Moss, Brooks and the Vanwall

Stirling Moss and his magnificent Vanwall VW 5 V during practice for the 1958 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Open the picture-above to see it in full, it’s worthwhile. The Englishman qualified third behind Mike Hawthorn’s Ferrari on pole and his teammate Tony Brooks’ Vanwall.

Moss had to retire on the third lap due to electrical problems and it was his teammate Tony Brooks who won with a lead of more than three minutes over the Cooper-Climax’s of Roy Salvadori and Maurice Trintignant.

Vanwall was a British racing car manufacturer active in Formula 1 racing in the 1950s. Founded by Tony Vandervell, the racing team owes its name to its founder, his company Vandervell Products and its Thinwall bearings produced at its factory located in Acton, near London.

Vanwall won the 1958 Constructors’ Championship with its VW5 thanks to its two drivers, Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks, who finished second and third in the Drivers’ Championship with three wins each. Unfortunately, Tony Vandervell’s health deteriorated and 1958 would go down as the team’s last full season.