Stirling Moss Biography

Stirling Moss was born to a motor sport oriented family and, at the age of eighteen, entered local hill-climbs. After success here, he moved to circuit racing the following year, and began to notch up wins in Formula Three.

In 1950 he was signed to drive in Formula Two by HWM, and competed in every sports car race he could, winning the Tourist Trophy. He even attempted rallying, finishing second in the Monte Carlo Rally on his first attempt.

In Formula One however, he stood little chance against the might of the Italian Alfa-Romeos and Maseratis, but he remained faithful to Britain until 1954, when he acquired a Maserati 250F.

Stirling was signed to drive for Mercedes in 1955 and got his first win in the British Grand Prix at Aintree. But Mercedes withdrew from racing at the end of the year, and he moved to Maserati. Stirling won twice with his new team.

In 1957, Stirling returned to Britain, racing for Vanwall. He took three wins, but finished the season second. Again in 1958, four victories left him second over-all.

1959 and 1960 saw Stirling in a range of cars, mainly a Cooper, with which he won twice in 1959, but he also gave Lotus its first win at Monaco, in 1960.

In 1961, the rules of Formula one changed the maximum engine size from 2.5 to 1.5 litres. The Ferrari team was ready for this, leaving Stirling struggling with the less powerful Lotus.

But, at Goodwood in 1962, Stirling crashed head-on into an earth bank, suffering head injuries. He recovered, but decided not to return to racing.

He received a knighthood in 1999.