The second nominee for the inaugural Grand Prix Hall of Fame class is Hans Stuck (1900-78).
Stuck began racing professionally in 1923, starting with hill-climb events. He won that year's Baden-Baden event in Germany, and joined the Austro-Daimler works team in 1927, competing in that year's German Grand Prix on the side. Stuck left them in 1931, joining Mercedes-Benz in their sports car efforts.
His acquaintanceship with Adolph Hitler led to Stuck joining up with Ferdinand Porsche and Auto Union's racing efforts in 1933 and became virtually unstoppable, though the car was difficult to drive in regular circuit racing events. In 1934, Stuck won the German, Swiss and Czech Grands Prix for Auto Union, while winning the European Mountain Championship in hill-climbing. In addition, he would have won the European Championship in grand prix racing, had it been contested that year.
Stuck won his second European Mountain title in 1935, in addition to winning the Italian Grand Prix. He had a bit of decline the following year, winning the Tripoli and German Grands Prix, but only runner-up in the European Mountain Championship. 1937 was even worse, not winning a single event.
In 1938, depending on whose story is taken into account, Stuck was either fired from or quit Auto Union. However, after pressure from the German government, he was re-hired, and won his final European Mountain Championship. This would be his final pre-war success.
After the war Germans were banned from racing until 1950; Stuck decided to move to Austria and race there. He did not really have much success in this later period, but won the German Hillclimb championship for the last time, at age 60, thus ending his career on a high note.
Stuck competed in 5 Formula One events, qualifying for three of them. He did not match his early-career success.
Stuck died in 1978, at the age of 77. His son, Hans-Joachim, raced in Formula One himself and had success in sports car racing.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
GP Hall of Fame Inaugural Class - Nominee #1
With 2010 coming to a close soon, I want to get the ball rolling on the Grand Prix Hall of Fame, which will be a long-term feature of Total GP.
Criteria for drivers nominated include a mandatory 5-year retirement period. Championships are not a requirement, but they certainly will help status.
For the 2011 Hall of Fame class in the drivers category, a focus will be put on the sport's early years. Not only from the modern F1 period that began in 1950, but also drivers who were considered stars during and before World War 2 will also be considered.
A single nominee will be revealed each day until all have been named. The first nominee is:
Louis Chiron (1899-1979) - the only driver from Monaco to appear in an F1 event; he started racing professionally as a teenager and won his first event in 1926, the Grand Prix de Comminges. He went on to win the Marseille Grand Prix, Czech Grand Prix, Italian Grand Prix, Belgian Grand Prix, German Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix. In addition to these, he won the 1933 Spa 24 Hours race with co-driver Luigi Chinetti and placed 7th in the 1929 Indianapolis 500. Chiron started racing in the European Championship in 1931, getting what would be his only career victory in that series in that year's French Grand Prix. His last season there came in 1938.
Chiron's age would catch up with him by the time Formula One began in 1950, though he continued to race. He won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1954, in what was his only career rally victory. He became the oldest driver to compete in an F1 event in 1955, finishing 6th in his home race just weeks before his 56th birthday. He competed in his last F1 event in 1958 and retired from competition. Chiron died in 1979, a little over a month before what would have been his 80th birthday.
Criteria for drivers nominated include a mandatory 5-year retirement period. Championships are not a requirement, but they certainly will help status.
For the 2011 Hall of Fame class in the drivers category, a focus will be put on the sport's early years. Not only from the modern F1 period that began in 1950, but also drivers who were considered stars during and before World War 2 will also be considered.
A single nominee will be revealed each day until all have been named. The first nominee is:
Louis Chiron (1899-1979) - the only driver from Monaco to appear in an F1 event; he started racing professionally as a teenager and won his first event in 1926, the Grand Prix de Comminges. He went on to win the Marseille Grand Prix, Czech Grand Prix, Italian Grand Prix, Belgian Grand Prix, German Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix. In addition to these, he won the 1933 Spa 24 Hours race with co-driver Luigi Chinetti and placed 7th in the 1929 Indianapolis 500. Chiron started racing in the European Championship in 1931, getting what would be his only career victory in that series in that year's French Grand Prix. His last season there came in 1938.
Chiron's age would catch up with him by the time Formula One began in 1950, though he continued to race. He won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1954, in what was his only career rally victory. He became the oldest driver to compete in an F1 event in 1955, finishing 6th in his home race just weeks before his 56th birthday. He competed in his last F1 event in 1958 and retired from competition. Chiron died in 1979, a little over a month before what would have been his 80th birthday.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tom Walkinshaw (1946-2010)
Tom Walkinshaw, founder of Tom Walkinshaw Racing and former Arrows F1 team owner, died on December 12 at the age of 64 after battling cancer.
He founded TWR in 1975, and by 1983 was very successful in the British Saloon Car Championship, winning 11 times in that season. TWR then focused its efforts on the World Sportscar Championship, winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans twice and the WSC title three times. It was this team that brought Ross Brawn to prominence.
In 1991, Walkinshaw was named Engineering Director of the Benetton F1 team, and was responsible for recruiting a young German named Michael Schumacher from the Jordan team. During Walkinshaw's tenure, the team won the World Driver's Championship in 1994 with Schumacher.
During the 1994 season, Walkinshaw came under scrutiny when the team was investigated for suspected technical infringements. Illegal software was found; however, the FIA chose not to penalize the team due to lack of evidence that it was actually used in a race.
In 1995, Walkinshaw bought half of the struggling Ligier team. He intended to become full owner but didn't secure funding in time, so he pulled out of that deal and instead bought the Arrows team, which he managed until its demise in 2002.
Walkinshaw was named Autocar Man of the Year in 1997, a year which saw TWR employ 1500 workers in the United Kingdom, Sweden and the USA. He was also Managing Director of Arrows GP International during this time.
TWR and Arrows both folded in 2002, with the Australian operation being bought by Holden.
Walkinshaw returned to V8 Supercars three years later, with his former teams HSV Dealer Team and Holden Racing Team, giving Holden its first title wins since 2002 with Rick Kelly in 2006 and Garth Tander in 2007.
Walkinshaw reacquired Holden Racing Team in 2008 and debuted Walkinshaw Racing in 2009. Walkinshaw Racing is a collective of two teams (Bundaberg Red Racing and Team Autobarn).
Walkinshaw made his final appearance at a Formula One event at the 2010 British Grand Prix.
He is survived by his wife Martine, and their two sons Ryan and Sean.
He founded TWR in 1975, and by 1983 was very successful in the British Saloon Car Championship, winning 11 times in that season. TWR then focused its efforts on the World Sportscar Championship, winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans twice and the WSC title three times. It was this team that brought Ross Brawn to prominence.
In 1991, Walkinshaw was named Engineering Director of the Benetton F1 team, and was responsible for recruiting a young German named Michael Schumacher from the Jordan team. During Walkinshaw's tenure, the team won the World Driver's Championship in 1994 with Schumacher.
During the 1994 season, Walkinshaw came under scrutiny when the team was investigated for suspected technical infringements. Illegal software was found; however, the FIA chose not to penalize the team due to lack of evidence that it was actually used in a race.
In 1995, Walkinshaw bought half of the struggling Ligier team. He intended to become full owner but didn't secure funding in time, so he pulled out of that deal and instead bought the Arrows team, which he managed until its demise in 2002.
Walkinshaw was named Autocar Man of the Year in 1997, a year which saw TWR employ 1500 workers in the United Kingdom, Sweden and the USA. He was also Managing Director of Arrows GP International during this time.
TWR and Arrows both folded in 2002, with the Australian operation being bought by Holden.
Walkinshaw returned to V8 Supercars three years later, with his former teams HSV Dealer Team and Holden Racing Team, giving Holden its first title wins since 2002 with Rick Kelly in 2006 and Garth Tander in 2007.
Walkinshaw reacquired Holden Racing Team in 2008 and debuted Walkinshaw Racing in 2009. Walkinshaw Racing is a collective of two teams (Bundaberg Red Racing and Team Autobarn).
Walkinshaw made his final appearance at a Formula One event at the 2010 British Grand Prix.
He is survived by his wife Martine, and their two sons Ryan and Sean.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Welcome to Total GP (Also, About the Author)
Welcome, readers, to Total Grand Prix. This is a blog dedicated to grand prix racing, including its history, the current state of Formula One, as well as the sport's future. Things that will be covered may include drivers, tracks, the politics of the FIA and the constructors. One long-term goal will include a Hall of Fame of drivers and contributors to the sport. To be nominated in the driver category, the driver must be retired for at least a 5-years' minimum. Contributors will have varying criteria to be eligible.
Now, a little about me.
First off, why "The Wolverine"? Simple, it's the University of Michigan's mascot.
This is the online persona of an anonymous 24-year-old Formula One fan in Arizona. I began watching F1 in mid-1997, shortly after I received espn2 on cable.
The first race I watched was the Canadian Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher won a race marred by a bad accident which saw Olivier Panis broke his legs. He'd never be the same after that. Other highlights from that day saw the hometown boy Jacques Villeneuve crash out after only 2 laps, and the debut of Alexander Wurz, who filled in for an ill Gerhard Berger.
I was instantly hooked, and slowly began to turn away from NASCAR. Even when M. Schumacher won titles constantly in the early half of the 2000's, I still tuned in each week. Glad I did; the recent 2010 season was the best in a long time.
I don't expect to make new F1 fans with this blog; I simply want to educate people on what it is, and offer my opinions on the current affairs, as one who is not "in the know". I'm just an ordinary fan.
Happy reading!
Now, a little about me.
First off, why "The Wolverine"? Simple, it's the University of Michigan's mascot.
This is the online persona of an anonymous 24-year-old Formula One fan in Arizona. I began watching F1 in mid-1997, shortly after I received espn2 on cable.
The first race I watched was the Canadian Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher won a race marred by a bad accident which saw Olivier Panis broke his legs. He'd never be the same after that. Other highlights from that day saw the hometown boy Jacques Villeneuve crash out after only 2 laps, and the debut of Alexander Wurz, who filled in for an ill Gerhard Berger.
I was instantly hooked, and slowly began to turn away from NASCAR. Even when M. Schumacher won titles constantly in the early half of the 2000's, I still tuned in each week. Glad I did; the recent 2010 season was the best in a long time.
I don't expect to make new F1 fans with this blog; I simply want to educate people on what it is, and offer my opinions on the current affairs, as one who is not "in the know". I'm just an ordinary fan.
Happy reading!
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