Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss (17 September 1929 – 12 April 2020) was a British racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from 1951 to 1961. Widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers to never win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, Moss won a record 212 official races across several motorsport disciplines, including 16 Formula One Grands Prix. In endurance racing, Moss won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1954, as well as the Mille Miglia in 1955 with Mercedes.
Born and raised in London, Moss was the son of amateur racing driver Alfred Moss and the older brother of rally driver Pat. Aged nine, Alfred bought him an Austin 7, which he raced around the field of the family's country house. Initially an equestrian, Moss used his winnings from horse riding competitions to purchase a Cooper 500 in 1948. He was immediately successful in motor racing, taking several wins in Formula Three at national and international levels, prior to his first major victory at the RAC Tourist Trophy in 1950, driving a Jaguar XK120. Moss made his Formula One debut at the 1951 Swiss Grand Prix with HWM, making several intermittent appearances before moving to Maserati in 1954, achieving his maiden podium at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Moss joined Mercedes in 1955, taking his maiden win at the British Grand Prix as he finished runner-up in the championship to career rival Juan Manuel Fangio. Moss again finished runner-up to Fangio in 1956 and 1957 with Maserati and Vanwall, winning multiple Grands Prix across both seasons. He took four wins in the 1958 season, but lost out on the title again to Mike Hawthorn by one point. From 1959 to 1961, Moss competed for Walker, taking multiple wins in each as he finished third in the World Drivers' Championship three times. Moss retired from motor racing in 1962, after an accident at the non-championship Glover Trophy left him in a coma for a month and temporarily paralysed. He achieved 16 wins, 16 pole positions, 19 fastest laps and 24 podiums in Formula One, the former of which remains the record for a non-World Champion. Moss was a three-time winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, four-time winner of the British Empire Trophy, and five-time winner of the International Gold Cup. In rallying, Moss finished runner-up at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1952. Throughout his career, he broke several land speed records across different categories.
In British popular culture, Moss was a widely recognised public figure, with his name becoming synonymous with speed in the mid-20th century. He made several media appearances, including in the James Bond film Casino Royale (1967), and was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1961. Upon retiring from motor racing, Moss established a career as a commentator and pundit for ABC. Moss was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Source : Wikipedia
