Watch this video of the last 10 laps of the 1983 Indianapolis 500 and you’ll quickly realise why the climax to America’s biggest race that May is remembered as one of the best.

The 67th running of the 500-mile Indycar classic came into its own on the 190^th lap when the Bignotti-Cotter-run March of Tom Sneva got the jump on leading duo Al Unser, a three-time Indy winner, and his son Al Jr, who was making his debut at The Brickyard.

After a troubled practice session in which Sneva’s Texaco-branded March 83C had lunched three of its Cosworth DFX engines and barely run 200 miles of practice, the Washington driver’s chances on raceday were not rated highly.

Against the odds, however, Sneva made his way to the front – thanks to a new engine with different internals. He got the jump on Unser Jr at Turn 1 after the race’s final yellow-flag period and moved into second. His final target was the works Penske of Unser Sr, who by this stage was fighting a poor-handling car. Two corners later and the lead was Sneva’s. He quickly pulled away to record his first Indy win and only his second career 500-mile success.

“The car felt good all day,” Sneva reported from Victory Lane. “The motor I had today was super and I want to say that the guys did a heck of a job in the end. Once I got round those Unsers near the end I knew I was in good shape because the car felt so good.”

67th Indianapolis 500, May 29 1983

1. Tom Sneva (USA), March-Cosworth 83C – 200 laps

2. Al Unser Sr (USA), Penske-Cosworth PC11 – 200 laps

3. Rick Mears (USA), Penske-Cosworth PC11 – 200 laps

4. Geoff Brabham (AUS), Penske-Cosworth PC10 – 199 laps

5. Kevin Cogan (USA), March-Cosworth 83C – 198 laps

6. Howdy Holmes (USA), March-Cosworth 83C – 198 laps

Henry Hope-Frost

Formula One legend Sir Stirling Moss has been injured after falling three stories down a lift shaft in his London home over the weekend.

After calling the lift to his floor, Moss stepped into empty space where his lift should have been. His lift door had malfunctioned and opened when the lift car was not at the correct floor. Williams F1 designed and built the carbon fibre skinned body of the lift car, but was not responsible for the lift mechanism, electronics or door system that failed. A picture of the lift in question can be seen here, thanks to Sir Stirling Moss’s Twitter feed.

Remarkably Moss’s injuries were relatively minor. He suffered two broken ankles, four broken bones in his foot, skin abrasions and four chipped vertebrae as a result of the three story fall, demonstrating the incredible physical resilience the octogenarian maintains nearly 50 years since the end of his racing career. His injuries suggest that he landed on his feet; could it be that his racing reflexes and vigour still serve him well?

A press release following the incident states that “he was moved on Sunday to a hospital closer to his home where he underwent surgery on both his ankles, which were plated and pinned” and is now comfortable and well on the path to recovery. He is in good humour, remarking in a message to fans “THE GOOD NEWS IS; THAT I DIDN’T SELL THE WHEELCHAIR AFTER THE LAST SHUNT!”

Proving the physical and mental fortitude requisite for a career at the pinnacle of motorsport, tough as nails Moss is expected to recover from his injuries within six to eight weeks.

We wish him all the best for a full and suitably speedy recovery.

Seth Reinhardt

Source: www.stirlingmoss.com and www.smh.com.au

Images courtesy of www.stirlingmoss.com

A positive and light-hearted message from Sir Stirling Moss, via Automobile Mag

TO ALL MY FRIENDS (AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE KIND ENOUGH TO CARE),

DEAR ALL OF YOU,

THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN QUITE FANTASTIC AND I’D LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR KIND THOUGHTS, MESSAGES AND OTHER PARAPHERNALIA.

ON SATURDAY EVENING, I WAS AT HOME WITH SUSIE, ELLIOT AND HELEN AND ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR A CURRY, FOR WHICH WE WERE RUNNING LATE.

I ASKED HELEN TO JOIN ME IN THE LIFT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS, BECAUSE SUSIE AND ELLIOT WERE SMART ENOUGH NOT TO RIDE IN MY LIFT. I OPENED THE DOOR AND STEPPED INTO THE LIFT, WITH HELEN READY TO FOLLOW ME, WHICH SHE NEVER DID. THAT IS BECAUSE THE LIFT HAD STOPPED ON THE FLOOR ABOVE AND INCORRECTLY ALLOWED THE DOOR BENEATH IT TO OPEN.

STILL CHATTING TO HELEN, I STEPPED INTO THE OPEN DOORWAY–  AND FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFT SHAFT.

THE AMBULANCE WAS CALLED AND ARRIVED AT RACING SPEED, WHEREUPON THEY PUT ME ONTO A SERIES OF ABOUT 10 STRETCHERS! HAVING FINALLY SETTLED ON WHAT MUST HAVE SEEMED A GOOD ONE, I WAS TAKEN, ALONG WITH MY FAMILY TO THE ROYAL LONDON HOSPITAL IN WHITECHAPEL, WHERE THEY USED ANOTHER BATCH OF SIMILAR STRETCHERS!

THEY DID A GOOD JOB OF HELPING ME, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DO THE REQUISITE SURGERY. SO, ON THE SUNDAY, I WAS MOVED TO THE PRINCESS GRACE, WHERE A FANTASTICALLY EFFICIENT, KIND AND AMUSING STAFF DID ALL THE JOBS.

I AM NOW IN A LOVELY ROOM, NUMBER 222, AND WITH THE HELP OF ELLIOT AND THE PORTER, AM FINALLY ON THE EMAIL. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEND THIS TO YOU, BUT I WILL TRY!

NOW FOR THE FUTURE… WHICH I CAN SEE WITH SUSIE, HELEN AND ELLIOT AROUND ME, IS GOING TO BE A BLOODY STRUGGLE!

AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, SUSIE AND I ARE BOOKED ON A SEABORNE CRUISE FOR OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY, NEXT MONTH. I HAVE TO CROSS THE HURDLE OF GETTING THE DOCTORS, AND FAMILY HANGERS-ON, TO ALLOW ME TO THIN MY BLOOD, IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY ISSUES INVOLVING DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS.

IT WILL BE SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS FROM SUNDAY BEFORE I WILL ABLE TO PUT ANY LOAD ON MY FEET. THEREFORE I’M FACING MY SIXTH OR SEVENTH REDUCTION TO A WHEELCHAIR (SUSIE SAYS SHE’S STOPPED COUNTING) WHICH I MUST ADMIT, IS RATHER BORING. THE GOOD NEWS IS; THAT I DIDN’T SELL THE WHEELCHAIR AFTER THE LAST SHUNT!

THE WHOLE THING IS A REAL PAIN IN THE ARSE, IF I HAD LOOKED WHERE I WAS GOING, I WOULDN’T BE HERE AT ALL, SO IT’S MY OWN DAMN FAULT.

I HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMED BY YOUR COLLECTIVE CONCERN AND KINDNESS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT CURRENTLY I’M LYING IN HOSPITAL, TAKING DEEP BREATHS, LIFTING ONE ARM WITH THE OTHER, RAISING MY LEGS (WITH PLASTERS ON THE END) AND DOING ALL I CAN DO TO KEEP MYSELF AS MOBILE AS POSSIBLE, BUT, HAVING SAID THAT, I’M NOT YET WINNING THE BATTLE.

I’M NOT SURE WHEN I’LL BE ABLE TO GO HOME BUT THE LIFT HAS TO WORK, OTHERWISE I’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET UPSTAIRS IN MY WHEELCHAIR, MAYBE I’LL GO AND STAY WITH HELEN AND ELLIOT FOR A WHILE…

THIS REALLY HAS OPENED MY EYES TO HOW KIND ALL MY FRIENDS ARE, OVER AN OLD EX- RACING DRIVER, FLOGGING A FADING IMAGE!

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON,

MANY THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS,

CIAO

Today is the 7th Anniversary of the passing of Motorcycling legend Barry Sheene.

When Barry Sheene decided to up stumps from his country mansion in England and move his entire family to the Gold Coast in 1987 on the strength of a chance visit with George Harrison in 1985, Aussie race fans were both surprised and delighted. Contrary to the stereotypical beer swilling Aussie expats that had been infiltrating Earls Court since the ‘50s, Sheene was amazed by the laid back Down Under attitude that embraced a directness and work ethic that he was well familiar with. Add in the ever-present warmth of the South Queensland sun, vast quantities of fine Aussie wine, and the decision made perfect sense to Bazza.

His willingness to facilitate, cajole, and network on behalf of a good number of Aussie bike riders was immeasurable. Garry McCoy, Mat Mladin, and Troy Corser were all beneficiaries of Barry Sheene’s good deeds, setting them on a path with a number of key career manouevres. Now all in their late ‘30s, McCoy is still racing in MotoGP, Corser is in his second year with the BMW WSBK team and recently retired Mladin made a fortune racing in America, a move that was instigated by Baz. His first Aussie cause was arguably Paul Lewis, whom he enthusiastically pumped in the English media in 1983-84 much to the chagrin of Wayne Gardner. What Barry did do for Wayne was to provide him with plenty of motivation like the build up to Gardner’s first season on a V-four 500 in 1986; “If Gardner can’t win on that thing [Honda NSR500] he ought to piss off back to Australia.”

Ironically, Barry’s final races were hard-fought tussles with good friend Wayne in several classic races in 2002 (doubly ironic since Barry categorically refrained from coming out of retirement, saying he’d “rather have a lobotomy”). Gardner was invited to ride the FWD Manx Norton that Sheene had ridden at the 2002 Goodwood Revival meeting. Appropriately, he won a Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy race in 2003.

On 9 March, 2003, Network Ten commentator Bill Woods was making his first Formula One call at Albert Park. As a member of Ten’s GP bike call team since 1997, there is no doubt that Barry Sheene’s friendship with Bernie Ecclestone played a role in Ten securing the Australian rights to F1 from his previous employer, the Nine Network.

Terribly ill with stomach cancer that had been diagnosed in mid-2002, there was word that Barry would make an appearance at the 2003 Aussie GP and perhaps take part in a parade lap, but he was too sick to attend. During his call, Woods sent a cheerio to Barry knowing that the 1976-77 world 500cc champion was in his final days, saying how much he missed him in Ten’s first call of a Formula One race. His voice faltering with emotion, Woods signed off his message to Barry like this: “Thanks mate…we…we couldn’t have done it without you…”

Barry Sheene passed away the following day, Monday 10 March, 2003, aged 52. He has been honoured in so many different ways in England and Australia, in both motorcycle and car racing circles. The cheeky Cockney’s face and voice may have been missing from our lives for seven years now, but his legend has most certainly lived on.

Darryl Flack

Don’t forget to check out the Barry Sheene Festival of Speed 3-4 April 2010 at Eastern Creek.

It’s always good to start your week with a laugh, and I nearly fell off my chair with the sheer absurdity of this crazy feat.

Watch in amazement at this hilarious footage of Jimmy “The Flying Greek” Koufos, as he attempts to jump his 5.5 ton bus over 20 motorcycles as part of the pre show hype at a NASCAR Busch race in 1980.

When being interviewed, Jimmy explains he had a physicist help work out the maths to safely complete the jump. He later reveals that the physicist is in fact his father in-law. Jimmy explains ” I hope my father in law loves me as he figured all this out for me.”

Guest commentator and NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough says what everyone else at the track must have been thinking. ” I’ll tell you the truth. I wouldn’t get out of the electric chair to get in that bus right now”

Gold, pure gold.

Sir Jackie, you’re a regular visitor to Bahrain and its Grand Prix but this year it’s the venue of the 60^th anniversary celebrations of the world championship.  How special does that make this year’s event to you?

This 60^th anniversary is a significant recognition for Bahrain on a global basis, but promoting the sport in this way is something that Bahrain has taken a lead on.  The 60^th anniversary celebration of the Formula 1™ world championship is especially impressive in that, as a relative newcomer to the sport, Bahrain has taken the trouble to assemble these drivers who have contributed so much to the history of Grand Prix racing and the world championship.

There are some seldom-seen cars coming out to the event next weekend, such as the very car in which James Hunt won the 1976 world championship at Mount Fuji in that atrocious weather.  Are you looking forward to seeing them together?

Bahrain has been able to work with the owners of so many championship-winning cars to bring them back together with the drivers, and I think that is down to the remarkable reputation for friendliness that Bahrain has and the way it is always thinking out of the box to create this celebration at the start of such an exciting season for the sport.

All but two of the surviving world champions are making the journey to join in the celebrations, did you ever think that you would all be in the same place again?

I don’t think there’s ever been such a gathering of world champion drivers, and to have them together with such a collection of championship-winning cars and even driving them again is extraordinary.

It’s not only the drivers themselves but also their sons.  Graham Hill’s 1968 championship-winning Lotus is going to be driven by his grandson Josh, and I myself am sharing the driving in my two cars with my sons Mark and Paul.  For me to have the opportunity to do that is really the most wonderful thing and I know that Damon will be thrilled to see the same kind of family celebration and it will be very touching to see Graham so well represented.  I think all of the champions, drivers and friends who won’t be able to make it won’t be far away from us or out of our thoughts and they will be well remembered.

Certainly for the fans the prospect of so many heroes together is something to look forward to but how about you?

I think everybody who is coming is absolutely thrilled at the prospect, and certainly for me it will be the chance to catch up with friends I haven’t seen for some time now.  John Surtees spoke to me the other day and he was looking forward to the occasion in much the same way.

Some of the drivers I see regularly, I see a lot of Damon Hill and Niki Lauda for instance as they remain part of the sport and attend many of the races.  But there are other drivers I see less often and so to share this event and to reminisce with Mario Andretti or Emerson Fittipaldi after some great races together over the years will be wonderful.

Of course Bernie Ecclestone was competing in the Formula 3 race supporting that first world championship Grand Prix at Silverstone 60 years ago, and has been such an enormous part of the championship’s story.  He’s not someone who gets particularly emotional but what do you think his reaction will be?

Bernie is going to be just as touched and impressed by seeing these cars together as anyone else, especially as he owns several of them.  It’s not all business with Bernie and I don’t care who you are, you won’t fail to be impressed by such a collection of cars and by the achievement of bringing so many world champion drivers together.  I think Bernie will share a lot of the nostalgia and good feelings, and also take considerable pride in what he has done to make the sport so celebrated and such a success.

Two of your cars are coming – are they your all-time favourites?

The Matra MS80 in which I won the 1969 world championship was an amazing car, maybe the best I drove in my career.  My son Mark now owns it; I gave it to him and I’m looking forward to sharing the experience of driving it with him over the two days.  We’re also bringing the Tyrrell 006 in which I won my final world championship in 1973, but unfortunately the Tyrrell with which I won the 1971 world championship has just been put on display in the National Museum of Scotland and they had to take a wall down and rebuild it to get the car in place – so we left that one where it was.

Nick Garton

Here a couple of lovely videos featuring Chad McQueen talking about being on the set of Le Mans with his Dad, Steve,  in 1970.

In the first video, Chad talks about sitting on his Dad’s lap and being taking for a quick squirt in the famous number 20 Porsche 917 from the movie. The stuff of dreams for any boy.

In the second video, Chad recalls his first race at the Le Mans kart track in the 2 hour “Mini Le Mans” event and how his dad was very proud that Chad won.

However the joy was short lived for Chad, as soon after, Steve took his son to see the wreckage of the David Piper Porsche 917 crash, as a reminder that racing was indeed, dangerous.

These videos are a touching insight into both the making of the movie and Steve McQueen the man.

Manama, 4^th March 2010: Juan Manuel Fangio II, nephew of five-time Formula 1™ world champion Juan Manuel Fangio, will take to the track at the wheel of a Maserati 250F as the world’s biggest annual sporting series celebrates its 60^th anniversary at the 2010 Formula 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on March 12-14.  As the first round of the 2010 season, Bahrain is hosting a landmark celebration with more than 20 title-winning cars and virtually every surviving world champion expected to attend.

Former sports car and IndyCar racer Fangio II will drive the evocative Maserati 250F in a spectacular cavalcade of title-winning cars that will form part of the on-track entertainment through the weekend.  In many minds his uncle remains the greatest driver of all time, and Fangio II is delighted to represent ‘the Maestro’ in Bahrain.

“I imagine being him and looking back from his perspective I would say to myself how quick life goes by, and how strange it feels to endure as a defining contributor,” he said.  “I’m sure he would think what a privilege it is just to be remembered so fondly 60 years later.”

Juan Manuel Fangio was the most successful driver of the 1950s, winning five world championships in the seven full seasons that he contested.  Born in Argentina in 1911, he raced in the gruelling South American cross-country events and regional circuit races until his Formula 1™ debut at the 1948 French Grand Prix.  Returning to Europe the following year Fangio won the San Remo, Pau, Roussillon, Marseille and Albi Grands Prix and in so doing earned a drive with the all-conquering Alfa Romeo team for the first season of the world championship in 1950.

After losing the inaugural title by just three points to his team leader ‘Nino’ Farina, Fangio claimed the honours in 1951 after fending off Alberto Ascari and the rising Ferrari team.  In 1952 a major accident early in the season left Fangio with a broken neck from which he made a long recovery, returning to form in 1954 when he became team leader for Mercedes-Benz and swept majestically to his next two world championship titles.

When Mercedes-Benz withdrew from the sport at the end of 1955, Fangio switched to an uncomfortable alliance with Ferrari.  He won the world championship when his young team-mate and title rival Peter Collins voluntarily handed his car over at the deciding Italian Grand Prix after Fangio’s own car failed.

For 1957 Fangio moved to Maserati and drove his greatest season in the 250F.  Although 46 years of age he would often use the gruelling three-hour race format to his advantage, keeping pace with the younger men in the first hour then increasing the pressure relentlessly to the finish.  His final race victory in the 1957 German Grand Prix remains the greatest in the history of the sport when, having lost 48 seconds in the pits, he charged out and broke the lap record nine times to pass the leading Ferraris of Collins and Mike Hawthorn.  “I have never driven that quickly before in my life and I don’t think I will ever be able to do it again,” he said.

Fangio retired the following year and returned to Argentina, where he nurtured the talents of Juan Manuel Fangio II before passing away in 1995.  “I really feel that his true legacy is the commitment he demonstrated to live life in pursuit of your passion – no matter what,” said Fangio II, who is looking forward to taking the wheel of the car his uncle made legendary.  “I would say that the old cars are defining examples of art, while the new ones are pure precision,” he added.

Juan Manuel Fangio II joins former champions including Sir Jack Brabham (1959, 1960, 1966), John Surtees (1964), Emerson Fittipaldi (1972, 1974) and Mario Andretti (1978) in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration as part of the 2010 Formula 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.

Nick Garton

Renault is going retro in 2010, working hard to recapture its historic allure with new livery based on classic Renault designs.

The name Renault is one of the most succesful and influential in motorsport. Ferenc Szisz, driving an early Renault, won the first Grand Prix ever staged (1906).  Renault have competed as a constructor and their engines have powered championship winning cars throughout Formula One’s history. Their two constructor’s titles finally came in 2005 and 2006; alas things have gone a bit downhill since that last title, culminating in the race fixing scandal they endured in 2009.

After a significant restructure, Renault is attempting to recapture its racing glory in 2010 with livery plucked from its history. The 2010 car, helmets and uniforms feature the yellow and black colour scheme that Renault made famous in the ‘70s and ’80s, when they went so close to championship glory with their turbo powered machines. It is great to see those iconic colours out on the circuit again and I hope to see Renault back in fine form this year.

So enjoy the pics, let us know what you think of their new designs and head over to the fantastic Renault site for more pictures, video, podcasts and news!

Seth Reinhardt

Via Bahrain GP

Images via Renault, Eric D

Retro Formula One fans rejoice, for you are in for a weekend at the track like none other. How does every surviving Formula One champion gathered together at the same time and place for one unforgettable event sound? And what if they bring along the cars they drove to win those championships?

That is exactly what the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) board are planning and so far they are doing a pretty fantastic job. All but two surviving F1 champions have been confirmed to be in attendance of this year’s Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend running from the 12^th to the 14^th of March.

“This is a unique event; one that is unlikely to be repeated ever again,” – Whitaker

This historic event marks the first of the celebrations for Formula One’s 60^th anniversary. What better way to celebrate the anniversary of motorcar racing’s zenith than to bring together its top drivers for a once in a lifetime event in their honour.

Drivers confirmed so far include Fernando Alonso, Mario Andretti, Sir Jack Brabham, Jenson Button, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mika Hakkinen, Lewis Hamilton, Damon Hill, Alan Jones, Niki Lauda, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg, Jody Scheckter, Michael Schumacher, Sir Jackie Stewart, John Surtees and Jacques Villeneuve. Nephew of the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio and namesake to one of the coolest names in racing, if not the world, Juan Manuel Fangio Jr, will be present and will be driving his uncle’s Ferrari. Damon Hill’s son, Josh Hill, will be driving Graham Hill’s Lotus 49.

So far the only two champions not confirmed and at least for the moment, not attending are Nelson Piquet and Kimi Raikkonen.

“I’m delighted to be invited and to be part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of F1,” – Andretti

This collection of exceptionally speedy gentlemen will be gathered for a special event in their honour over the course of the weekend. Their cars will be featured in parades on Saturday and Sunday and according to Martin Whitaker, advisor to the BIC; “We expect the majority of the 20 plus cars to be displayed on track and, where possible, be driven by the original World Champion,”.

How does every surviving F1 champion and their associated championship winning race car, brought together on one circuit for a once in a lifetime event sound? A symphony comprised of the engine notes produced by 60 years of racing motors, driven by the tidiest steerers the world has ever seen, sounds like music to my ears.

Seth Reinhardt

Via Gulf Daily News

Images via: Times Online, Fast Track News here and here and F1-GP.info

Manama, 28th February 2010: American motor racing legend Mario Andretti will play a starring role in the Kingdom of Bahrain as the 2010 FIA Formula 1™ World Championship season starts at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on March 12/13/14. Mario, patriarch of the famous Andretti racing dynasty, will be reunited with the Lotus 79 in which he stormed to the 1978 Formula 1™ title as part of this once-in-a-lifetime event to mark 60 years of the world’s biggest annual sporting series.

“I’m delighted to be invited to the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix and especially to be part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Formula 1™.  This is something very special to me,” said Andretti, who celebrates his 70th birthday on February 28.

Not only did the great American win 12 grands prix in his 13 seasons of Formula 1™ with teams such as Lotus, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Williams but he also won the American IndyCar title four times, the 1969 Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Daytona 500 in 1967.  Andretti will take part in an unforgettable gathering of former Formula 1™ world champions in Bahrain including Sir Jack Brabham (1959, 1960, 1966), Sir Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973), Emerson Fittipaldi (1972, 1974) and Nigel Mansell (1992).

Starting in May 1950 at the British Grand Prix, the FIA Formula 1™ World Championship has witnessed 820 grands prix across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Middle East.  A total of 31 drivers have been crowned champion from Dr. Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina in 1950 to Jenson Button in 2009 and 13 constructors have been crowned from Vanwall in 1958 to Brawn GP in 2009.  The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix was the first world championship round to be held in the Middle East, joining the calendar in 2004 and last hosted the opening round of the season in 2006.

The 60th Anniversary celebrations in Bahrain will feature a unique collection of more than 20 world championship-winning cars from every era, including Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Cooper, BRM, Lotus, Matra, Tyrrell, Brabham, Williams and McLaren.  On public display throughout the event, many of these priceless cars will also be in action on the Bahrain International Circuit to evoke the sights and sounds of the past as their champion drivers take a lap of honour.

This event marks Mario Andretti’s first visit to Bahrain and its Grand Prix, in which four former champions will be taking part, commenting:  “In addition to the race, I’m looking forward to visiting the Kingdom of Bahrain.   I have followed the six previous races with great interest.   It looks like a spectacular venue and I can’t wait for what will certainly be a weekend of excitement on the track, as well as fun and reminiscing with good friends.”

Nick Garton

Images courtesy of Denis David’s GP hall of fame www.ddavid.com, speedhunters.com and F1-Facts.com