Mike Hawthorn

By winning the French Grand Prix in 1953, Mike Hawthorn became the first British driver to win a GP race in the new World Championship.

This brilliant victory proved that a Brit could challenge and beat the outstanding driver of the era – Juan Fangio.

Britain’s first World Champion of motor racing
That Petrol Emotion

Charismatic and debonair, Mike was known for wearing a bow-tie during races.

In 1955 Hawthorn controversially won the Le Mans 24 Hours, a race that was marred by tragedy when 83 spectators and one driver were killed when a car crashed into the crowd.

In 1958 after Fangio retired, Mike Hawthorn and Stirling Moss battled it out for motor racing's premier crown. Hawthorn won by one point, securing the title in the final race of the season in Morocco to become Britain’s first World Champion of motor racing.

He soon announced his retirement but only months later was killed in a car crash on the Guildford bypass. He was 29 years old.