Stories about people

Peter Collins has been described as the Lewis Hamilton of his day.

He was born in Kidderminster on 6 November 1931, lived with his parents at Shatterford Grange and went to school in Wolverley Village and Bromsgrove.

At the age of 26, he was killed by a racing accident, in the prime of his life.

July 1956: Peter Collins at Siverstone

Many Grand Prix wins

Peter's first race car was a Cooper 500 and he won a 100 mile event in this car at Silverstone on 9 July 1949, at the age of 17.

During his career, he raced for many of the top teams: Aston Martin, HWM, Vanwall, BRM, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari.

In 1956, Peter won the Belgium Grand Prix on 3 June at Spa, and the French Grand Prix on 1 July at Reims; in both of these races he drove a works Lancia-Ferrari D50.

The Guild of Motoring Writers elected Peter Collins as their "Driver of the Year" in October 1956.

1956: Peter Collins with his mum

In the same year, at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Fangio's car broke down, so Peter pulled into the pits and handed his car over to his colleague.

Using Peter's car, Fangio came second and won his fourth World Championship, which was something Peter could have otherwise won himself.

Fangio said it was the most sporting gesture he had ever witnessed.

Driving a works Lancia-Ferrari D50, Peter also won the Syracure Grand Prix on 7 April 1957, and the Naples Grand Prix three weeks later.

Whirlwind romance

Peter married an American girl, Louise King, on Monday 11 February 1957 in the Plymouth Congregational Church, Miami, Florida, only one week after meeting her.

It was a true-life love match, which lasted until his death.

1958: Peter Collins wins at Silverstone

He then went on to win the British Grand Prix, driving a works F1 Ferrari Dino, on 20 July 1958.

Final fatal race

On 3 August 1958, Ferrari's works team raced in the German Grand Prix at Nurburgring.

It was a fast and close race between Vanwall and Ferrari.

On lap 9, the running order was Vanwall (Brooks), Ferrari (Collins) and then Ferrari (Hawthorn).

Peter ran wide on a right hand bend (called The Pflanzgarten) and the front and rear wheels on the left hand side of his car ran along a grass bank.

Peter Collins' memorial window in Stone church

The car somersaulted, and Peter was thrown out of his vehicle; he died from his injuries.

Memorial

Peter Collins' grave is in Stone Church grounds, near Kidderminster.

There's a stained glass window in the church to commemorate his life.