Hill and Brise…

Graham Hill, the 1962 and 1968 Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion, set up his own team in 1973, operating under the name Embassy Hill, in reference to the Imperial Tobacco Embassy cigarette brand. He continued to race, however after failing to qualify for the 1975 Monaco Grand Prix, a race Hill had won five times, he retired from driving and concentrate on the day-to-day operations of the team. His driving role was taken over by Tony Brise.

Brise (23 years old) considered a rising star, finished sixth in the 1975 Swedish Grand Prix and qualified sixth for the 1975 German Grand Prix. He’s fast, that’s very clear. François Migault and Vern Schuppan were also behind the wheel of the second Hill that year.

On the evening of 29 November 1975, Graham Hill was piloting his Piper Aztec light aircraft from France to London. His passengers were team driver Tony Brise, team manager Ray Brimble, designer Andy Smallman and mechanics Terry Richards and Tony Alcock. They were returning from Circuit Paul-Ricard where they had been testing the Hill GH2 car for the 1976 season (picture below).

Shortly before 10pm the plane hit trees beside a golf course at Arkley in thick fog. In the ensuing crash and fire everyone on board was killed. The investigation into the crash was ultimately inconclusive, but pilot error was deemed the most likely explanation.