Post Type Archives: Events

In 1968, Guy Ligier established “Ligier Cars” to build his own sports cars in fulfilment of the dream that he and best friend Jo Schlesser had shared. Ligier hired Michel Têtu to design the cars, and the first produced was the JS1 prototype, the “JS” being a tribute to his friend who had perished during the French Grand Prix […]

Italian Luigi Musso, in his works Ferrari 250 TR, wins alongside Belgian Olivier Gendebien, the 1958 Targa Florio (splendid picture above by Bernard Cahier). The 42nd Targa Florio took place on 11 May 1958, on the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie, in Sicily, Italy. It was the third round of the 1958 World Sportscar Championship. A […]

The Suzuka race track in Japan was used for the shake down of the Honda RA302, a difficult and fragile machine, that will claim the life of the unfortunate Jo Schlesser (picture here-under), prisoner in the flames of the magnesium chassis during the 1968 French Grand Prix at Rouen. The lead driver John Surtees had […]

A 200 miles race was organised on the dusty road circuit of Riverside, California, 50 miles East of Los Angeles, in October 1964. Jim Clark (Lotus 30) qualified on pole. Also during the 1964 season, Jim Clark, the reigning F1 World Champion, came within a few laps of retaining his crown, but an engine oil leak […]

Parnelli Jones (picture above), driving a Watson Roadster, is the winner of the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Jim Clark (Lotus-Ford) finishes second and A.J.Foyt, third. For P.J. Jones, this will be the only victory on the famous Indiana Speedway. Parnelli Jones also raced in NASCAR (picture below) but never in Formula 1. He said: “I would […]

Patrick Depailler (picture above), who had just signed a contract with Ligier, tests the new JS11-Cosworth, at the Paul-Ricard, early 1979. The car, instantly very competitive, was designed by Gérard Ducarouge, here leaning left side of the driver. The Ligier JS11 is, in my opinion, one of the prettiest F1 cars ever. After finally winning […]

Which is the greatest of Jim Clark’s 25 Grand Prix wins? Here’s a candidate. 60 years ago, on the old Spa in 1963, in heavy rain, he won by 4 min 54 sec over the 2nd placed man, despite gearbox issues that often caused him to have to hold the gear lever in place and […]

Flavio Briatore, born 12 April 1950, is an Italian businessman and former team manager. He started his career as a restaurant manager and insurance salesman in Italy, but was soon convicted on several fraud charges in the 1980s, receiving two prison sentences, though the convictions were later nullified by an amnesty. Picture above: Flavio Briatore, […]

In November 1970, two German businessmen, who had some commercial activities in Israël, had the strange idea to organise an international car racing meeting; the first one in this nascent country. Three years only after the Six Days War, fifteen Formula 2 single-seaters arrived on the Barnea Beach circuit near Ashkelon, not far from Tel-Aviv. […]

Spirit Racing was founded in August 1981 by Gordon Coppuck and John Wickham, with the backing of Bridgestone and Honda, who was keen to enter Formula 1 as an engine supplier. Picture above: Belgian Thierry Boutsen doing a great job in the Formula 2 Spirit 201-Honda designed by John Baldwin and Gordon Coppuck. Sponsoring came […]