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| Mike Hawthorn |
Mike Hawthorn
Born: 10 April 1929, Mexborough, England
Died: 22 January 1959
Grand Prix Starts: 45
Grand Prix Victories: 3
Points Total: 127.64
World Champion: 1958
Mike Hawthorn made his GP debut at Spa in 1952 for his father's team, finishing joint fourth in the championship. Ferrari snapped him up for the 1953 season. His first GP victory came at Reims that year, and again he finished fourth overall, having shown great consistency as well as courage and skill...
Despite the 1954 campaign being marred by an accident at the non-championship Syracuse GP, Hawthorn recovered to win the Spanish GP and finish third overall. He briefly joined Vanwall in 1955 before rejoining Ferrari, but the championship races proved fruitless. His win at Le Mans in a Jaguar was tainted by an accident which resulted in over So deaths, and Hawthorn was criticised for the manoeuvre that precipitated the tragedy.
After a forgettable 1956 season, Hawthorn returned to form, reunited once again with Ferrari. 1958 saw him pip Moss for the title by a single point. He announced his retirement almost immediately, having been deeply affected by team-mate Peter Collins death at the Nurburgring that year. He was killed in a road accident on 22 January 1959, just three months after becoming Britain's first World Champion.