British Racing Motors

Slide
The Drivers

BRM were blessed with some of the greatest drivers in the history of motorsport with no less than 6 World Champions gracing the race track behind the wheel of a BRM. True legends of motorsport that included Fangio, Hawthorn, Hill, Stewart, Surtees and Lauda

Downward Arrow

The Drivers

JUAN MANUEL FANGIO

Juan Manuel Fangio

JUAN MANUEL FANGIO

Nicknamed El Chueco (“the bowlegged”) or El Maestro (“The Master”). An affable Argentine, he dominated the first decade of Formula One racing, winning the World Drivers’ Championship five times. A record that stood for 46 years until Michael Schumacher and more recently Lewis Hamilton bettered that. Fangio was instrumental in the early development of the V16 and despite an issue with the car in 1952, he was asked if he would ever drive the V16 BRM again. He replied, “I will. I consider it to be, basically, the best Formula One car ever made. All it needs is improvement in certain details. No car has ever given me such a thrill to drive, or a greater sense of absolute mastery. I will stand by it.” JM Fangio, Autosport 22 February 1952

JOSE FROILAN GONZALEZ

A characterful Argentine with a generous physique, González was nicknamed The Pampas Bull (by his English fans) and El Cabezón (Fat Head), by his close colleagues. He managed to handle the characteristics of the P15 and drove an imperious race in the V16 to come second behind Louis Rosier in the Ferrari 375 at the 1953 Albi Grand Prix. González competed in 26 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix over nine seasons for various marques (1950–1957 and 1960) and numerous non-Championship events.

Jose Froilan Gonzalez

JOSE FROILAN GONZALEZ

JOSE FROILAN GONZALEZ

A characterful Argentine with a generous physique, González was nicknamed The Pampas Bull (by his English fans) and El Cabezón (Fat Head), by his close colleagues. He managed to handle the characteristics of the P15 and drove an imperious race in the V16 to come second behind Louis Rosier in the Ferrari 375 at the 1953 Albi Grand Prix. González competed in 26 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix over nine seasons for various marques (1950–1957 and 1960) and numerous non-Championship events.

SIR STIRLING MOSS

Sir Stirling Moss

SIR STIRLING MOSS

Described as “the greatest driver never to win the World Championship” In a seven year span between 1955 and 1961, Moss finished as Championship runner-up four times and in third place the other three times. He drove for BRM at the beginning of his illustrious career and was involved in the development of the P15 – which he declared was the scariest car he had ever driven – before he drove his BRP prepared BRM P25 to second place in the 1959 British Grand Prix.

GRAHAM HILL

Known for his wit and charm, Hill became synonymous with BRM and Formula One World Champion twice, winning in 1962 with BRM in the P57 ‘Old Faithful’ and in 1968 with Lotus, as well as being runner up on three occasions with BRM in 1963,1964 and 1965. He won in Monaco with such frequency in the 1960s (5x; 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969) that he became known as “Mr. Monaco”. Hill went on to become of the finest drivers of his generation and perhaps the greatest achievement of his career was becoming the first and only driver (to date) to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport – winning the 24 hour Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and the Formula One World Championship.
Graham Hill

GRAHAM HILL

GRAHAM HILL

Known for his wit and charm, Hill became synonymous with BRM and Formula One World Champion twice, winning in 1962 with BRM in the P57 ‘Old Faithful’ and in 1968 with Lotus, as well as being runner up on three occasions with BRM in 1963,1964 and 1965. He won in Monaco with such frequency in the 1960s (5x; 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969) that he became known as “Mr. Monaco”. Hill went on to become of the finest drivers of his generation and perhaps the greatest achievement of his career was becoming the first and only driver (to date) to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport – winning the 24 hour Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and the Formula One World Championship.
Sir Jackie Stewart

SIR JACKIE STEWART

SIR JACKIE STEWART

Known as the “Flying Scot”, Jackie raced in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Championships, and finishing twice as runner-up over those nine seasons. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport, some consider him the greatest ever. Jackie signed with BRM alongside Graham Hill in 1965, a contract which netted him £4,000. His first major competition victory came in the BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone, driving the beautiful BRM P261 and beating Surtees in the Ferrari. Before the end of the year he won his first World Championship race at Monza, fighting wheel-to-wheel with teammate Hill’s P261.

NIKI LAUDA

Lauda joined BRM in 1973 and was instantly fast, driving the Marlboro BRM P160E, which was considered quick and easy to drive but lacked power and reliability. BRM turned out to be the platform for Lauda’s big break, which came after he impressed Enzo Ferrari driving the P160E at the Monaco Grand Prix that year. He moved to Ferrari in 1974 and is widely considered to be one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. He was a three-time Formula One World Champion winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984.

Niki Lauda

NIKI LAUDA

NIKI LAUDA

Lauda joined BRM in 1973 and was instantly fast, driving the Marlboro BRM P160E, which was considered quick and easy to drive but lacked power and reliability. BRM turned out to be the platform for Lauda’s big break, which came after he impressed Enzo Ferrari driving the P160E at the Monaco Grand Prix that year. He moved to Ferrari in 1974 and is widely considered to be one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. He was a three-time Formula One World Champion winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984.


   

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Name(Required)

© British Racing Motors 2023

Website Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Legal Disclaimer