on a high note. His year didn t get off to a good start, though, when his Tyrell was slowed by a tire puncture in the Argentine GP in March. He fared better in the South African GP however, taking out first place ahead of Peter Revson for McLaren, and Emerson Fittipaldi in his Lotus 720. He got lucky in the Silverstone in England, too, as the race leader got stuck in heavy weather on a bend and spun out. The Dutch GP was to see Jackie Stewart break Jim Clark s record of 25 GP wins, but it was a grim day for Formula One as 25 year-old Roger Williamson crashed his car and died in the resulting inferno.
Episode 25: 1974 The racing year is 1974, and Formula One saw a lot of changes. Emerson Fittipaldi left Lotus for McLaren, Nikki Lauder and Clay Regazzoni were at Ferrari. Jackie Stewart and Francois Sever were retired, but the racing was as competitive as ever. Denny Hulme won the Argentinean GP for McLaren, Fittapaldi took out the Brazilian GP and the South African GP was won by first time winner Carlos Reutemann, despite a cloud hanging over the race due to the death of Revlon cosmetics heir Peter Revson, during practice. Episode 26: 1975 For the Argentinean GP Emerson Fittipaldi was joined at McLaren by German driver Jochen Mass. The heat on the track caused much engine failure, and continued to wreak havoc at the Brazilian GP. For the South African GP Ferrari debut it s 312T with it s transverse gearbox. The first woman to take part in a Grand Prix in fifteen years, Leila Lombardi, for March, had engine problems and retired at the halfway mark. Nikki Lauder took fifth in the new Ferrari.